Cheryl Lynn facts for kids

Cheryl Lynn (born Lynda Cheryl Smith on March 11, 1957) is an American singer and songwriter. She is famous for her hit songs from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s. Her most well-known song is the 1978 R&B/disco hit "Got to Be Real".

Early Life and Stage Work

Cheryl Lynn started singing when she was a young girl. She sang in her church choir. Her professional singing career began in 1976. She was 19 years old at the time.

She got a job as a backing singer for the musical The Wiz. This was a national touring show. She later got the main role of Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West. She played this role for six months during the tour. Before The Wiz, she appeared on a TV show called The Gong Show in June 1976. She sang "You Are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker.

Cheryl Lynn's Music Career

Starting with Columbia Records (1976–1985)

After her TV appearance, Cheryl Lynn signed with Columbia Records. She released her first and most famous song, "Got to Be Real". She wrote this song with David Paich and David Foster. The song became a huge hit. It reached No. 1 on the Rhythm & Blues chart. It also reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The success of "Got to Be Real" led to her first album, Cheryl Lynn. This album sold over a million copies. It reached No. 5 on Billboard magazine's R&B albums chart. Another song from the album, "Star Love", also became popular.

For her second album, In Love, she worked with Judy Wieder and John Footman. The song "I've Got Just What You Need" was a moderate hit. "Keep It Hot" became a popular club song. Around this time, she also sang backing vocals for the band Toto. She sang on their song "Georgy Porgy". This song was a hit on the R&B and dance charts.

In 1981, Ray Parker Jr. produced her third album, In the Night. This album featured the hit dance song "Shake It Up, Tonight". The next year, Luther Vandross produced her fourth album, Instant Love. A famous song from this album was "If This World Were Mine". It was a duet with Luther Vandross. It was a cover version of a song by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.

For her fifth album, Preppie, Cheryl Lynn produced most of the songs herself. However, the song "Encore" was written and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. This song became her second No. 1 hit on the R&B charts.

Songs for Movies

Cheryl Lynn also recorded songs for movies. She sang "At Last You're Mine" for the 1985 film Heavenly Bodies. She also sang "Steppin' Into the Night" for the 1986 film Armed and Dangerous.

Later Albums (1987–1998)

In 1989, Cheryl Lynn released the song "Every Time I Try to Say Goodbye". This song was from her eighth album, Whatever It Takes. It became a top 10 hit.

In the 1990s, she worked on albums for other artists. She sang on Richard Marx's albums and Luther Vandross's album. In 1995, after a break from recording her own music, she released her ninth album, Good Time. This album was released in Japan and the UK first. It included the popular club song "Guarantee for My Heart".

In 1996, Sony Records released Got to Be Real – The Best of Cheryl Lynn. This album featured her most successful songs from her time with Columbia Records. Another collection of her songs, The Real Thing, was released soon after. In 1998, she performed on Sinbad's Summer Soul Jam 4.

Recent Career and Influence

In the 2000s, Cheryl Lynn toured Japan. She also performed at charity events in Los Angeles. In 2000, she worked with hip-hop artist Jay Supreme. They made an updated version of her song "Encore".

In 2003, she performed on The Disco Ball... A 30-Year Celebration on ABC. In 2004, she recorded "Sweet Kind of Life" for the movie Shark Tale. This song was also produced by Jam & Lewis. In 2005, her song "Got to Be Real" was added to the Dance Music Hall of Fame.

Cheryl Lynn has influenced many R&B singers today. Mary J. Blige and Will Smith covered her song "Got to Be Real". Japanese pop singer Kumi Koda also covered the song in 2010. In April 2010, "Got to Be Real" charted in the UK for the first time.

See also

In Spanish: Cheryl Lynn para niños

• List of 1970s one-hit wonders in the United States