Cynthia Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cynthia Johnson
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Johnson performing in July 2014
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| Background information | |
| Born | April 22, 1956 Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States |
| Genres | Funk, disco, R&B, jazz, pop, soul, rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, television personality |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1973–present |
| Labels | Casablanca Records, Megabien Music |
| Associated acts | Lipps Inc., Flyte Tyme, Sounds of Blackness |
Cynthia Johnson (born April 22, 1956) is an American singer, songwriter, and TV personality. She is most famous for being the lead singer of the band Lipps Inc.. They had a huge hit song called "Funkytown".
Contents
Cynthia Johnson's Music Journey
How Her Career Started
Before joining Lipps Inc., Cynthia Johnson was already well-known in her hometown. In 1976, she won the Miss Black Minnesota, USA pageant. She was also the main singer for seven years in a popular band from Minneapolis called Flyte Tyme.
Cynthia is also a talented saxophone player. She played the saxophone in Flyte Tyme and wrote many of their songs. She even wrote some songs with band members Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. These two later became very famous and won many Grammy Awards for writing and producing music.
Cynthia finished college at the University of Minnesota, Morris in 1978. She kept performing with Flyte Tyme for a short time. After she left, the band changed and became The Time, a group connected to the artist Prince.
Singing with Lipps Inc.
Cynthia Johnson was the lead singer for the popular band Lipps Inc.. This band was based in Minneapolis. They are best known for their 1980 song "Funkytown". This song was a massive hit! It reached number one in 28 different countries. Over 35 million copies of "Funkytown" were sold around the world. The song is so famous that it even has a spot in the "One-Hit Wonders" section of the Rock & Roll Museum in Cleveland, Ohio.
Lipps Inc. had other songs like "Designer Music" and "Rock It." However, none of their other songs became as successful as "Funkytown." The group won several awards, including three Billboard Music Awards. Cynthia left the band after their third album, Designer Music, came out.
Music from the Late 1980s to Today
Cynthia Johnson has continued her music career. She is still an active member of the gospel group Sounds of Blackness. This group has won the Grammy Award three times! Cynthia has also played music on albums for artists like Maceo Parker and Prince. She has worked with famous music labels like Motown. She also worked on projects with Grammy-winning producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
Besides singing on albums, Cynthia has sung for commercials. You might have heard her voice in ads for big companies like 3M, Volkswagen, Nissan, Target, FedEx, Ford, and McDonald's. She has even sung for U.S. presidents! In 2013, Cynthia was the host for the first episode of the FunkyTown TV series. This show was made by a company in Minneapolis called Megabien Entertainment.
Her Solo Music
Cynthia Johnson also has her own solo music career. Her first solo album is called All That I Am. It was released on December 15, 2013. The album came out on the Megabien Music label.
Awards and Special Recognitions
- Miss Black Minnesota USA, 1976
- Inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame as part of Lipps Inc
- Received Platinum, Double Platinum, Gold, and Silver awards for "Funkytown" as the lead singer
- Three Billboard Music Awards, 1980
- Three-time Grammy Award Winner as a member of Sounds of Blackness (1991, 1993, and 1998)
Film and TV Appearances
- Live performance of "Higher Ground" with ABC Youth Choir, Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota, 2001
- Funkytown, TV series, 2013
- Les Annees Bonheur, French TV show, 2014
Images for kids
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Johnson performing in July 2014
