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 |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1973–present |
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| Associated acts | Lipps Inc., Flyte Tyme, Sounds of Blackness |
Cynthia Johnson was born on April 22, 1956. She is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. She is most famous as the main singer for the disco and funk group Lipps Inc.. Their biggest hit song was "Funkytown", which became popular all over the world.
Contents
Cynthia Johnson's Music Journey
Early Career and Achievements
Before joining Lipps Inc., Cynthia Johnson was already well-known in her local area. In 1976, she won the Miss Black Minnesota, USA pageant. She was also the lead singer for seven years in a popular Minneapolis band 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 Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. These two later became very successful songwriters and producers, winning many Grammy Awards.
Cynthia finished her college degree at the University of Minnesota, Morris in 1978. She continued to perform with Flyte Tyme for a short time. After she left, the band changed and became The Time, a group connected to the famous musician Prince.
Success with Lipps Inc.
Cynthia Johnson became the lead singer of Lipps Inc., a popular band from Minneapolis. They are best known for their 1980 song "Funkytown". This song reached number one in 28 different countries. It sold over 35 million copies worldwide! "Funkytown" even has a special place in the "One-Hit Wonders" section of the Rock & Roll Museum in Cleveland, Ohio.
Lipps Inc. also released other songs like "Designer Music" and "Rock It". However, none of their other songs became as big a hit as "Funkytown". The group won several awards, including three Billboard Music Awards. They also received "Soul Record of the Year" from the AMOA association. Cynthia left the band after their third album, Designer Music, was released.
Music Work from the 1980s to Today
Cynthia Johnson has continued her music career and is still very active. She is a member of the gospel group Sounds of Blackness, which has won three Grammy Awards. She has also played music on albums for artists like Maceo Parker and Prince. She has worked with famous record labels like Motown.
Cynthia has also worked on projects with Grammy-winning producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. She has sung jingles for commercials for big companies. These include 3M, Volkswagen, Nissan, Target, FedEx, Ford, and McDonald's. She has even sung for U.S. presidents. In 2013, Cynthia was the host of the first episode of the FunkyTown TV series. This show was made by Megabien Entertainment in Minneapolis.
Cynthia's Solo Music
Besides working with other artists, Cynthia Johnson also has her own solo music career. Her first solo album, All That I Am, was released on December 15, 2013. It was released on the Megabien Music label.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Cynthia Johnson has received many awards and honors throughout her career:
- Miss Black Minnesota USA in 1976.
- She was inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame as a member of Lipps Inc.
- As the lead singer of "Funkytown," she helped the song earn Platinum status in the US. It also went Double Platinum in Canada, Gold in France and Germany, and Silver in the UK.
- Three Billboard Music Awards in 1980.
- Three-time Grammy Award Winner as a member of Sounds of Blackness in 1991, 1993, and 1998.
Images for kids
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Johnson performing in July 2014
