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Cheryl Lynn

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Data updated on 2024-06-08 19:58:49 UTC
While Cheryl Lynn benefited from timely associations with David Foster and David Paich, Ray Parker, Jr., Luther Vandross, and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the major players who co-wrote and/or produced her biggest hits, it can be argued just as easily that the singer provided her collaborators with some of their most significant and opportune career achievements. There's no imagining the platinum breakthrough "Got to Be Real," "Shake It Up Tonight," "If This World Were Mine," and "Encore," all Top Five R&B hits from 1978 through 1983, as hits for anyone but Lynn, a church-raised powerhouse with a consistently vivacious and soaring voice. A songwriter and producer herself, Lynn peaked creatively and commercially during that six-year period with three Top Ten R&B albums, including the gold-certified debut Cheryl Lynn (1978), Instant Love (1982), and Preppie (1983). After six albums for Columbia, Lynn recorded for Manhattan and Virgin, released her last LP in the mid-'90s, and has since performed and recorded intermittently, last heard on the soundtrack for Shark Tale (2004).

A Los Angeleno, Lynn began singing as a youngster in church, where her mother was a musical director, and continued with her congregation's adult choir. In 1976, she put behind her collegiate studies in speech therapy to pursue acting and singing. She spent eight months with the national touring company of The Wiz, beginning as a background vocalist and eventually portraying the Wicked Witch of the West. During this time, at her manager's behest, Lynn reluctantly and successfully auditioned for The Gong Show and returned to perform Billy Preston's and Bruce Fisher's "You Are So Beautiful," for which she received a perfect score. No mere novelty, Lynn stirred interest from several record labels. Columbia signed her at the tail-end of 1977, a year in which the singer, then exiting her teens, was also credited with background vocals on D.J. Rogers' Love, Music & Life and Eddie Kendricks' Slick.

Lynn's solo recorded debut was made in 1978 with "Got to Be Real." A bubbling and sophisticated crossover disco smash, it was written by Lynn with David Foster and David Paich, the latter of whom -- a member of Columbia labelmates Toto -- produced it with his father, Marty Paich. The song topped Billboard's R&B chart and went number 12 pop, and was soon certified gold by the RIAA. As it was climbing the charts, Columbia issued Cheryl Lynn, which reached number 23 on the Billboard 200, went Top Five R&B, and earned a gold plaque, given extra support from the number 16 R&B hit "Star Love" (originally the B-side of "Got to Be Real") and the deep disco classic "You Saved My Day." Around the same time, Toto featured Lynn on "Georgy Porgy," another Top 20 R&B single.

The singer navigated the post-disco era while continually switching up studio partners. After her Barry Blue-produced follow-up, In Love, Lynn worked closely with "Got to Be Real" rhythm guitarist Ray Parker, Jr., who enlisted most of Raydio, along with arranger fellow Barry White associate Gene Page, bassist Marcus Miller, and many more of his distinguished studio session peers, to help cut the 1981 album In the Night. "Shake It Up Tonight," a high-stepping number written by Mike & Brenda Sutton, was its biggest single, topping out at number five on the R&B and dance charts. Lynn then connected with the emergent Luther Vandross for 1982's Instant Love, her second Top Ten R&B LP. Filled with Miller's liquid basslines and Vandross' unmistakable vocal arrangements -- enlivened by the top-tier likes of Tawatha Agee and Fonzi Thornton -- the album most notably contained a cover of Marvin Gaye's "If This World Were Mine." Lynn and duet partner Vandross took the update to number four on the R&B chart. She also joined flutist Hubert Laws that year for a version of "Goodbye for Now," Stephen Sondheim's theme from the film Reds.

Meanwhile, Lynn quietly continued to supply background vocals on sessions for albums by Parker, Vandross, Greg Phillinganes, Betty Wright, and a few other acts. The extracurricular activity didn't impede her creativity. For her fifth album, Preppie, she produced each song with the exception of "Encore," a Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis collaboration that swung a little differently than that duo's preceding success with Klymaxx and the S.O.S. Band. "Encore" became Lynn's second single (and Jam and Lewis' first of dozens) to top the R&B chart, and was also her fourth and final Hot 100 placement. The parent release was Lynn's third Top Ten R&B LP. Two years later, her Columbia period concluded with It's Gonna Be Right, on which she worked with Jam and Lewis, their fellow ex-Time bandmate Monte Moir, and Hubert Eaves III, who had just wrapped up with D Train.

Lynn closed out the decade with Start Over and Whatever It Takes, released respectively on Manhattan in 1987 and on Virgin in 1989. These LPs likewise employed a broad assortment of contributors. Start Over was highlighted by "If You Were Mine," a midtempo groove made with future Rihanna hitmakers Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers that narrowly missed the R&B Top Ten. Whatever It Takes dipped into the dominant new jack swing sound, as heard on "Upset!," a collaboration with Loose Ends and Jesse Johnson (yet another Time alum), but its biggest hit was a plush ballad, "Everytime I Try to Say Goodbye," produced by Lynn and Johnson.

After she sang backup on multiple early-'90s Richard Marx sessions, Lynn made one more album, Good Time, distributed only in part of Europe and Japan. Almost half of the songs were produced by new jack swing catalyst Teddy Riley (Guy, Blackstreet), while Jazzie B. (Soul II Soul) worked with the singer on "Renegade." Since the album's release in 1995, Lynn has retreated from the music industry, but has occasionally performed. "Got to Be Real" was certified platinum in 2001, and four years later was honored by the Dance Music Hall of Fame. Between the two accolades, Lynn and Jam and Lewis reunited to record "Sweet Kind of Life" for the Shark Tale soundtrack. ~ Andy Kellman, Rovi

Total plays

259.1 million
Updated on 2024-06-08

Monthly listeners

1,610,324

Followers

260,585

Top Cities

  1. United Kingdom
    36,429 listeners
  2. United States
    21,997 listeners
  3. Brazil
    22,529 listeners
  4. Chile
    18,488 listeners
  5. France
    19,312 listeners

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Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Got to Be Real
Got to Be Real
110,963,672 5:08 1978-07-17
Got to Be Real
Got to Be Real
46,143,613 3:48 1968-01-01
Got To Be Real - Single Version
Got To Be Real - Single Version
46,143,613 3:45 1965-01-01
If This World Were Mine (with Luther Vandross) - Single Version
If This World Were Mine (with Luther Vandross) - Single Version
17,062,140 4:00 1982-06-11
Georgy Porgy (feat. Cheryl Lynn) - Disco Version
Georgy Porgy (feat. Cheryl Lynn) - Disco Version
12,689,384 5:06 1996-01-01
To Be Real
To Be Real
7,606,588 3:23 2023-05-26
Encore
Encore
7,415,648 5:20 1983-01-01
Encore - Single Version
Encore - Single Version
6,046,672 4:33 1996-01-01
Shake It Up Tonight
Shake It Up Tonight
2,860,759 5:42 1981-04-06
If You'll Be True To Me
If You'll Be True To Me
1,053,063 4:04 1981-04-06
Star Love
Star Love
917,008 7:24 1978-07-17
Encore - Single Version
Encore - Single Version
715,735 3:26 2008-07-28
All My Lovin'
All My Lovin'
711,084 4:51 1978-07-17
You Saved My Day
You Saved My Day
526,627 4:27 1978-07-17
Encore - Extended Version
Encore - Extended Version
448,144 8:19 1983-01-01
It's Gonna Be Right
It's Gonna Be Right
412,702 4:01 1996-01-01
Got to Be Real - Live
Got to Be Real - Live
379,503 3:04 2008-10-14
In The Night
In The Night
373,908 4:28 1981-04-06
I Just Wanna Be Your Fantasy
I Just Wanna Be Your Fantasy
307,349 4:05 1982-06-11
Fix It
Fix It
216,807 4:01 1983-01-01
I've Got Just What You Need
I've Got Just What You Need
171,684 3:51 1996-01-01
Come in from the Rain
Come in from the Rain
160,939 3:32 1978-07-17
Give My Love To You
Give My Love To You
155,852 3:51 1996-01-01
Star Love - Original 12" Mix
Star Love - Original 12" Mix
150,414 6:07 1996-01-30
Instant Love
Instant Love
146,325 5:10 1982-06-11
Keep It Hot
Keep It Hot
138,507 5:22 1996-01-01
Sleep Walkin'
Sleep Walkin'
128,071 6:26 1982-06-11
You Saved My Day - Dave Lee Tell The World Mix
You Saved My Day - Dave Lee Tell The World Mix
121,729 8:55 2021-12-17
Daybreak (Storybook Children)
Daybreak (Storybook Children)
120,597 3:46 1978-07-17
I've Got Faith In You
I've Got Faith In You
116,222 4:41 1996-01-01
I'm On Fire
I'm On Fire
115,717 4:24 1981-04-06
Give My Love to You
Give My Love to You
113,741 3:34 1978-07-17
Feel It - Extended Version
Feel It - Extended Version
110,294 5:10 1979-01-01
You Saved My Day - Special 12" Version
You Saved My Day - Special 12" Version
110,241 5:33 1978-07-17
Believe In Me
Believe In Me
101,212 3:30 1982-06-11
Look Before You Leap
Look Before You Leap
99,728 4:02 1982-06-11
You're the One
You're the One
99,707 4:10 1978-07-17
Life's Too Short
Life's Too Short
97,882 5:09 1983-01-01
Say You'll Be Mine
Say You'll Be Mine
97,185 5:07 1982-06-11
Hide It Away
Hide It Away
92,244 4:39 1979-01-01
Change the Channel
Change the Channel
90,179 3:18 1983-01-01
Show You How
Show You How
88,848 4:07 1981-04-06
Sweet Kind Of Life - Audiowhores 2020 Edit
Sweet Kind Of Life - Audiowhores 2020 Edit
84,753 6:30 2020-06-05
Nothing You Say
Nothing You Say
82,999 3:59 1978-07-17
Feel It
Feel It
69,862 3:56 1979-01-01
What's On Your Mind
What's On Your Mind
61,636 4:06 1981-04-06
Every Time I Say Goodbye
Every Time I Say Goodbye
59,656 5:07 1989-01-01
Day After Day
Day After Day
57,808 4:36 1982-06-11
Hurry Home
Hurry Home
54,675 4:30 1981-04-06
No One Else Will Do
No One Else Will Do
38,910 4:49 1983-01-01
Got to Be Real
Got to Be Real
38,370 3:25 2016-04-01
Fool a Fool
Fool a Fool
37,589 3:51 1983-01-01
This Time
This Time
34,226 4:29 1983-01-01
I've Got Just What You Need
I've Got Just What You Need
30,652 3:55 1979-01-01
Love Bomb
Love Bomb
29,301 4:13 1979-01-01
Baby
Baby
27,655 4:20 1981-04-06
Sleep Walkin'
Sleep Walkin'
27,225 6:25 1982-06-11
With Love On Our Side
With Love On Our Side
24,538 4:03 1981-04-06
Keep It Hot
Keep It Hot
23,142 5:27 1979-01-01
Love Rush
Love Rush
22,823 4:16 1983-01-01
Whatever It Takes
Whatever It Takes
22,215 5:23 1989-01-01
Keep It Hot - Special Version
Keep It Hot - Special Version
22,020 5:27 1979-01-01
Shake It Up Tonight - Single Version
Shake It Up Tonight - Single Version
21,459 4:09 1981-04-06
Day After Day
Day After Day
20,400 4:35 1982-06-11
Don't Let It Fade Away
Don't Let It Fade Away
19,359 5:14 1979-01-01
In Love - Extended Version
In Love - Extended Version
17,598 5:58 1979-01-01
Preppie
Preppie
17,395 4:08 1983-01-01
Chances
Chances
17,339 4:12 1979-01-01
I've Got Faith In You
I've Got Faith In You
13,739 4:46 1979-01-01
Free
Free
13,736 4:42 1983-01-01
Got to Be Real (Rerecorded)
Got to Be Real (Rerecorded)
13,342 2:33 2014-07-15
In The Night - Single Version
In The Night - Single Version
12,020 3:60 1981-04-06
Free - Special 12" Version
Free - Special 12" Version
11,684 7:20 1983-01-01
Overworked N' Underloved
Overworked N' Underloved
10,268 5:05 1989-01-01
Good For Me
Good For Me
9,043 5:31 1989-01-01
Upset
Upset
8,997 6:26 1989-01-01
Say You'll Be Mine
Say You'll Be Mine
8,552 5:07 1982-06-11
I Surrender
I Surrender
8,066 5:09 1989-01-01
Preppie - 12" Version
Preppie - 12" Version
7,990 5:00 1983-01-01
In Love - 7" Version
In Love - 7" Version
6,919 3:46 1979-01-01
Preppie - 12" Instrumental Version
Preppie - 12" Instrumental Version
6,240 5:35 1983-01-01
Instant Love - Single Version
Instant Love - Single Version
6,026 3:58 1982-06-11
The Bottom Line
The Bottom Line
5,828 4:24 1989-01-01
My Precious - feat. Cheryl Lynn
My Precious - feat. Cheryl Lynn
4,830 5:06 2011-04-06
Encore
Encore
3,730 5:05 2021-01-12
Most Of All
Most Of All
2,566 4:34 1989-01-01
Got to Be Real
Got to Be Real
< 1000 1:28 2004-02-02
All My Lovin'
All My Lovin'
< 1000 4:22 2023-06-14

New releases

Best Of Cheryl Lynn
Best Of Cheryl Lynn
2010-08-30
[Sony Music Entertainment]
The Best Of Cheryl Lynn: Got To Be Real
The Best Of Cheryl Lynn: Got To Be Real
1996-01-01
[Columbia/Legacy]
The Best Of Cheryl Lynn: Got To Be Real
The Best Of Cheryl Lynn: Got To Be Real
1996-01-01
[Columbia/Legacy]
Whatever It Takes
Whatever It Takes
1989-01-01
[Virgin Catalog (V81)]
Preppie (Expanded Edition)
Preppie (Expanded Edition)
1983-01-01
[Columbia/Legacy]
Instant Love (Expanded Edition)
Instant Love (Expanded Edition)
1982-06-11
[Legacy Recordings]
Instant Love
Instant Love
1982-06-11
[Legacy Recordings]
In The Night
In The Night
1981-09-24
[Legacy Recordings]
In The Night (Expanded Edition)
In The Night (Expanded Edition)
1981-04-06
[Columbia/Legacy]
In Love (Expanded Edition)
In Love (Expanded Edition)
1979-01-01
[Columbia/Legacy]
Cheryl Lynn (Expanded Edition)
Cheryl Lynn (Expanded Edition)
1978-07-17
[Legacy Recordings]