Cynthia Johnson (born April 22, 1956) is an American singer, songwriter and television personality. She is best known as the lead singer of the band Lipps Inc. with the worldwide smash hit "Funkytown".[1]
Prior to becoming the lead singer of Lipps Inc., Johnson had become well-known locally for winning the 1976 Miss Black Minnesota, USA pageant, and for being the lead vocalist of the well-known Minneapolis band Flyte Tyme for seven years. Being also an accomplished saxophone player, Johnson utilized her saxophone talents in Flyte Tyme, and she was also the songwriter of many of their songs. Johnson also co-wrote some songs with band members Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, today a multi-Grammy award winning songwriting and producing team.[2] Johnson completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota, Morris in 1978, and continued to perform with Flyte Tyme for a brief time. Shortly after she left Flyte Tyme, the band evolved into The Time, a side project of Prince.
Lipps Inc.
Johnson was the lead singer of the popular Minneapolis-based band Lipps Inc., best known for its 1980 song "Funkytown". The song hit No. 1 in 28 countries, sold more than 35 million copies worldwide, and earned a place in the "One-Hit Wonders" section of the Rock & Roll Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. Other singles include "Designer Music" and "Rock It", but the group never matched the success of "Funkytown", which continues to influence popular culture. The group received several awards, among them three Billboard Music Awards and "Soul Record of the Year" by the AMOA association[clarification needed]. Johnson left the band after the group's third album Designer Music was released.
Late 1980s to present
Johnson has continued her musical career and remains active as a member of the three-time Grammy Award-winning gospel group Sounds of Blackness, as a musician on albums by Maceo Parker and Prince, on labels such as Motown, and on projects of Grammy-winning producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. She also has worked as a jingle singer on commercials for products from 3M, Volkswagen, Nissan, Target, FedEx, Ford and McDonald's. She has also sung for U.S. presidents.[citation needed] Johnson was the host of the first episode of the FunkyTown TV series, produced by the Minneapolis-based production company, Megabien Entertainment.
Solo career
In addition to working with others, Johnson continues her career as a solo artist. Her debut album, All That I Am, was released on December 15, 2013 on the Megabien Music label.
2013 Purple Snow, Forecasting the Minneapolis Sound – Lead Vocals, Songwriter (1970s recording on compilation)
Filmography
Live performance "Higher Ground" with ABC Youth Choir, Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota, 2001
Funkytown, TV series, 2013
Les Annees Bonheur, French TV show, 2014
Awards and recognitions
Miss Black Minnesota USA, 1976
Induction into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame as a member of Lipps Inc
Recipient of Platinum in the US, Double Platinum in Canada, Gold in France and Germany, Silver in the UK, among others, as the lead singer on "Funkytown"
Three Billboard Music Awards, 1980
Three time Grammy Award Winner as a member of Sounds of Blackness, 1991, 1993 and 1998
References
^"Funky Town Singer Cynthia Johnson". January 9, 2020.
^"Cynthia Johnson, lead vocalist of Flyte Tyme for seven years". Cynthiajohnson.net. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
^"Cynthia Johnson Releases". Cynthia Johnson Net. July 1, 2013. Archived from the original on July 1, 2013.
External links
Official website
Cynthia Johnson is credited as a saxophonist on this compilation (containing "Funkytown")
Lipps Inc., Disco's Littlest, Oddest Conglomerate, Turns Minneapolis into An Unlikely 'Funkytown' (People Magazine – July 28, 1980)
Washington Post article "Funkytown: Digging on the rise of soul music in 1980s Minneapolis"
March 03, 2023
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This article is about the American singer For the American entrepreneur see Cynthia Johnson entrepreneur For the member of the Michigan House of Representatives see Cynthia A Johnson This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification Please help by adding reliable sources Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately especially if potentially libelous or harmful Find sources Cynthia Johnson news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message Cynthia Johnson born April 22 1956 is an American singer songwriter and television personality She is best known as the lead singer of the band Lipps Inc with the worldwide smash hit Funkytown 1 Cynthia JohnsonCynthia Johnson performing in July 2014Background informationBorn 1956 04 22 April 22 1956 age 66 Saint Paul Minnesota United StatesGenresFunk disco R amp B jazz pop soul rockOccupation s Singer songwriter television personalityInstrument s VocalsYears active1973 presentLabelsCasablanca Records Megabien MusicWebsitecynthiajohnson net Contents 1 Musical career 1 1 Beginnings 1 2 Lipps Inc 1 3 Late 1980s to present 1 4 Solo career 2 Discography 2 1 Solo albums and lead vocalist 2 2 Additional appearances 3 Filmography 4 Awards and recognitions 5 References 6 External linksMusical career EditBeginnings Edit Prior to becoming the lead singer of Lipps Inc Johnson had become well known locally for winning the 1976 Miss Black Minnesota USA pageant and for being the lead vocalist of the well known Minneapolis band Flyte Tyme for seven years Being also an accomplished saxophone player Johnson utilized her saxophone talents in Flyte Tyme and she was also the songwriter of many of their songs Johnson also co wrote some songs with band members Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis today a multi Grammy award winning songwriting and producing team 2 Johnson completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota Morris in 1978 and continued to perform with Flyte Tyme for a brief time Shortly after she left Flyte Tyme the band evolved into The Time a side project of Prince Lipps Inc Edit Johnson was the lead singer of the popular Minneapolis based band Lipps Inc best known for its 1980 song Funkytown The song hit No 1 in 28 countries sold more than 35 million copies worldwide and earned a place in the One Hit Wonders section of the Rock amp Roll Museum in Cleveland Ohio Other singles include Designer Music and Rock It but the group never matched the success of Funkytown which continues to influence popular culture The group received several awards among them three Billboard Music Awards and Soul Record of the Year by the AMOA association clarification needed Johnson left the band after the group s third album Designer Music was released Late 1980s to present Edit Johnson has continued her musical career and remains active as a member of the three time Grammy Award winning gospel group Sounds of Blackness as a musician on albums by Maceo Parker and Prince on labels such as Motown and on projects of Grammy winning producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis She also has worked as a jingle singer on commercials for products from 3M Volkswagen Nissan Target FedEx Ford and McDonald s She has also sung for U S presidents citation needed Johnson was the host of the first episode of the FunkyTown TV series produced by the Minneapolis based production company Megabien Entertainment Solo career Edit In addition to working with others Johnson continues her career as a solo artist Her debut album All That I Am was released on December 15 2013 on the Megabien Music label Discography EditSolo albums and lead vocalist Edit 1979 Mouth to Mouth Lipps Inc Lead Vocals 3 1980 Pucker Up Lipps Inc Lead Vocals 1981 Designer Music Lipps Inc Lead Vocals songwriter 1992 Funkyworld Lipps Inc Lead Vocals 2003 Funkytown Lipps Inc Lead Vocals songwriter composer 2013 All That I Am Main Vocals songwriter producerAdditional appearances Edit 1978 A Touch on the Rainy Side Jesse Winchester Choir Chorus 1980 Billboard Top Dance Hits 1980 Saxophone Vocals 1987 Kiss Serious Chico DeBarge backing vocals 1988 Just Like That Brownmark backing vocals 1988 Personal amp Attention Stacy Lattisaw backing vocals 1988 When the Lights Go Out Pia Zadora backing vocals 1988 Carry On Vol 2 Ipso Facto Vocals 1988 Omaiyo Robin Adnan Anders Vocals 1990 I Am Elisa Fiorillo backing vocals 1990 The Brojos The Brojos Rap backing vocals 1991 Here It Is Jevetta Steele backing vocals 1991 Imperial Bells of China Hubei Song amp Dance Ensemble Photography 1993 Here It Is Jevetta Steele backing vocals 1994 African American Music in Minnesota Vocals 1995 It Must Be Christmas Debbie Duncan Choir Chorus Vocals 1996 Best of the Singer s Voice Performer Primary Artist 1996 Greatest Hits Georgia Mass Choir Choir Chorus 1998 Lonnie Hunter amp The Voices of St Mark Lonnie Hunter Alto Vocals 1998 Lost in the Blues Doug Maynard backing vocals 1998 River of Song A Musical Journey Down the Mississippi Producer 1999 Loud Guitars Big Suspicions Shannon Curfman backing vocals 1999 Billboard Top Dance Hits 1976 1980 Saxophone Vocals 2002 Solid Gold Funk Vocals 2002 Soul Symphony Sounds of Blackness Alto Vocals 2003 Angels on the Freeway Kevin Bowe Vocals 2003 Cross N Water Ford Vocals backing vocals 2003 David Young David Young backing vocals 2003 Made by Maceo Maceo Parker backing vocals 2003 Sweet Talk Renee Austin backing vocals 2004 Deliverance Shane Henry backing vocals 2005 In the Fellowship Patrick Lundy Tenor Vocals 2005 Right About Love Renee Austin Vocal Harmony backing vocals 2005 School s In Maceo Parker Vocals backing vocals 2005 Unity Sounds of Blackness Alto Vocals Primary Artist Vocals 2005 Unity 2005 Unity Alto Vocals Primary Artist Vocals 2006 I ll Play All Night Long John McAndrew backing vocals 2006 Overflow Kevin Davidson Banjo 2007 Between Saturday Night and Sunday Morning Mick Sterling Main Personnel Vocals backing vocals 2007 Kings and Queens Message from the Movement Sounds of Blackness Alto Vocals 2007 The One Who s Leavin Doug Spartz backing vocals 2010 Chinese Whispers Alison Scott backing vocals 2010 Life s a Party the Best of In Between Primary Artist 2011 Hope One Mile G B Leighton Vocal Harmony 2011 Sounds of Blackness Sounds of Blackness Alto Vocals Group Member Vocals 2012 Natchez Trace Kevin Bowe Vocal Harmony 2012 Nothing But a Breeze A Touch on the Rainy Side Jesse Winchester Choir Chorus 2013 He s Faithful James Pullin amp Remnant Soprano vocals 2013 Purple Snow Forecasting the Minneapolis Sound Lead Vocals Songwriter 1970s recording on compilation Filmography EditLive performance Higher Ground with ABC Youth Choir Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul Minnesota 2001 Funkytown TV series 2013 Les Annees Bonheur French TV show 2014Awards and recognitions EditMiss Black Minnesota USA 1976 Induction into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame as a member of Lipps Inc Recipient of Platinum in the US Double Platinum in Canada Gold in France and Germany Silver in the UK among others as the lead singer on Funkytown Three Billboard Music Awards 1980 Three time Grammy Award Winner as a member of Sounds of Blackness 1991 1993 and 1998References Edit Funky Town Singer Cynthia Johnson January 9 2020 Cynthia Johnson lead vocalist of Flyte Tyme for seven years Cynthiajohnson net Retrieved October 18 2015 Cynthia Johnson Releases Cynthia Johnson Net July 1 2013 Archived from the original on July 1 2013 External links EditOfficial website Cynthia Johnson is credited as a saxophonist on this compilation containing Funkytown Lipps Inc Disco s Littlest Oddest Conglomerate Turns Minneapolis into An Unlikely Funkytown People Magazine July 28 1980 TV show Funkytown Video Production by Megabien Entertainment Sept 2012 Washington Post article Funkytown Digging on the rise of soul music in 1980s Minneapolis Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cynthia Johnson amp oldid 1133479243, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,