Cynthia Johnson

Cynthia Johnson (born April 22, 1956) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and producer. She is best known as the lead singer of the band Lipps Inc. with the worldwide smash hit "Funkytown".[1]

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.

Cynthia Johnson
Cynthia Johnson
Background information
Birth nameCynthia Johnson
Born (1956-04-22) April 22, 1956
Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
GenresFunk, disco, R&B, jazz, pop, soul, rock
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, actress, producer
InstrumentsVocals, saxophone, keyboards
Years active1973–present
LabelsCasablanca Records, Megabien Music
Associated actsLipps Inc., Flyte Tyme, Sounds of Blackness
Websitecynthiajohnson.net

Musical career

Beginnings

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. 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. 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.

Discography

Solo albums and lead vocalist
  • 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, producer

Additional appearances
  • 1978 A Touch on the Rainy Side – Jesse Winchester – Choir/Chorus
  • 1980 Billboard Top Dance Hits: 1980 – Saxophone, Vocals
  • 1987 Kiss Serious – Chico DeBarge – Vocals (Background)
  • 1988 Just Like That – Brownmark – Vocals (Background)
  • 1988 Personal & Attention – Stacy Lattisaw – Vocals (Background)
  • 1988 When the Lights Go Out – Pia Zadora – Vocals (Background)
  • 1988 Carry On, Vol. 2 – Ipso Facto – Vocals
  • 1988 Omaiyo – Robin Adnan Anders – Vocals
  • 1990 I Am – Elisa Fiorillo – Vocals (Background)
  • 1990 The Brojos – The Brojos – Rap, Vocals (Background)
  • 1991 Here It Is – Jevetta Steele – Vocals (Background)
  • 1991 Imperial Bells of China – Hubei Song & Dance Ensemble – Photography
  • 1993 Here It Is – Jevetta Steele – Vocals (Background)
  • 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 & The Voices of St. Mark – Lonnie Hunter – Alto (Vocals)
  • 1998 Lost in the Blues – Doug Maynard – Vocals (Background)
  • 1998 River of Song: A Musical Journey Down the Mississippi – Producer
  • 1999 Loud Guitars, Big Suspicions – Shannon Curfman – Vocals (Background)
  • 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, Vocals (Background)
  • 2003 David Young – David Young – Vocals (Background)
  • 2003 Made by Maceo – Maceo Parker – Vocals (Background)
  • 2003 Sweet Talk – Reneé Austin – Vocals (Background)
  • 2004 Deliverance – Shane Henry – Vocals (Background)
  • 2005 In the Fellowship – Patrick Lundy – Tenor (Vocal)
  • 2005 Right About Love – Reneé Austin – Vocal Harmony, Vocals (Background)
  • 2005 School's In! – Maceo Parker – Vocals, Vocals (Background)
  • 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 – Vocals (Background)
  • 2006 Overflow – Kevin Davidson – Banjo
  • 2007 Between Saturday Night and Sunday Morning – Mick Sterling – Main Personnel, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
  • 2007 Kings and Queens: Message from the Movement – Sounds of Blackness – Alto (Vocals)
  • 2007 The One Who's Leavin' – Doug Spartz – Vocals (Background)
  • 2010 Chinese Whispers – Alison Scott – Vocals (Background)
  • 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 & Remnant – Vocals (Soprano)
  • 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
  1. "Funky Town Singer Cynthia Johnson".
  2. "Cynthia Johnson, lead vocalist of Flyte Tyme for seven years". Cynthiajohnson.net. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
  3. "Cynthia Johnson Releases". Cynthia Johnson Net. July 1, 2013. Archived from the original on July 1, 2013.
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