Cynthia Johnson

Cynthia Johnson is an American singer, songwriter, actress and producer and is best known as the lead singer of the band Lipps Inc. with the worldwide smash hit "Funkytown". _________________________________________________________

Prior to being the lead singer of the popular Minneapolis-based band 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. Being also an accomplished saxophone player, Johnson utilized her saxophone talents in Flyte Tyme, while she was also the songwriter of many of their songs. Johnson also co-wrote songs with band members Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, today a multi-Grammy award winning songwriting and producing team.

In 1980 her voice entered the worldwide stage when the "Funkytown" song hit No. 1 in 28 countries. By today, the song has been sold more than 35 million copies worldwide, earned a place in the "One-Hit Wonders" section of the Rock & Roll Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, and continues to influence popular culture from the movie screen (e.g. Shrek 2) to the Olympics (2010 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy). The group received several awards, among them three Billboard Music Awards and "Soul Record of the Year" by the AMOA association.

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. And of course also as a solo artist, her R&B album "All That I Am" (released in 2013 on the Megabien Music label) sums up a lifetime of vocal artistry, showing her talents as a singer, songwriter and producer. Her versatile voice has also lead to a long track record as a jazz vocalist or to get the call to perform for U.S. presidents.

Besides her accomplishments in the music business, Johnson has also proven her talent in the television business. Johnson is the host of the FunkyTown TV series, produced by the Minneapolis-based production company, Megabien Entertainment. She also has worked as a jingle singer on commercials for products from 3M, Volkswagen, Nissan, Target, FedEx, Ford and McDonald's.

Awards

- Miss Black Minnesota USA, 1976 - Induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland Ohio as a member of Lipps Inc - 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

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