Cynthia Johnson (born April 22, 1956) is an American singer, songwriter and television personality. She is best known as the lead vocalist of the disco and funk group Lipps Inc. with the worldwide smash hit "Funkytown".
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 also wrote 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.
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
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 – backing vocals
1988: Just Like That – Brownmark – backing vocals
1988: Personal & 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 & Dance Ensemble – Photography
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 – 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 – Reneé Austin – backing vocals
2004: Deliverance – Shane Henry – backing vocals
2005: In the Fellowship – Patrick Lundy – Tenor Vocals
2005: Right About Love – Reneé Austin – Vocal Harmony, backing vocals
2005: School's In! – Maceo Parker – Vocals, backing vocals
2005: Unity – Sounds of Blackness – 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