How a television talent show appearance launched a disco icon's enduring musical career
In short: Before she became a staple of late 1970s disco, Cheryl Lynn was a church choir singer who caught her big break on The Gong Show. Her journey from a national touring production of The Wiz to topping the R&B charts remains a masterclass in navigating the music industry's complex landscape.
Born Lynda Cheryl Smith in 1957, Lynn first gained national attention in June 1976 during a televised performance on The Gong Show. This exposure proved pivotal, leading to a contract with Columbia Records after a missed meeting with Atlantic Records executive Ahmed Ertegun. Her debut single, Got to Be Real, co-written with David Paich and David Foster, became an immediate success, reaching the top of the Rhythm & Blues chart and peaking at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. The accompanying self-titled album achieved significant commercial success, selling over one million copies.
Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, Lynn collaborated with prominent producers including Marty Paich, Ray Parker Jr., and Luther Vandross. Her versatility allowed her to bridge genres, notably providing the female backing vocals for Toto's Georgy Porgy, which became the group's only R&B and dance hit on the Billboard charts. Her fifth album, Preppie, featured the track Encore, produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, which secured her second number-one position on the R&B charts. These years established a foundation that sustained her career through various shifts in musical trends.
Despite a period without a record contract in the 1990s, Lynn continued to contribute to projects for artists like Richard Marx and Luther Vandross. Her influence persisted into the new millennium, evidenced by the 2005 induction of her signature track into the Dance Music Hall of Fame and its continued relevance through covers by artists such as Mary J. Blige and Kumi Koda. Her work remains a touchstone for contemporary R&B singers, illustrating the lasting impact of her initial Columbia Records era on the evolution of dance and soul music.
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