b. Cheryl Lynn Smith, 11th March 1957, Los Angeles, California, USA.
The full-throated Lynn became a hitmaker at the height of disco's popularity, singing dance tunes that retained the gospel vocal approach of classic soul.
Lynn grew up in the church where her mother was a minister of music.
Her break into the music business came in 1976 after she won as a contestant on the US television amateur talent show The Gong Show.
Before signing with Columbia, however, she spent half a year with a touring company of 'The Wiz', a black musical based on the Wizard Of Oz story.
Lynn achieved a million-seller with her very first record, 'Got To Be Real', reaching number 1 R & B and number 12 pop in 1978.
Other chart entries followed, notably 'Shake It Up Tonight' (US R & B number 5), 'Encore' (US R & B number 1), and 'If You Were Mine' (US R & B number 11).
She also enjoyed success in 1982 with an excellent remake of the Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell hit, 'If This World Was Mine' (US R & B number 4), on which she duetted with Luther Vandross.
Her success in the UK was minimal, with only 'Encore' briefly entering the charts in 1984.
Albums:
Cheryl Lynn (Columbia 1978)
In Love (Columbia 1980)
In The Night (Columbia 1981)
Instant Love (Columbia 1982)
Preppie (Columbia 1984)
It's Gonna Be Right (Columbia 1985)
Start Over (Manhattan 1987)
Whatever It Takes (1989)
