Cheryl Lynn
Cheryl Lynn Birth name Lynda Cheryl Smith Born (1957-03-11) March 11, 1957 (age 57) Los Angeles, California, U.S. Genres Disco, R&B, Soul Occupation(s) Singer Instruments Vocals Years active 1975–present Labels Columbia (1978-1985; 1996) Manhattan (1987-89) Virgin (1989-1991) Avex Trax (1995-1996) Associated acts Richard Marx, Luther Vandross, Teddy Riley, Deniece Williams Website www.cheryllynn.com Cheryl Lynn (born Lynda Cheryl Smith; March 11, 1957) is an American disco, R&B and soul singer known best for her 1978 disco song, "Got to Be Real". Lynn's singing career began when she was a young girl with her church choir. However, her professional singing career started during 1976 when she obtained a job as a backing vocalist for the national touring company of the musical drama The Wiz. Eventually she would obtain the role of Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West, during the six month national tour. Prior to her appearance on The Wiz, Cheryl taped an episode of the Gong Show during the early part of 1976. She scored a perfect 30 singing Joe Cocker's "You Are So Beautiful", a previous act (a singing juggler) had also scored 30 and in the audience applause tie-break the juggler was deemed the winner. After the episode was broadcast, during the autumn of 1976, record industry executives were calling to contract her.