Cheryl Lynn

Cheryl Lynn (born Lynda Cheryl Smith; March 11, 1957) is an American singer. She is best known for her songs during the late 1970s through the mid-1980s, including the 1978 R&B/disco song "Got to Be Real". Lynn's singing career began with her church choir when she was a girl. Her professional singing career started in 1976 when she obtained a job as a backing vocalist for the national touring company of the musical drama The Wiz. Eventually she obtained the role of Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West, during the six-month national tour. Prior to her appearance in The Wiz, Lynn taped an episode of The Gong Show during early 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 fall of 1976, record industry executives were interested in contracting her.