Feisty Female Friday: Cyndi Lauper

The FFF this week is Cyndi Lauper.

Cyndi is an American singer, songwriter, and actress whose style and catchy songs have helped make her a pop music favorite.

Cyndi grew up in NY, dropped out of school, and worked assorted jobs and sang popular songs in nightclubs. After she suffered an injury to her vocal cords, she began to study under a vocal coach. Her distinctive voice and charmingly quirky persona soon helped her become an instant hit. Her first solo album, She’s So Unusual, included the still popular single and MTV favorites, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” and “Time After Time.” Cyndi won a Grammy Award for best new artist and had a memorable solo part in the “We Are the World” single. She has also appeared on television variety and talk shows and continued to record, her later albums including Memphis Blues and Detour.

Cyndi composed the score for the Broadway musical, Kinky Boots, which won 5 Tony Awards, making her the first solo woman to win a Tony. She also composed songs for the hit musical, Sponge Bob Square Pants. Her life and career were the subject of a documentary, Let the Canary Sing. Cyndi was also inducted into the Songwriters and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has also won a MTV Video, Emmy, American Music, and Outer Critics Award.

In June 2024, she announced that she planned to retire as a touring artist but the tour was later extended into 2025. Just this week she presented her final tour concert at the Hollywood Bowl. What a great show!

Cyndi is a dedicated philanthropist, best known for co-founding True Color United, established The Girls Just Want to Have Fundamental Rights Foundation, supports HRC, PFLAG, and has been an advocate for HIV/AIDS treatment and support.

She is married, has a son, and lives in NY.