Lauper, Cyndi (1953–)
Lauper, Cyndi (1953–)
American pop singer. Born Cynthia Anne Stephanie Lauper, June 22, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York; dau. of Fred and Catrine Dominique Lauper (waitress); studied voice with Katherine Agresta; m. David Thornton (actor), 1991; children: Declyn Wallace Thornton Lauper.
Pop star with thrift-store style and urban wild-child image who had enormous success in 1980s; began playing guitar at 11, dropped out of school, and sang and wrote songs for rock band Blue Angel for 4 years; recorded international hit album She's So Unusual (1983), which won a Grammy; was also the 1st woman to have 4 songs from same album in Top 3 on charts ("Girls," "All through the Night," "She-Bop" and "Time After Time"); had considerable success with next album True Colors (1986), scoring #1 hit with title track; other albums include A Night to Remember (1989), A Hat Full of Stars (1993), The 12 Deadly Cyns and Then Some (1995), Sisters of Avalon (1997), At Last (2003) and Shine (2004).
See also Carl R. Green and William R. Sanford, Cyndi Lauper (Crestwood, 1986).