Cyndi Ann Stephanie Lauper was born in Queens, New York on June 20, 1953. Although Cyndi might be best known for her wild costumes and video antics of the 80s, she has shown that she wasn't just a fad of the 80s. Her music has matured as she herself as matured, and in the 90s, Cyndi Lauper continues to bring her brand of music to audiences around the world. Cyndi's talent for music began at the age of 12 when she learned to play the guitar and creating lyrics. Cyndi eventually dropped out of high school and starting singing in local clubs and songwriting. She played with a few cover bands (Doc West, Flyer) playing Top 40 music, and in 1977, Cyndi severely damaged her vocal cords. Cyndi had to spend a year of "voice therapy" to regain her vocals. Before Cyndi hit it big as a solo artist, she recorded an LP in 1980 with the group Blue Angel. The group had some marginal success in New York, but eventually disbanded and Cyndi was forced to file for bankruptcy. Cyndi continued to play local clubs, but this time as a solo artist.
Cyndi moved from a Williamsburg suburb to Queens with her mother, brother and sister in 1958, after her parents' divorce.
1965
At the age of 12, Cyndi took up playing the guitar and started to write lyrics. The first song she learned to play was Greensleeves.
1970
Cyndi left home in 1970 to hitch-hike through Canada with her dog, Sparkle. Spending the following year studying art at Vermont College
1974
Cyndi began her musical career, when she joined Long Island band Doc West as lead singer, before linking with covers band Flyer, with whom she spent the next three years.
1977
Cyndi lost her voice after intense vocal performing, doctors say she will never sing again. However, she regains her voice through vocal training with Katie Ayresta.
1978
Blue Angel is formed
1980
Blue Angel releases debut album, also called Blue Angel. This album contained the songs Maybe He'll Know and I'm Gonna Be Strong. The band soon splits (after management and label squabbles), with Cyndi going on to work in Screaming Mimi's clothes store.
1983
Goes bankrupt, signs with Portrait and releases She's So Unusual with four TOP 5 singles which were - Girls Just want To Have Fun, Time After Time, She Bop and All Through The Night. This album went on to sell more than 4.5 million copies in the US alone.
Recognition soon followed:-
American Music Awards for Favorite Female Vocalist Pop/Rock
American Music Awards for Favorite Female Vocalist Video Pop/Rock
A Grammy award for Best New Artist
"Rolling Stone" Best New Artist and Best Female Video Artist
MTV Best Female Video Artist
1984
Girls Just... hits US/UK #2 and wins Best Female at the American Video Awards & VMA's.
Time After Time hits US #1, UK #3, earning a gold disc
The album, She's So Unusual, hits US #4,UK #16 and will sell over 5 million US copies.
She Bop hits US #3, UK #46
All Through The Night hits US #5, Lauper's fourth consecutive top-five US smash in one year, and peaks at UK #64. She is also named Billboard's Top Pop New Artist.
Cyndi worked 350 days and neared her 300th concert mark. She performed or promoted her records in 150 cities. She also designed all the T-shirts sold at her concerts.
1985
Following the American Music Awards, at which she collects the Favorite Female Artist, Pop/Rock, and Favorite Female Video Artist, Pop/Rock trophies, Lauper joins 45 other artists as USA For Africa to record We Are The World.
Money Changes Everything reaches US #27.
Lauper wins the Best New Artist category at the Grammy Awards.
The Goonies 'R' Good Enough, from the film soundtrack to "The Goonies", hits US #10.
1986
August Ballad True Colors, penned by Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg, and the first single from the forthcoming True Colors, reaches UK #12.
True Colors hits US #4 and UK #25. It includes Lauper co-written originals and covers of What's Going On and Iko Iko. Lauper begins a tour of Australia and Japan.
October True Colors tops the US chart for the first of two weeks.
1987
Change Of Heart hits US #3.
What's Going On reaches US #12.
Boy Blue peaks at US #71.
"Cyndi Lauper In Paris", filmed at Le Zenith concert hall, Paris, France, is released.
She performs at the MTV Video Music Awards, held at the Universal Amphitheatre, Universal City, CA. (By year's end, Lauper becomes a born-again Christian, having spent two years heavily involved in the promotion of professional US wrestling.)
She received an honorary high school diploma at Richmond Hill High School Class of 1988,
Hole In My Heart (All The Way To China), from the film "Vibes", in which she makes her acting debut, peaks at US #54.
Lauper joins several US songwriters and performers including Michael Bolton and Holly Knight at the "Music Speaks Louder Than Words" summit in the USSR.
1989
She Bop certified gold, Time After Time & Girls go platinum
I Drove All Night hits UK #7, her first UK Top 10 single for five years.
A Night to Remember, US #37 and UK #9.
I Drove All Night hits US #6.
My First Night Without You peaks at US #62 and UK #53.
Heading West peaks at UK #68.
1990
Cyndi started work on her new single The World is Stone. This was a turning point in her career. She wanted to write her own songs.
Stars in the film's "Mother Goose Rock'n'Rhyme" and "Paradise Paved" -
Music Speaks Louder Than Words compilation, with Lauper's Cold Sky is released.
Cyndi takes part in the charity performance of "The Wall" at the Berlin Wall
1991
The Peace Choir's fundraising remake of Give Peace A Chance makes US #54.
She appears at the first "American Music Awards Concert Series" in Tokyo.
November 24th she marries with Patti LaBelle singing A Whiter Shade Of Pale.
December The RIAA certifies sales of five million for She's So Unusual.
1992
She sings at an abortion-rights march in Washington, DC.
The Lauper-starring comedy/thriller movie, "Off And Running" (originally filmed in 1990), makes its UK debut.
She performs with the host on ITV's "Tom Jones: The Right Time", the same day that The World Is Stone, featured in the Tim Rice musical "Tycoon", reaches UK #15.
1993
Lauper sings at the 20th annual American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium.
Cyndi's fourth album is called Hat Full Of Stars. She directed 3 videos from that album. It's maybe the most critically acclaimed to date debuts at its US #112 peak.
That's What I Think debuts at its UK #31 peak.
Hat Full Of Stars charts for a week at UK #56.
1994
Who Let In The Rain reaches UK #32.
She presents the Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist Award at the American Music Awards.
She directs the video for Hey Now Girls (Girls Just Want To Have Fun) remix and also lenses Fury in the Slaughterhouse's video "When I'm Dead And Gone".
album Twelve Deadly Cyns... And Then Some hits UK #2 in its week of entry.
A revised mix now titled Hey Now Girls (Girls Just Want To Have Fun) hits UK #4.
November [14] The RIAA certifies two million sales of True Colors.
1996
The album Sisters Of Avalon is released in Japan. For the first time, Cyndi took part in the writing of every song. Jan Pulsford (the keyboardist) co-wrote 11 songs.
1995
February: I'm Gonna Be Strong, originally recorded in 1981 with Blue Angel, debuts at its UK #37 peak, as she plays the first of two nights at London's Royal Albert Hall, during her current 13-date UK tour, set to end on the 27th at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham.
July: Lauper performs a sellout show at The Academy, New York, the day after guesting on "Late Show With David Letterman".
Global sales of three million copies, 12 Deadly Cynshits US #81.
September: Hey Now Girls (Girls Just Want To Have Fun) peaks at US #87.
1997
Sisters Of Avalon is released worldwide - UK #59, US #188
You Don't Know reaches UK #27
12 Deadly Cyns goes Gold - and six million sales of She's So Unusual.
Lauper embarks on a Tina Turner-supporting North American tour
She is featured on VH1's "Hard Rock Live" music series.
Cameos Comedy Central's Unauthorized Biography: Milo, Death Of A Supermodel".
November 19th - gives birth to 8lb 15oz boy Declyn Wallace in New York City.
1998
Merry Christmas... Have A Nice Life, was released.
Cyndi was nominated for a Grammy for Best Dance Recording ("Disco Inferno").
2000
Cyndi appeared on the soundtrack for Rugrats In Paris: The Movie with "I Want A Mom That Will Last Forever."
2001
Cyndi sang with the Boston Pops at the annual 4th of July concert in Boston.
Cyndi took part in the benefit concert 'Come Together: A Night For John Lennon's Words & Music.'
2002
Cyndi toured as the opening act on Cher's farewell tour throughout the summer.
Cyndi performed on VH1 Divas Las Vegas.
2003
Released the EP - Shine.
Cyndi tripped and fell while performing in Oklahoma.
She fell 5 feet but continued with her set before being carried off from the stage.
2003
Cyndi released an LP of standards, At Last. The set includes a duet with Tony Bennett on "Makin' Whoopee." It debuted at US #38.
2004
Cyndi was featured on VH1's Divas Live.
Released the DVD "Live...At Last" recorded at the NY Towne Hall.
Cyndi performed at the Great Wall of China
