Cynthia Biggs
| Cynthia Biggs El | |
|---|---|
| Genres | Pop, disco, dance, soul, R&B, Gospel |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, Educator (Ed.D.) |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano |
| Associated acts | Dexter Wansel, Grover Washington, Jr., Bruce Hawes |
| Website |
www |
Cynthia Biggs El, as lawfully known in proper person status, is a Moorish American songwriter and vocalist best noted for her lyric-writing skills that yielded hits for several of the artists she wrote for on the Sound of Philadelphia (TSOP) and Philadelphia International Records labels. Her main collaborations were with composers Dexter Wansel, Theodore Wortham, Jr., and Bruce Hawes. Cynthia has written more than 350 songs, [1] including Patti LaBelle's 1983 hit single If Only You Knew, which reached number 1 and held that position for four consecutive weeks on Billboard Magazine's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[2]
Born at North America (Northwest Amexem) near North Carolina territory, her family moved near Philadelphia territory when Cynthia was just three. She joined her high school gospel choir, and began to write music for them once it was decided they would keep the group active under a new name after graduation. They were well known for their repertoire of original gospel music, and wanted to maintain that creative aspect of the group. Her musical creations garnered attention during the group's audition for a gospel recording contract with Philadelphia International Records, leading to an offer to sign with them exclusively as an in-house staff writer.[3]
Discography
Writer
- MFSB - Love Has No Time Or Place (written with Bruce Hawes) (1975)
- City Limits - People (We Need A Change)(written with Bruce Hawes) (1975)
- City Limits - Love (I Guess That's The Fool In Me) (written with Bruce Hawes) (1975)
- City Limits - Circles (written with Bruce Hawes and Ted Wortham) (1975)
- The Jacksons - Jump For Joy (written with Dexter Wansel) (1977)
- Billy Paul - Where I Belong (written with Dexter Wansel) (1977)
- Dee Dee Sharp - I Believe In Love (written with Dexter Wansel) (1977)
- Dexter Wansel - Dance With Me Tonight (written with Dexter Wansel) (1977)
- Dexter Wansel - Voyager (written with Lemuel P. Harper, Derrick B. Graves, Dexter Wansel, George Howard, Herb Smith and Steve Gold) (1978)
- Dexter Wansel - Solutions (written with Dexter Wansel) (1978)
- Dexter Wansel - I'm In Love (written with Dexter Wansel) (1978)
- The Futures (group) - Deep Inside Of Me (written with Cary Gilbert and Ted Wortham) (1978)
- Dexter Wansel - I'll Never Forget (My Favorite Disco) (written with Dexter Wansel) (1979)
- The Jones Girls - We're A Melody (written with Dexter Wansel) (1979)
- The Jones Girls - You Made Me Love You (written with Dexter Wansel) (1979)
- Cindy & Roy - While We Still Have Time (written with Ted Wortham) (1979)
- Lou Rawls - Lover's Holiday (written with Dexter Wansel) (1979)
- The Jones Girls - Nights Over Egypt (written with Dexter Wansel) (1981)
Vocalist
- Pieces Of A Dream - We Are One (1982)
- Lou Rawls - Close Company (1984)
- Patti Labelle - Patti (album) (1985)
- 52nd Street - Children Of The Night (1986)
- Michelle Goulet - Michelle Goulet (album) (1986)
- Jean Carne - Closer Than Close (1986)
- Miki Howard - Love Confessions (1987)
- Judy Mowatt - Love Is Overdue (album) (1987)
- Regina Belle - All By Myself (1987)
- Stephanie Mills - If I Were Your Woman (album) (1987)
- Miles Jaye - Miles (1987)
- Kiara (group) - To Change And / Or Make A Difference (1988)
- Teddy Pendergrass - Joy (1988)
- Jean Carne - You're A Part Of Me (album) (1988)
- Leata Galloway - The Naked Truth (Leata Galloway album) (1988)
- Miki Howard - Miki Howard (album) (1989)
- Regina Belle - Stay With Me (1989)
- D'Atra Hicks - D'Atra Hicks (album) (1989)
- Peabo Bryson - All My Love (1989)
- Phyllis Hyman - Prime Of My Life (1991)
- Starleana Young-Taylor - Starleana (album) (1991)
- Gerald Alston - Always In The Mood (album) (1992)
- Charles Christopher - Think About It (album) (1992)
- Regina Belle - Passion (1993)
References
- ↑ Hamilton, Andrew. "Cynthia Biggs Biography". Artist Direct. Rogue Digital, LLC. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
- ↑ Hogan, Ed (2013). "If Only You Knew". Patti LaBelle: Songs. allmusic.com. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
- ↑ Jackson, John A. (2004). A house on fire the rise and fall of Philadelphia soul. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 187. ISBN 9780195348804.