We are very sad to report to SoulTrackers that popular soul and jazz singer Cynthia Layne has died, according to a post on her Facebook page. From 2001 to 2008, Layne released three albums that showed her unique phrasing as well as her ability to beautifully fuse soul and jazz sounds. Her 2007 release, Beautiful Soul, was one of our favorites that year.
Layne cited Phyllis Hyman, Teena Marie and Barbra Streisand, among others, as musical influences during her childhood. “I’ve always loved music, especially live music. My younger sister always encouraged me to sing. As a girl, I listened to Natalie Cole and Diana Ross and emulate them all the time. In the mid 90’s, I saw Dee Dee Bridgewater live when she was promoting her Tribute to Ella CD and was blown away. I was able to spend some one-on-one time with her and she was very encouraging. She is an incredible vocalist and was very inspiring.”
While Layne never received broad national exposure, she was a fixture in her home town of Indianpolis and was well known throughout the Midwestern US. She was extremely talented, and her passing is incredibly sad news to lovers of thoughtful, moving adult soul music.
By Chris Rizik
