Suzanne Joy Lynch (née Donaldson, born 20 March 1951) is a New Zealand singer who has worked professionally under the names Suzanne Donaldson, Suzanne Lynch and Suzanne.

Career

Lynch first came to wide public knowledge in the 1960s as half of the duo

The Chicks The Chicks (previously known as Dixie Chicks) are an American country music band from Dallas, Texas. Since 1995, the band has consisted of Natalie Maines (lead vocals, guitar) and sisters Martie Maguire (vocals, fiddle, mandolin, guitar) and E ...

with her sister, Judy Hindman, on the NZBC television series ''C'MON''. In 1969, she became a solo performer and was a resident performer on the follow-up show ''Happen Inn''. In 1970 she was voted ''NZ Entertainer of the Year'' and won a

Loxene Golden Disc The Loxene Golden Disc was an annual New Zealand music award. It ran from 1965 to 1972. It was superseded by the Recording Arts Talent Awards (RATA). Background The awards launched in 1965 and is the forerunner of the New Zealand Music Awards. It ...

in 1972. After marrying fellow entertainer

Bruce Lynch Bruce Lynch (born 1 June 1948, in New Zealand) is an electric and acoustic bassist, producer and arranger. Music career Arriving in the UK in the mid-1970s, Lynch became a commercially successful session musician, touring extensively with C ...

she moved to London, England, where she worked as a

session musician Session musicians, studio musicians, or backing musicians are musicians hired to perform in recording sessions or live performances. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a recording artist on a ...

until she became a regular part of

Cat Stevens Yusuf Islam (born Steven Demetre Georgiou; ), commonly known by his stage names Cat Stevens, Yusuf, and Yusuf / Cat Stevens, is a British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His musical style consists of folk, pop, rock, and, later in ...

' vocal group and appeared on several of his albums until he gave up recording after a religious conversion. The first song Lynch did for Stevens was "

Oh Very Young "Oh Very Young" is a song composed by Cat Stevens. It was released on his 1974 album ''Buddha and the Chocolate Box'', as well as several later "Best of..." and "Greatest Hits" albums. The song reached number 10 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 ...

" in which she sang the solo and background vocals. Lynch appeared on the 2008 and 2009 series of ''

Stars in Their Eyes ''Stars in Their Eyes'' is a British television talent series, based on Joop van den Ende's Dutch format ''Soundmixshow''. It featured a singing contest in which members of the public impersonate showbiz stars. The show premiered on 21 July 1 ...

'' as vocal coach and backup singer. She is a member of the Lady Killers alongside Tina Cross and

Jackie Clarke Jacqueline Emma Clarke (born 1966) is a New Zealand entertainer, singer and comedian. She was a judge on ''New Zealand Idol'' in 2005. In 2016, she was named Top Female Artist by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand. In the 2018 Birthday ...

Discography

Charting singles

Honours and awards

* 1971 NEBOA Entertainer of the year award * 1972 APRA Golden Disc award * 1972–73 Gold Disc Award for Success as a singer in NZ and overseas * 2001 In the 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours, Lynch was appointed a

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have ren ...

, for services to entertainment. * 2008 Rock’Ons award for International NZ star * 2008 Top female artist award * 2008

Benny Award The Benny Award is bestowed on a New Zealand variety entertainer. It is presented annually by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand, a non-for-profit organisation and showbusiness club, founded in 1966 and awarded to a variety performer who ha ...

from the

Variety Artists Club of New Zealand The Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc (VAC) is a non-for-profit organisation and show business club. It was founded in 1966 and became an incorporated society in 1972. The VAC was formed to promote goodwill within the New Zealand enterta ...

Inc, the highest honour available to a variety entertainer in New Zealand.

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lynch, Suzanne 1951 births Living people Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit New Zealand Idol Place of birth missing (living people) Lynch, Suzanne 20th-century New Zealand women singers New Zealand expatriates in England