Syren

Websites:  https://www.lynnandclaytoncheechoo.com/
Origin: Toronto - Moose Factory, Ontario, 🇨🇦
Biography:

Lynn resides in Moose Factory Ontario where she works as a Speech Language Therapy Assistant. She is currently working on a new recording with husband Clayton Cheechoo in their home studio. Discography: Critically acclaimed LP: "THE ONE": SYREN (Lynn and Lea Harper) full length LP. Nominated for Juno and Casby awards for the single "Higher Love", in 1885. WISDOM OF THE HEART released in 1993: SYREN. RED WILLOW BENDING CD: released 2003: LYNN & CLAYTON CHEECHOO. Flash of Blue Light Music Publishing.

Biography: Lynn is currently writing and working towards a new recording with husband Clayton in their home studio, "Flash of Blue Light Music" in Moose Factory, northern Ontario. Lynn's unique and soaring vocal stylings have often been compared to Jennifer Holiday and Laura Nyro. (Liam Lacey; The Globe and Mail).

As Syren Lynn along with sister Lea, performed and recorded in Jamaica, Los Angeles, South America and across Canada. She sang back-up vocals on recordings with a variety of artists in genres ranging from Jazz, Reggae, Spritual and Contemporary music. Lynn has Recorded and produced three full length recordings.

"Higher Love" the single from the critically acclaimed Lp The One(Syren) 1985, was nominated for Juno and Casby Awards.

"Let Them Live," a video cassette tribute to the Lubicon Cree,(Syren, featuring The Eagle Heart Singers) 1991.

Wisdon of The Heart (Syren), released in 1993; and Red Willow Bending (2003) Lynn and Clayton Cheechoo, Flash of Blue Light Music.

Lynn's first experience singing in the recording studio came at the age of nineteen when one of her first compositions, 'Steal me a Rose' was arranged and recorded by renowned jazz flutist Moe Koffman and performed by members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

In 1969 she studied voice and piano at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto while singing weekends at a small but vibrant club in Yorkville called "Crazy David's Little Fillmore." In the early 70's Lynn headed off to Los Angeles with her sister Lea to pursue a recording contract. After a few years making her living singing backgrounds on other artists recordings, she decided to return to Toronto, and started an independent record company to produce her original material with her sister forming the duo Syren. The live Syren band consisted of some of the best reggae musicians in Toronto such as Carl Harvey, (Toots and the Maytals) and Tony Springer on guitar, Charles Sinclair on bass and Paul Williams (Toots) on drums.

The One was recorded in Jamaica at Jimmy Cliffs Music Mountain Studios and The Grange in Toronto with a host of all star musicians from the Peter Tosh band, as well as an appearance by Reggae great, Leroy Sibbles, the innovative guitarist Tony Cambell (One Love) and Rod Ramsey on harmonica and the late Marty Kolesnyk on piano. The recording received critical acclaim which led to television appearances on Much Music, City Tv, Breakfast television and the Music Circle CTV, garnishing Juno and Casby nominations for the sisters in Syren, Best Reggae performance and Best Vocal performance as well as winning Best Reggae Duo and Best Video for Higher Love at the Toronto BMAC awards in 1985.

As the lead vocalist and one half of the sister songwriting team in Syren, Lynn went on to co-produce two other recordings of original material, titled "Wisdom of the Heart" and " Let Them Live." Clayton Cheechoo joined Syren on this project and co-wrote Blood of the Earth which appeared on the recording.

In 1991 the video-cassette "Let them Live" was produced with the assistance of a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts and paying tribute to the Lubicon Cree of Northern Alberta featuring appearances Ojibway guitarist Marde Lucier Porte , bassist Clayton Cheechoo and The Eagle Heart Singers.

Clayton, Marde, and drummer Eric Roberts performed as Syren at the Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto, The Frostbite Festival in the Yukon, Harbourfront, and several First Nations communities. across the country bringing attention to the struggle facing the Lubicon in their homelands.

In 1988 working with arranger composer John Lang, Lynn contributed vocal soundscapes for the "DesRosiers Dance Theatre's production of "Concerto in Earth Major" which debuted at the DuMaurier Theatre at Harbourfront in Toronto.

With the assistance of a grant from the Canada Council of the Arts in 1998 Lynn and husband Clayton with the assistance of a grant produced the historical recording of 300-year-old fiddle tunes for father James Cheechoo, titled " Shay Chee Man, Traditional James Bay Fiddle. "

In the fall of 2003, Lynn and Clayton released "Red Willow Bending", a collection of nine compelling songs " recorded in their home studio, "Flash of Blue Light Sound" in Moose Factory.

Ooh Canada" sung in the Moose Cree dialect also appears on the cd and is played each morning in the local schools.

Red Willow Bending showcases guest performances by guitarist Lawrence Cheechoo, Nelson Alisappi and Cree songwriter Paul Wesley of Kashechewan on the tracks, "Love is the Only thing", and "One Leg."

Lynn is best known for her richly woven melodies and "soaring soulful vocals reminiscent of Jennifer Holiday," wrote Liam Lacey in The Globe and Mail. in his review of "The One."

She has contributed backing vocals to such notables as Canadian Reggae artists Nana Mclean, Leroy Sibbles and Errol Blackwood while living in Toronto.

" The unreleased tracks The Dream is Alive" and "Take it to the Beat" and "Dangerous Music" were produced by Michael "Ibo" Cooper of Third World at Hit City West in L.A. in 1987.

Guitar Robben Ford and LA Express Sax player, Tom Scott played on some of Lynn and Leas studio recordings.

Lynn's musical career has spanned over four decades, performing and recording throughout Canada, Jamaica, Los Angeles and South America.

She is currently working on her devotional music with husband Clayton engineering and son Marlon in their home studio in Moose Factory.