Cyndi Thomson
Encyclopedia
Cyndi Thomson is an American country music
artist. Thomson wrote songs with songwriter Tommy Lee James
and in 2000, she signed with Capitol Records Nashville
as a recording artist. She released her first album, My World
, in 2001 and her debut single, "What I Really Meant to Say
", became a number one hit on the Billboard
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
) charts. She later walked away from her recording career in 2002, but resumed recording in 2006.
, Georgia
, the youngest of four daughters for Pat and Russ Thomson. As a child, she was exposed to many different types of music. Her parents listened to the oldies
while her sisters listened to music by Manhattan Transfer
and Janet Jackson
among others. As Thomson got older, she began singing in church like her sisters did. At the age of twelve, she knew that she wanted to be a singer and at thirteen, after listening to Trisha Yearwood
's "She's in Love with the Boy
", she knew that she wanted to be a country singer.
After graduating high school and winning a Georgia Music Hall of Fame scholarship, Thomson attended Kennesaw State University
in Kennesaw
. Feeling that her dream of being a country singer was not going to be realized staying in Atlanta, she moved to Nashville
, Tennessee
. There, she attended Belmont University
and enrolled in its music business program, but dropped out after a year and a half realizing that school was not necessary for her to do what she wanted to do. Thomson did various jobs while pursuing the recording career that she wanted, one of which was a modelling job at a party for Deana Carter
's album Did I Shave My Legs for This?
going platinum. One of the other models there later introduced Thomson to songwriter Tommy Lee James
, who wrote for Brooks & Dunn
and Martina McBride
.
which signed her to a record deal immediately after hearing her sing three songs. Thomson co-wrote eight of the eleven songs on her debut album My World, released on July 31, 2001. Co-produced by James and producer Paul Worley
, it became the best-selling debut album by a female country singer since LeAnn Rimes
' album Blue
was released in 1996. The album was certified gold, for selling more than 500,000 copies, by the Recording Industry Association of America
ten months after the album's release.
Lead-off single "What I Really Meant to Say
," written after a re-encounter with an old boyfriend, spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
) charts. It also became the only debut single by a female country singer to spend more than one week at the top of the Radio & Records
country chart. Her next two singles, "I Always Liked That Best" and "I'm Gone", failed to reach the top 20, with the former peaking at #21 and the latter peaking at #31 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
In late 2002, Thomson, in a letter written to her record label, fans and friends, announced that she was walking away from her recording career. Thomson, who married musician and producer Daniel Goodman earlier that year, stated that being a recording artist was an "overwhelming life changing experience" and that she "cannot commit to [the] obligations" of making a new album. She did, however, contribute to the 2004 album Amazing Grace 3: A Country Salute to Gospel, on which she sang "'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus". She also sang "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" for the album Christmas Angels released by Capitol Nashville in 2005. "Life Ain't Always Beautiful
", co-written by Thomson and credited to her as Cyndi Goodman, became a top five hit for Gary Allan
in 2006. That year, she also returned to Capitol Nashville after leaving the label for four years and started recording for her second album with James. She never released anything, however, and was once again dropped from Capitol's roster.
On October 29, 2009, Thomson released her first new music album in eight years, This Time, a digital-only EP featuring five original songs.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist. Thomson wrote songs with songwriter Tommy Lee James
Tommy Lee James
Tommy Lee James is an American country music songwriter and record producer. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, he is originally from Roanoke, Virginia. He graduated from Northside High School then attended Radford University where he studied voice...
and in 2000, she signed with Capitol Records Nashville
Capitol Records Nashville
Capitol Records Nashville is a major United States-based record label located in Nashville Tennessee operating as part of the Capitol Music Group. Capitol Nashville was formerly known as Liberty Records from 1989 until 1995 when it was changed back to Capitol in 1993 Liberty opened a sister label...
as a recording artist. She released her first album, My World
My World (Cyndi Thomson album)
My World is the debut album of American country music artist Cyndi Thomson. Released in July 2001 , it is also her only studio album to date. Its lead-off single, "What I Really Meant to Say", was a Number One single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts in late 2001...
, in 2001 and her debut single, "What I Really Meant to Say
What I Really Meant to Say
"What I Really Meant to Say" is a country music song written by Cyndi Thomson, Tommy Lee James, and Chris Waters. It was released in March 2001 as Thomson's debut single, as well as the lead-off single to her debut album, My World. The song reached the top of the Hot Country Singles & Tracks ...
", became a number one hit on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
) charts. She later walked away from her recording career in 2002, but resumed recording in 2006.
Early life
Cyndi Thomson was born and raised in TiftonTifton, Georgia
Tifton is a city in Tift County, Georgia, United States. The population was 15,060 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Tift County.-Major highways:* Interstate 75* U.S. Highway 41* U.S. Highway 82* U.S...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, the youngest of four daughters for Pat and Russ Thomson. As a child, she was exposed to many different types of music. Her parents listened to the oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
while her sisters listened to music by Manhattan Transfer
The Manhattan Transfer
The Manhattan Transfer is an American vocal music group. There have been two manifestations of the group, with Tim Hauser being the only person to be part of both...
and Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
among others. As Thomson got older, she began singing in church like her sisters did. At the age of twelve, she knew that she wanted to be a singer and at thirteen, after listening to Trisha Yearwood
Trisha Yearwood
Patricia Lynn Yearwood, professionally known as Trisha Yearwood , is an American country music artist. She is best known for her ballads about vulnerable young women from a female perspective that have been described by some music critics as "strong" and "confident."Trisha Yearwood signed with MCA...
's "She's in Love with the Boy
She's in Love with the Boy
"She's in Love with the Boy" is the 1991 debut single of American country music artist Trisha Yearwood. "She's in Love with the Boy" reached number one on the Billboard U.S. Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and was the first of five number ones on the country chart for Trisha...
", she knew that she wanted to be a country singer.
After graduating high school and winning a Georgia Music Hall of Fame scholarship, Thomson attended Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw State University, also referred to as KSU, Kennesaw, or Kennesaw State, is a public, coeducational, comprehensive university that is part of the University System of Georgia. The university's main campus is located in Kennesaw, Georgia, United States, approximately north of Atlanta...
in Kennesaw
Kennesaw, Georgia
Kennesaw is a city in Cobb County, Georgia, United States. It had a population of 29,783 according to the 2010 census. It is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. Founded in 1887, Kennesaw has a past surrounded with railroad history...
. Feeling that her dream of being a country singer was not going to be realized staying in Atlanta, she moved to Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. There, she attended Belmont University
Belmont University
Belmont University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. It is the largest Christian university in Tennessee and the second largest private university in the state, behind nearby Vanderbilt University.-Belmont Mansion:Belmont Mansion...
and enrolled in its music business program, but dropped out after a year and a half realizing that school was not necessary for her to do what she wanted to do. Thomson did various jobs while pursuing the recording career that she wanted, one of which was a modelling job at a party for Deana Carter
Deana Carter
Deana Carter is a country music artist who broke through in 1996 with the release of debut album Did I Shave My Legs for This?, which was certified 5× Multi-Platinum in the United States for sales of over five million...
's album Did I Shave My Legs for This?
Did I Shave My Legs for This?
Did I Shave My Legs for This? is the debut album of American country artist Deana Carter, released in 1996. It features her breakthrough debut single "Strawberry Wine", a Number One hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts at the end of that year...
going platinum. One of the other models there later introduced Thomson to songwriter Tommy Lee James
Tommy Lee James
Tommy Lee James is an American country music songwriter and record producer. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, he is originally from Roanoke, Virginia. He graduated from Northside High School then attended Radford University where he studied voice...
, who wrote for Brooks & Dunn
Brooks & Dunn
Brooks & Dunn was an American country music duo consisting of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, who were both vocalists and songwriters. They were paired by record producer Tim DuBois in 1990. Before the duo's foundation, both members of the duo were solo recording artists...
and Martina McBride
Martina McBride
Martina McBride is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range....
.
Music career
Even though Thomson had never written a song before, James agreed to work with her and within a year of writing their first song, Thomson signed with Sony-ATV Music Publishing as a songwriter. In 2000, James introduced Thomson to Capitol Records NashvilleCapitol Records Nashville
Capitol Records Nashville is a major United States-based record label located in Nashville Tennessee operating as part of the Capitol Music Group. Capitol Nashville was formerly known as Liberty Records from 1989 until 1995 when it was changed back to Capitol in 1993 Liberty opened a sister label...
which signed her to a record deal immediately after hearing her sing three songs. Thomson co-wrote eight of the eleven songs on her debut album My World, released on July 31, 2001. Co-produced by James and producer Paul Worley
Paul Worley
Paul Worley is an American record producer and session guitarist, known primarily for his work in country music. Formerly a vice president at Sony BMG, he later joined the staff of Warner Bros. Records' Nashville division as chief creative officer...
, it became the best-selling debut album by a female country singer since LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes is an American country/pop singer. She is known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Patsy Cline-intended single "Blue" when Rimes was only age 13, resulting in her...
' album Blue
Blue (LeAnn Rimes album)
Blue is the debut album by American country singer LeAnn Rimes, released in the United States on July 9, 1996 by Curb Records. It reached #3 on Billboard 200, and #1 on Top Country Albums....
was released in 1996. The album was certified gold, for selling more than 500,000 copies, by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
ten months after the album's release.
Lead-off single "What I Really Meant to Say
What I Really Meant to Say
"What I Really Meant to Say" is a country music song written by Cyndi Thomson, Tommy Lee James, and Chris Waters. It was released in March 2001 as Thomson's debut single, as well as the lead-off single to her debut album, My World. The song reached the top of the Hot Country Singles & Tracks ...
," written after a re-encounter with an old boyfriend, spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
) charts. It also became the only debut single by a female country singer to spend more than one week at the top of the Radio & Records
Radio & Records
Radio & Records was a trade publication providing news and airplay information for the radio and music industries. It originally started out as an independent trade from 1973 to 2006 until VNU Media took over in 2006, up until its final issue in 2009.-History:The company was founded in 1973 and...
country chart. Her next two singles, "I Always Liked That Best" and "I'm Gone", failed to reach the top 20, with the former peaking at #21 and the latter peaking at #31 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
In late 2002, Thomson, in a letter written to her record label, fans and friends, announced that she was walking away from her recording career. Thomson, who married musician and producer Daniel Goodman earlier that year, stated that being a recording artist was an "overwhelming life changing experience" and that she "cannot commit to [the] obligations" of making a new album. She did, however, contribute to the 2004 album Amazing Grace 3: A Country Salute to Gospel, on which she sang "'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus". She also sang "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" for the album Christmas Angels released by Capitol Nashville in 2005. "Life Ain't Always Beautiful
Life Ain't Always Beautiful
"Life Ain't Always Beautiful" is the title of a song written by Cyndi Goodman and Tommy Lee James, and recorded by American country music singer Gary Allan. It was released in January 2006 as the second and final single from his 2005 album, Tough All Over...
", co-written by Thomson and credited to her as Cyndi Goodman, became a top five hit for Gary Allan
Gary Allan
Gary Allan Herzberg is an American country music artist, known professionally as Gary Allan.Signed to Decca Records in 1996, Allan made his debut on the United States country music scene with the release of his single "Her Man", the lead-off to his gold-certified debut album Used Heart for Sale,...
in 2006. That year, she also returned to Capitol Nashville after leaving the label for four years and started recording for her second album with James. She never released anything, however, and was once again dropped from Capitol's roster.
On October 29, 2009, Thomson released her first new music album in eight years, This Time, a digital-only EP featuring five original songs.
Studio albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
Certifications Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... and sales |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country |
US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
|||
| My World My World (Cyndi Thomson album) My World is the debut album of American country music artist Cyndi Thomson. Released in July 2001 , it is also her only studio album to date. Its lead-off single, "What I Really Meant to Say", was a Number One single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts in late 2001... |
|
7 | 81 |
Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States... : Gold |
EPs
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| This Time |
|
Singles
| Year | Song | Peak positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
|||
| 2001 | "What I Really Meant to Say What I Really Meant to Say "What I Really Meant to Say" is a country music song written by Cyndi Thomson, Tommy Lee James, and Chris Waters. It was released in March 2001 as Thomson's debut single, as well as the lead-off single to her debut album, My World. The song reached the top of the Hot Country Singles & Tracks ... " |
1 | 26 | My World |
| "I Always Liked That Best" | 21 | 119 | ||
| 2002 | "I'm Gone" | 31 | — | |
| "If You Could Only See" | — | — | ||
| 2011 | "Slow Me Down" | — | — | TBD |
| "—" denotes the release did not chart. | ||||
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | "What I Really Meant to Say" | Brent Hedgecock |
| "I Always Liked That Best" | Trey Fanjoy Trey Fanjoy Trey Fanjoy is a country music and pop music video director. Fanjoy has directed over 150 major label music videos. Her videos have appeared on CMT, VH-1, GAC, The Nashville Network, CMT Canada, and MTV.-Music videos:... |
|
| 2002 | "I'm Gone" |