Cynthia Layne
Jazz & Neo-Soul Vocalist
Inducted into the Indianapolis Jazz Hall of Fame in 2013
Cynthia Layne
(February 27, 1963 – January 18, 2015)
Cynthia Layne was a jazz and neo-soul vocalist in Indianapolis with musical comparisons to Jill Scott, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Sade. She was considered one of the most in-demand performers in the area and a fixture of Indy Jazz Fest since the event's debut in 1999.
The Dayton, Ohio native’s career took off when she won the female vocalist category of Indiana Black Expo's StarQuest competition in 1987. Saxophone player Rob Dixon, keyboard player Reggie Bishop and drummer Kenny Phelps frequently collaborated with Layne. She performed as part of Super Bowl Village festivities in 2012 as well as being a regular fixture at restaurants and clubs around town.
Layne released two albums, Reality and Beautiful Soul with Indy-based Owl Music Group. She said her interest in music began when she attended her first live concert at the age of 7.
"I really learned jazz when I got around other musicians I was working with," Layne told The Indianapolis Star newspaper in 2007. "I was doing cover songs and being a pop kind of girl for years. But I got sick of singing songs without any substance." She made a music video to accompany the song "We," which appeared on the Beautiful Soul release.
