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The full-throated Lynn became a hitmaker at the height of disco's popularity, singing dance tunes that retained the gospel vocal approach of classic soul.
Lynn grew up in the church where her mother was a minister of music.
Her break into the music business came in 1976 after she won as a contestant on the US television amateur talent show The Gong Show.
Before signing with Columbia, however, she spent half a year with a touring company of 'The Wiz', a black musical based on the Wizard Of Oz story.
Lynn achieved a million-seller with her very first record, 'Got To Be Real', reaching number 1 R & B and number 12 pop in 1978.
Other chart entries followed, notably 'Shake It Up Tonight' (US R & B number 5), 'Encore' (US R & B number 1), and 'If You Were Mine' (US R & B number 11).
She also enjoyed success in 1982 with an excellent remake of the Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell hit, 'If This World Was Mine' (US R & B number 4), on which she duetted with Luther Vandross.
Her success in the UK was minimal, with only 'Encore' briefly entering the charts in 1984.
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