Cynthia L. "Cindy" Fee (born December 6, 1954) is an American singer and recording artist. She is best known for performing "Thank You for Being a Friend",[1][2][3] the opening theme song for the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning sitcom[4][5] The Golden Girls.
Cynthia "Cindy" Fee | |
|---|---|
 Cynthia Fee photographed in 2023 | |
| Born | December 6, 1954 Detroit, Michigan |
| Occupation | recording artist |
| Period | 1970–present |
| Notable works | "Thank You for Being a Friend", from the NBC sitcom The Golden Girls |
Early life
editCynthia L. "Cindy" Fee was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Raytown, Missouri, where she was active in music and theater at Raytown High School.[6]
Career
editFee started performing professionally at sixteen, working Kansas City-area restaurants, clubs, local theaters, and amusement parks. In 1973, Fee became a founding member, along with Eric Bikales, of the Kansas City band Hotfoot[7] and also sang with the jazz group the Means/Devan Trio.[8]
Golden Girls theme song — "Thank You For Being a Friend"
editFee recorded a cover of Andrew Gold's song "Thank You for Being a Friend" for the credits of The Golden Girls.[9] During the show's first run and in syndication, the song became well known. In honor of Betty White's 90th birthday, President Barack Obama released a video of him listening to the theme song.[10] After White's death in 2021,[11] the sitcom and theme song were streamed 384 million times in one week alone.[12] After going viral in 2022,[13] the Golden Con convention, a fan convention, returned to Chicago in 2023 featuring Fee as a headline performer.[14]
Other recordings
editFee also recorded chart-topping records with some of the best-selling music artists of all time.[15] Her discography includes a duet with Kenny Rogers, "I Don't Want to Know Why",[16] from the platinum-selling album, What About Me?[17] Fee is also a credited background singer on the Kenny Rogers's album Christmas,[18] which peaked at #34 in the US,[19] and Rogers's Share Your Love, which peaked at #6 in the US.[20] She has also performed as a background singer for Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Whitney Houston, and Lionel Richie.[6] Fee also released her own albums Dancin in My Sleep[21] and Young at Heart,[22][23] the latter with noted rockabilly guitarist Eddie Angel,[24] a founding member of Los Straitjackets.
Jingles and television commercials
editFee is also a prolific jingle and TV commercial singer. Fee's commercial jingle credits include: "Get on Your Pontiac and Ride",[1] for Hoover, "Nobody Does It Like You"[25][26] and "What the Big Boys Eat",[27] from a Wheaties cereal campaign. Fee's voice was also featured in commercials for Chevy Trucks, McDonald's, Miller Beer, Chick-fil-A, Home Depot, Goodyear, Hot Pockets, Barbie, John Deere, NASCAR, Ford, Toyota, Purina, Avon, and American Airlines.[6] Fee's Wheaties and Hoover commercials were awarded Clio awards.[6][28][29]
Personal life
editShe is married to Robert Landis and has two adult children, Ethan and Rory Landis. Fee frequently performs a genre she calls "country soul", a combination of Motown and country,[2] and has appeared live at venues including in Nashville, Chicago, Los Angeles, as well as in Europe. She is frequently recognized at events and conventions and interviewed about her career.[30]
References
edit- ^ a b Garber, Megan (2015-09-14). "A Brief History of 'Thank You for Being a Friend'". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
- ^ a b Arkush, Michael (1988-11-20). "Familiar Voice With New Slogan". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
- ^ "Betty White celebration, set for Jan. 15 in Oak Park, to feature singer of 'Golden Girls' theme song". Chicago Tribune. 2022-01-10. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
- ^ "THE GOLDEN GIRLS". Television Academy. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
- ^ "Golden Girls, The". Golden Globes. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
- ^ a b c d "Meet the Class of 2022 - Raytown C-2 School District". www.raytownschools.org. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
- ^ "Kansas City and other Midwestern Bands from the '50s, '60s & early '70s". www.oldkc.com. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
- ^ Ritter, Jess (1975-09-26). "Going Out". The Kansas City Times. p. 32. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
- ^ Piepenburg, Erik (2022-05-04). "Golden-Con Threw a Party, Invited Every 'Golden Girls' Fan It Knew". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
- ^ "President Obama wishes Betty White a happy birthday". POLITICO. January 17, 2012. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
- ^ Carlson, Michael (2022-01-02). "Betty White obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
- ^ Dick, Jeremy (2022-02-05). "The Golden Girls Cracks Nielsen's Highest-Rated Shows List After Betty White's Death". MovieWeb. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
- ^ Finlon, Katie (2023-03-21). "'Golden Girls' Fan Convention Returns To Chicago After Going Viral In 2022". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
- ^ "Golden Guests". GOLDEN CON: THANK YOU FOR BEING A FAN. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
- ^ "Kenny Rogers touches down in Cranbrook this week - Cranbrook Daily Townsman". 2014-07-14. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
- ^ I Don't Want to Know Why by Kenny Rogers with Cindy Fee, retrieved 2024-01-04
- ^ "1984 Kenny Rogers – What About Me? | Sessiondays". Retrieved 2024-01-04.
- ^ "Kenny Rogers - Christmas | Releases | Discogs". Discogs.
- ^ "Christmas". Music Charts Archive. 2017-10-21. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
- ^ "Kenny Rogers". Music Charts Archive. 2016-04-30. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
- ^ "Dancin In My Sleep". April 22, 2010 – via open.spotify.com.
- ^ "Cindy Fee and Eddie Angel on Apple Music". Apple Music - Web Player.
- ^ "Eddie Angel "Young at Heart" CD". Hi-Tide Recordings & Nu-Tone. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
- ^ "Eddie Angel". www.eddieangel.com.
- ^ "1993 Hoover "Nobody does it like you" TV Commercial" – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ Rose, Devin (2012-06-05). "Former jingle singer from Oak Park has changed her tune". Oak Park. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
- ^ Elsmo, Melissa (2022-01-12). "Connecting to Betty with a single song". Oak Park. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
- ^ "Collection: Clio Awards 2020/2021 Gold Winners • Ads of the World™ | Part of The Clio Network". Ads of the World™.
- ^ "JINGLE WRITER MAKES FINE-TUNED PITCH". Chicago Tribune. 1985-06-20. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
- ^ "Cindy Fee, Voice Of The Golden Girls Them Song" – via www.youtube.com.