Cyndi Lauper

In the early eighties, Cyndi Lauper was a New York singer rebuilding her career after her band Blue Angel fell apart. The album had flopped, the band dissolved, and Lauper was left with debt, legal problems, and an injury to her vocal cords that nearly ended her singing career. Even through all of it, she kept performing anywhere she could, from small bars to late night clubs, slowly repairing her voice and her confidence.

During this time she met manager David Wolff, who believed she had something special. Through Wolff, Lauper was introduced to Lennie Petze, the Senior Vice President of A and R at Portrait Records. Petze heard something in Lauper that went beyond her voice. He recognized the spark, the personality, and the originality that set her apart from every other artist trying to break through.

Petze signed her and immediately paired her with producer Rick Chertoff, a match that helped shape the sound of Lauper’s debut album. In the studio, Lauper and Petze developed a creative trust. On one late night during the making of the album, Lauper struggled with a vocal take for All Through The Night. Petze sat with her, letting her reset, breathe, and regain her artistic center. When she finally stepped back to the mic, she delivered a take that the entire team knew was special. It was a defining moment that showed how Petze’s support allowed Lauper to stay true to herself.

When her debut album She’s So Unusual was released, it became an immediate international success, producing several hit singles and turning Lauper into a global pop icon. Petze continued working with her on her next album, True Colors, supporting her growth as both an artist and songwriter, and helping her evolve into a more expressive and emotionally rich performer.

Lennie Petze didn’t just sign Cyndi Lauper. He believed in her when her career was fragile. He saw the individuality, the instinct, and the heart that made her unique. He helped her shape the sound that would take her from struggling singer to one of the most distinctive and enduring voices in pop music.