The Sylvers
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The Sylvers were a popular R&B/soul and disco family group in the 1970s. The group hailed from Memphis, Tennessee.
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[edit] Members
The Sylvers consisted of nine siblings:
Olympia-Ann "Olan" Sylvers (b. October 13, 1951)
Leon Frank Sylvers III (b. March 7, 1953)
Charmaine Elaine Sylvers (b. March 9, 1954)
James Jonathan Sylvers (b. June 8, 1955)
Edmund Theodore Sylvers (b. January 25, 1957, d. March 11, 2004)
Joseph Richard "Ricky" Sylvers (b. October 13, 1958)
Angelia Marie "Angie" Sylvers (b. April 11, 1960)
Patricia Lynn "Pat" Sylvers (b. March 25, 1961)
and Foster Emerson Sylvers (b. February 25, 1962).
[edit] Starting Point
Prior to becoming "The Sylvers", the four eldest members (Olympia-Ann, Leon, Charmaine, and James) recorded as the Little Angels as well as appeared on some variety shows (Make Room For Daddy, You Bet Your Life w/Groucho Marx) back in the 1950's-1960's. The debuted on the Art Linkletter show "On The Go". They had two singles released--one of the Capitol label (Says You/Olympia) and the other on Warwick (I'll Be A Little Angel/Santa Claus Parade). Their mother was an opera singer.
[edit] Jacksons, Move Over!
Following on the heels on the mega-success of another family group, The Jackson 5 (which they were considered a Southern version of), the Sylvers became teen sensations most famous for their disco hits "Boogie Fever," "Hot Line" and "High School Dance." They also have a number of titles in their back catalog, starting with The Sylvers (1972) on the Pride label, The Sylvers 2 (1973), and The Sylvers 3 (1974) on the MGM label. Major success came with the 1975 release of Showcase on Capital Records, which included "Boogie Fever". Next was Something Special (1976), and New Horizons (1977). Forever Yours was released on Casablanca Records in 1978 and Disco Fever (1979), with Foster Sylvers as lead vocalist, and bass player on some songs. Concept was released in 1981 on Solar Records, where Leon is now a record producer. Their final LP, Bizarre, was issued on Geffen Records in 1984.
[edit] Leon The Producer
Leon left in 1978 and became a staff producer at Solar Records, working with such aritsts as Dynasty (in which he played bass), Lakeside, The Whispers, Shalamar and Carrie Lucas. He also wrote and produced tracks for such non-Solar Records artists as The S.O.S Band, Tavares and Evelyn "Champagne" King.
[edit] The Sylvers In Hollywood
Olympia had a non-speaking extra role in the cult B-movie "Deathmaster." The Sylvers also appeared in the movie "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh." Edmund's son, Jeremy Sylvers (J-Syl) can be seen in the movie Child's Play 3.
[edit] In Loving Memory
The Sylvers' youngest sibling, Christopher (b. August 10, 1966), was just 18 when he died on June 18, 1985.
Lead singer Edmund — who played Marlon Jackson's voice on the 1971-1973 ABC-TV Saturday morning cartoon series The Jackson 5ive — died of lung cancer on March 11, 2004 at age 47.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Singles
Fool's Paradise
Wish That I Could Talk To You
Through the Love In My Heart
Stay Away From Me
Boogie Fever
Cotton Candy
Hot Line
High School Dance
Any Way You Want Me
New Horizons
Don't Stop, Get Off
Forever Yours
Swept For You Baby
Mahagony
Dance Right Now
Hoochie Coochie Dancin'
Come Back Lover, Come Back
Take It to the Top
In One Love and Out the Other
Falling For Your Love
[edit] Albums
- 1972: The Sylvers (Pride)
- 1973: The Sylvers 2 (Pride)
- 1974: The Sylvers 3 (MGM)
- 1975: Showcase (Capitol)
- 1976: Something Special (Capitol)
- 1977: New Horizons (Capitol)
- 1978: Best of the Sylvers (Capitol)
- 1978: Forever Yours (Casablanca)
- 1979: Disco Fever (Casablanca)
- 1981: Concept (Solar)
- 1984: Bizarre (Geffen)
- 1994: Boogie Fever: The Very Best of the Sylvers (Razor & Tie)
- 2002: Classic Masters (Capitol)
