Formed 1971, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A.
The Sylvers comprised of:
Olympia-Ann Sylvers (b. 13th October 1951)
Leon Frank Sylvers III (b. 7th March 1943)
Christopher Joseph Sylvers (b. 10th August 1966 d. 18th June 1985)
Charmaine Elaine Sylvers (b. 9th March 1954)
James Jonathan Sylvers (b. 8th June 1955)
Edmund Theodore Sylvers (b. 25th January 1957, d. 11th March 2004, Richmond, Virginia, U.S.A.)
Joseph Richard 'Ricky' Sylvers (b. 13th October 1958)
Angela 'Angie' Sylvers (b. 11th April)
Patricia 'Pat' Lynn Sylvers (a.k.a Mrs Lorne Joseph DeRuso b. 25th March 1961)
and
Foster Emerson Sylvers (b. 25th February 1962)
Formed in Memphis Tennessee, this family group the Sylvers recorded for the Pride, MGM, Capitol, Casablanca, and Geffen imprints during their recording career.
The group comprised of ten brothers and sisters.
The four eldest Sylvers, Olympia-Ann, Leon Frank III, Charmaine and James, were originally called the Little Angels.
Their mother was a former opera singer.
She encouraged the children to enter local talent contests.
The group toured the United States and Europe as the opening act for Johnny Mathis and Ray Charles.
It was in 1971 that Ricky, Edmund and Foster joined the group's line-up.
The Sylvers, 1972 Pride single, 'Fool's Paradise', reached number 14 on the R & B charts.
Jerry Butler produced their debut album The Sylvers that year.
They had three other Top Ten R & B hits in the '70's, with 'Hotline' being highly popular and reaching the Top Ten in 1976, although the groups biggest hit was 'Boogie Fever', released the previous year.
Larkin Arnold, then vice president for Capitol Records, signed the Sylvers in 1975.
He then recruited Freddie Perren as the groups producer.
At the Capitol imprint, their hits included 'Any Way You Want Me' in 1977.
The group had a Top 20 R & B single on Casablanca in 1978, 'Don't Stop, Get Off'.
edmund sylvers
Edmund then left the group and recorded a solo album for the same label, entitled 'Have You Heard' in 1980.
His next solo project, 'Take Me Over,' was recorded at Arista Records, in the mid-1980's, but never released.
By 1981, the Sylvers had found a home at Solar Records, where Leon Sylvers wrote and produced the group's material.
Edmund Sylvers wrote and produced 'In Motion' for Freda Payne, and Foster Sylvers enjoyed some solo success, especially via his 'rare groove' song 'Misdemeanour', which peaked at number 22 in July 1973.
foster sylvers
In 1984 a single was released entitled 'Out One Love And In The Other' followed by an album called 'Bizarre' for the Geffen imprint in 1984.
The Sylvers line-up that recorded for Geffen consisted of Foster, Ricky, James, Charmaine, Angelia and Pat.
Leon Sylvers III wrote for several artists including Gladys Knight & The Pips, Evelyn 'Champagne' King, Stacy Lattisaw, The Detroit Spinners, The Brothers Johnson, Krystol, Glenn Jones, Howard Hewett and Gene Page.
He also recorded a solo album entitled 'Leon Sylvers III' for the Motown imprint in 1989.
Edmund Sylvers died on Thursday the 11th of March 2004 from lung cancer at MCV Hospital.
He lived in a small low income neighborhood on the outskirts of town (near the airport) called Sandston, Virginia, U.S.A.
He was 47.
One younger brother, Christopher Joseph Sylvers, died in 1985 at the young age of 17.
Olympia-Ann Sylvers is reported to be unwell as well in 2004.
Albums:
The Sylvers (Pride Records 1972)
The Sylvers II (Pride Records 1973)
Sylvers III (MGM Records 1974)
Showcase (Capitol Records 1976)
Something Special (Capitol Records 1976)
New Horizons (Capitol Records 1977)
Forever Yours (Casablanca Records 1978)
Disco Fever (Casablanca Records 1979)
Concept (Solar Records 1981)
Bizarre (Geffen Records 1984)
