If you were asked to name some of the most talented musical families in history, the Jacksons, the DeBarges and The Isley Brothers might be the first that come to mind. But don’t sleep on The Sylvers, a group of nine singing siblings from Watts, California, that entertained fans for decades.
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Known for their good looks, smooth steps and beautiful harmonies, The Sylvers were regulars on the R&B charts in the 1970s with hits like “Boogie Fever” and “Fool’s Paradise.” But despite all of their talent and promise, the group experienced a series of setbacks before eventually breaking up in 1985.
With a catalog of hit songs that have been sampled by everyone from Dr. Dre to Usher, we’re looking back and the amazing untold story of The Sylvers.
A Match Made in College
Leon Sylvers Jr. and Shirley Mae Wyble Sylvers first met as students at Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana. The pair eventually got married and went on to have a total of 10 children together who would go on to become the legendary soul group The Sylvers – Olympia, Leon, Charmaine, James, Edmund, Ricky, Angie, Pat, Foster and Christopher.
He Writes The Songs
Leon, the oldest of the male Sylvers children, was the first to discover a passion for music. In an interview with Music and Medicine, he says he started writing his own songs at the age of seven and recruited his brothers and sisters to sing along. He said their mother, who was once a singer, was one of the first to discover their talent.
“My mother heard us and told my father, who taught us the four-part harmony. And we did. Everybody stayed on key, and that was our introduction into the industry as harmony singers because we didn’t have a lead back then,” he said.
The Little Angels
In the late 1950s, the four oldest siblings, Olympia, Leon III, Charmaine and James started performing together as The Little Angels, an adorable group of kids with amazing vocal chops. The group made appearances on popular shows like “Make Room for Daddy” and “You Bet Your Life.”
The Sylvers
By the early 1970s, The Little Angels had changed their name to The Sylvers, and their younger siblings, Edmund and Ricky joined the group. In 1975, siblings Foster, Angie and Pat became part of the group, that was known for their tight choreography and vocals that were always on point.
A Surprising Discovery
The group got their first big break while performing at a school talent show. They caught the attention of a man who was friends with executives at MGM Records, Leon said in an interview with “Music and Medicine.” The group went on to record under the company’s subsidiary, Pride Records.
Father Figure
Leon Jr. and Shirley Mae eventually divorced, and eldest brother Leon took on the role of father figure for his younger siblings. “It seemed natural to me,” Angie Sylvers said in a 2012 interview on Lady Charmaine Live. “He was the only real father figure I ever had around, so it just seemed to me like he was cool with it.”
“Fool’s Paradise”
The Sylvers had their first big hit in 1972 with “Fool’s Paradise,” a smooth and soulful song written by Leon III. The song reached number 14 on the R&B charts that year.
“Boogie Fever”
The Sylvers’ catalog includes plenty of hits, but one of their biggest was 1976’s “Boogie Fever,” an uptempo disco track written and produced by Freddie Perren, who was also responsible for The Jackson 5’s “ABC” and “I Want You Back.”
Trouble in Paradise
As he got older, Leon had trouble fitting into the record execs idea of how the group should sound and how he should look. In an interview with Music and Medicine, he says all of his siblings began to go in different directions as they got older. He recalled deciding to leave the group to pursue his own opportunities after executives asked him to shave his mustache.
“I wasn’t having it, the mustache stays,” he said. “I just felt the vibe that I wanted to produce because I was ready.”
Super Producer
Leon left the group to produce for SOLAR Records. As a producer, he made his mark on the industry, producing hit songs for other groups, including “And the Beat Goes On” for The Whispers and Shalamar’s “A Night to Remember.”
“Midemeanor”
Foster, one of the youngest Sylvers siblings was often compared to Michael Jackson based on his looks and his vocal range. In 1973, he struck gold with a huge solo hit, “Misdemeanor,” which was written by his big brother, Leon III. Leon also plays bass on the soul track, which got a second life when it was famously sampled by Dr. Dre for D.O.C’s 1989 hip-hop hit “It’s Funky Enough.”
“Montego Bay”
Foster recorded another single in 1974 with sisters Pat and Angie. If you listen carefully to “Montego Bay,” you’ll recognize the baseline, sampled by Usher for “Good Kisser.”
A Time of Tragedy
On June 18, 1985, Christopher, the youngest of the siblings passed away from hepatitis at age 18. Although he was never a member of the group, his death had a major impact on his brothers and sisters. The group broke up in 1985.
Foster’s Legal Troubles
In the mid-1990s Foster Sylvers found himself in some serious legal trouble. In 1994, he was convicted of a sex crime and served time in prison.
Another Tragic Loss
Tragedy struck the family again in 2004 when the group’s long-time lead singer Edmund passed away from complications related to lung cancer at age 47.
Back Together Again
Despite their ups and downs, the Sylvers have always stuck together. In 2017, Sylvers siblings Olympia, Leon, James, Ricky, Angie and Pat took the stage together for the first time in 30 years performing at The Rose Theater in Pasadena.
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