Sylvester, pseudonym of Sylvester James, is an American singer and musician born in Watts (Los Angeles) on September 6, 1947. Born to a middle-class African American family, Sylvester developed a love of singing through the gospel choir of his Pentecostal church. He left the church after the congregation expressed disapproval of his homosexuality. He found friendship between a group of black transvestites and transgender women who called themselves "The Disquotays". In 1970, at the age of 22, he moved to San Francisco and joined the avant-garde drag company "The Cockettes", becoming their lead singer in their shows heavily influenced by female blues and jazz singers such as Billie Holiday and Josephine Baker. The tour was "cut short" by critics in New York and Sylvester left the group to aim for a career as a solo singer. He signed a record deal with "Fantasy Records" Harvey Fuqua, got three new backing singers, Martha Wash, Izora Rhodes and Jeanie Tracy, and his first solo album in 1977 was quite successful. In 1978 he achieved his first international hits with the singles "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" and "Dance (Disco Heat)" from the album "Step II". In those years, Sylvester obtained the name of "Queen Of Disco" and was awarded the award "the key to the city" of San Francisco. In the early 1980s he signed for the "Megatone Records" label founded by his friend and collaborator Patrick Cowley. Together with his friend Cowley in 1982 he will record and release the great international hit "Do Ya Wanna Funk". On November 12, 1982, Patrick Cowley died aged just 32 from HIV / AIDS. It was a real tragedy for the entire world of music and especially for Sylvester who was very close by a deep friendship. A few years later, on December 16, 1988, Sylvester James suffered the same fate as his friend Patrick and died of HIV / AIDS. Sylvester left all future royalties from his work to HIV / AIDS charities based in San Francisco.
Album
1973 - Sylvester & the Hot Band (come Sylvester & the Hot band)
1973 - Bazaar (come Sylvester & the Hot band)1977 - Sylvester
1978 - Step II
1979 - Stars
1979 - Living Proof (Live)
1980 - Sell My Soul1981 - Too Hot to Sleep
1982 - All I Need
1983 - Call Me
1984 - M-1015
1985 - 12 by 12
1986 - Mutual Attraction
1989 - Immortal
1973 - Southern Man (come Sylvester & the Hot Band)
1973 - Down on Your Knees (come Sylvester & the Hot Band)1977 - Down, Down, Down
1977 - Over and Over
1978 - Dance (Disco Heat)
1978 - You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)
1979 - I (Who Have Nothing)
1979 - Stars
1979 - Can't Stop Dancing
1980 - You Are My Friend
1980 - I Need You
1980 - Sell My Soul
1981 - Here Is My Love
1981 - Ooh Baby Baby
1981 - Give It Up (Don't Make Me Wait)
1981 - Magic Number (con Herbie Hancock)
1982 - Do You Wanna Funk? (con Patrick Cowley)
1982 - Don't Stop
1982 - Tell Me
1982 - Be with You
1982 - All I Need
1983 - Don't Stop
1983 - Tell Me
1983 - Hard Up
1983 - Band of Gold
1983 - Too Late
1983 - One Night Only
1983 - Trouble in Paradise
1984 - Stargazing (con Earlene Bentley)
1984 - Good Feeling
1984 - Call Me
1984 - Menergy
1984 - Rock the Box
1985 - Take Me to Heaven
1985 - Sex
1985 - Takin Love into My Own hand
1985 - Lovin Is Really My Game
1986 - Living for the City
1986 - Someone Like You
1987 - Mutual Attraction
1987 - Sooner or Later
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