The Sylvers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Sylvers
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The Sylvers circa 1972.
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | The Four Little Angels (early tenure) |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1958–1985 |
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| Past members | Olympia Ann "Olan" Sylvers Leon Frank Sylvers III Charmaine Elaine Sylvers James Jonathan Sylvers Edmund Theodore Sylvers Joseph Richard "Ricky" Sylvers Angelia Marie "Angie" Sylvers Patricia Lynn "Pat" Sylvers Foster Emerson Sylvers |
The Sylvers were a popular American family music group from Watts, Los Angeles, California. They were known for their R&B, soul, and disco songs in the 1970s. Some of their biggest hits included "Fool's Paradise," "Boogie Fever," and "Hot Line." Before they became "The Sylvers," the four oldest members performed as "The Little Angels." They even appeared on TV shows like You Bet Your Life and Make Room for Daddy.
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Meet The Sylvers Family Band
The Sylvers family had ten children, and nine of them were part of the band at different times. Their parents, Shirley Mae Wyble and Leon Frank "Sonny" Sylvers, taught them how to sing, play music, and dance.
Who Were The Members?
Here are the nine siblings who performed in the group:
- Olympia Ann "Olan" Sylvers (born 1951) – she sang vocals.
- Leon Frank Sylvers III (born 1953) – he played bass and sang.
- Charmaine Elaine Sylvers (born 1954) – she sang vocals.
- James Jonathan Sylvers (born 1955) – he played keyboards and sang.
- Edmund Theodore Sylvers (1957–2004) – he sang and played percussion.
- Joseph Richard "Ricky" Sylvers (born 1958) – he played guitar and sang.
- Angelia Marie "Angie" Sylvers (born 1960) – she sang vocals.
- Patricia Lynn "Pat" Sylvers (born 1961) – she played extra keyboards and sang.
- Foster Emerson Sylvers (born 1962) – he played extra bass and sang.
The youngest sibling, Christopher Joseph Sylvers (1966–1985), was never part of the performing group.
The Little Angels: Early Days
The three oldest siblings, Olympia, Leon, and Charmaine, started performing as "The Little Angels." They often sang Caribbean Calypso-style soul music. They appeared in many variety shows and community events. One of their first big appearances was on the TV quiz show "You Bet Your Life" with Groucho Marx.
Soon after, their brother Jonathan "James" joined the group. The four of them continued to perform and gained some success. They even released recordings with Capitol Records in the mid-1960s.
Becoming The Sylvers and Their Big Hits
In the late 1960s, Edmund and Joseph Richard "Ricky" joined the group. With six members, they signed a record deal with MGM. They changed their name from "The Little Angels" to "The Sylvers."
Between 1972 and 1974, they released three albums: The Sylvers, The Sylvers 2, and The Sylvers 3. These albums featured soulful songs written by Leon. Their song "Fool's Paradise" became a hit, reaching number 14 on the R&B charts in 1972. Charmaine, Edmund, and Ricky sang lead on this song.
Their next single, "Wish That I Could Talk to You," became their first top 10 song in early 1973. Leon, Edmund, and Ricky sang lead on this track. Other songs like "Stay Away From Me" and "Through the Love in My Heart" also did well on the R&B charts.
Adding More Siblings and "Boogie Fever"
In 1973, Leon wrote a fast-paced disco song called "Misdemeanor." Even though Edmund was supposed to sing lead, the part went to their younger brother Foster, who wasn't officially in the group yet. The song also featured younger siblings Angie and Pat. "Misdemeanor" became popular later when rapper Dr. Dre used parts of it in his music.
After "Misdemeanor" became a hit, Foster, Angie, and Pat officially joined the group, making it nine members! They signed a new contract with Capitol Records. Capitol Records paired them with producer Freddie Perren, who had worked with the Jackson 5.
Freddie Perren helped them create their biggest hit, "Boogie Fever." This song sold over two million copies and reached number one on both the R&B and Billboard Hot 100 charts! It was included on their first Capitol album, Showcase. The group started playing their own instruments for live shows, with Ricky on guitar, James on piano, Edmund on drums, and Leon on bass guitar.
In 1976, Charmaine, one of the original "Little Angels," left the group. Their next album, Something Special, became their best-selling album. It featured another huge hit, "Hot Line," which reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. "High School Dance" also became a top 20 hit. These songs made them very popular with young audiences.
Later Years and Solo Work
In 1977, the Sylvers, now with seven members (Olympia had left to start a family), decided to write and produce their own music. They wanted to reach an older R&B audience. Their album New Horizons received good reviews but didn't sell as well as their previous albums.
Leon Sylvers then left the group to become a producer for other artists at a new record label called Solar Records. He worked with groups like Shalamar and Dynasty.
The remaining Sylvers signed with Casablanca Records. In 1978, they released Forever Yours, which included the song "Don't Stop, Get Off." James took over Leon's parts in performances, and Foster became the main bassist. In 1979, they released the album Disco Fever.
Solo Projects and Group Changes
As disco music became less popular in the early 1980s, so did the Sylvers' fame. In 1981, five members of the group recorded a new album called Concept with Leon producing. The song "Come Back Lover, Come Back" was a minor hit.
In 1984, six siblings, including Charmaine who returned, reunited for a new album called Bizarre. However, it was not very successful.
Christopher, the youngest Sylvers sibling, passed away in 1985 at age 18. He was never part of the performing group. After the album Bizarre didn't sell well, the group officially stopped performing together in 1985. They continued to work in music, singing background vocals for artists like Janet Jackson.
Edmund Sylvers, who had sung lead on many of the group's hits, passed away in 2004 at age 47. He had also voiced Marlon Jackson in The Jackson 5ive cartoon.
In 2011, the Sylvers were featured on the TV show Unsung, where Leon, James, Charmaine, Angie, Pat, and their mother Shirley talked about their career.
