Sylvester - Inductee

"Larger companies employ executives who sit behind their office desks, living off past achievements. We are small, we are free, and it's that freedom that makes me creative."

- Sylvester on Megatone Records

Sylvester James was born into a family of modest means in Los Angeles, where as a Pentecostal church child he become known for performing Aretha Franklin’s “Never Grow Old” while standing on a milk crate. After his mother remarried, he ran away from home – working odd jobs, and taking up with a group of black drag queens called the Disquotays, before eventually fleeing to San Francisco in 1969. He soon joined the legendary performance group The Cockettes in their outrageous stage shows and appeared in their shocking short film, ‘Tricia’s Wedding.’ Sylvester continued performing in various bands and venues throughout the early- and mid-1970s – backed for a time by the Pointer Sisters -- releasing his first album in 1973 and rising over the next several years to become a popular local performer. Signed by producer Harvey Fuqua to Fantasy Records, his 1978 album ‘Step II’ pushed him into the disco stratosphere.  Powered by the singles ‘You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)’ and ‘Dance (Disco Heat)’ Sylvester – unapologetically black, gay, falsetto-singing and gender-crossing – became a superstar, soaring on a blend of his gospel virtuosity and the astounding vocals of his back-up singers, Martha Wash and Izora Rhodes (a.k.a. Two Tons O’ Fun (a.k.a. The Weather Girls)).  His additional hits included ‘Do Ya Wanna Funk’, ‘All I Need’, ‘Over and Over’, ‘Can’t Stop Dancin’ and ‘Mutual Attraction.’  Adamant in his refusal to tone down his flamboyance, when disco fell from favor Sylvester continued to create the “San Francisco sound” of dance music. Diagnosed with AIDS, Sylvester stopped performing; but, unlike many, he chose to remain in the spotlight to help raise awareness about the devastating disease.  He died on December 16, 1988 at age 41. 

VIEW ENLARGED SYLVESTER BRONZE MEMORIAL