Living in San Francisco in the 1960s, he performed in a musical production called Women of the Blues, then joined a short-lived group of transvestite performance artists called The Cockettes in the early 70's (famed transvestite Divine was a member of the group as well). Sylvester can be seen in The Cockettes' outrageous short film Tricia's Wedding, lampooning the wedding of President Nixon's daughter Tricia, and in an eponymous 2002 documentary about the group.
In 1972, Sylvester supplied two cuts to Lights Out San Francisco, an album complied by the KSAN radio station and released on the Blue Thumb label. In 1973, Sylvester & his Hot Band released two rock-oriented albums on Blue Thumb (their self-titled debut was also known as "Scratch My Flower," due to a gardenia-shaped scratch-and-sniff sticker adhered to the cover). Signed a solo act to Fantasy Records in 1977, and working with the production talents of legendary Motown producer Harvey Fuqua. Sylvester later alleged that Fuqua cheated him out of millions of dollars.
Sylvester soon met his frequent collaborator Patrick Cowley. Cowley's synthesizer and Sylvester's voice proved to be a magical combination, and pushed Sylvester's sound in an increasingly dance-oriented direction; his second solo album - Step II (1978) - unleashed two disco classics: "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)," and "Dance (Disco Heat)." By this time both his live shows and recordings also recognizably featured the back-up vocals of Two Tons O' Fun: future Weather Girls Martha Wash and Izora Rhodes. 1979 brought three Billboard awards and an appearance in the movie, The Rose, starring Bette Midler.
Moving to Megatone Records in 1982, Sylvester quickly landed a Hi-NRG classic with "Do You Wanna Funk." He was close friends with other Megatone artists Linda Imperial and Jeanie Tracy. Sylvester was also very close to the legendary Patti LaBelle.
Later pressure from the label to "butch up" his image would result in him attending meetings in full-on drag. A drag photo shoot, which he staged and presented to label heads as a gag (calling it his "new album cover") would later grace the cover of Immortal after Sylvester died; it was the label's way of paying tribute to his spirit. In 1985, one of his dreams came true as he was summoned to sing back-up for Aretha Franklin on her Who's Zoomin' Who comeback album. His sole Warner Bros. album was Mutual Attraction in 1986; a single from the album, "Someone Like You," featured original cover art by Keith Haring.
Sylvester died of complications from AIDS on December 16, 1988. His good friend Jeanie Tracy took care of Sylvester during his last days.
In the late 1990's, performance artist Djola Branner (co-founder of the highly influential Pomo Afro Homos troupe) created his acclaimed solo piece and CD Mighty Real around the life of Sylvester.
On September 20, 2004 Sylvester's anthem record, You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real), was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame. A year later, on September 19, 2005, Sylvester himself was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame for his achievement as an artist.
In 2005, a biography written by Joshua Gamson and titled The Fabulous Sylvester: The Legend, The music, The 70s in San Francisco was published.
2. Sylvester (Sylvester Larsen , born 1973) is a danish artist, who has released 4 albums. He is the son of Kim Larsen. See www.sylvesterlarsen.dk
Stars
Sylvester Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Saw a thumb going up, I said Driver go back
Played her a track from my latest LP
Getting bad vibes she hadn′t recognized me
She said she didn't know me but my name′s been in lights
Giant size neons on the strip every night
The camera man did the best that he can
I′m a star, yeah
I′m a star (Baby bathe in my glow)
I'm a star, anyway
I was trying to be nice but I′m not into that
I usually make it without any chat
She was taking it easy, taking it slow
I said Come on baby, I'm ready to go
I′m a star, yeah
I'm a star (Baby bathe in my glow)
I′m a star, anyway
She said Drop me off here and to my surprise
You wouldn't believe it, it was Beverly Drive
Some sort of commotion, what's happening here
We′ve arrived at her premiere, I shouldn′t be here
She's a star, yeah
She′s a star, I didn't know it
She′s a star anyway
In Sylvester's song "Stars," the singer describes an encounter with a woman who didn't recognize him, despite being a famous star himself. Driving in his big cadillac, he sees the woman hitchhiking and picks her up. He plays a track from his latest LP for her, but she still doesn't recognize him. Sylvester sings that he is a star, and bathes in his own glow. He is used to making it on his own merit, without any need for small talk or niceties.
However, the woman eventually reveals that she is a star herself, leading them to her own premiere. The song illustrates the fickle and fleeting nature of fame, where one moment you can be unknown, and the next moment you can be hailed as a star.
The lyrics of the song can also be interpreted as a commentary on the superficial world of show business, where many people are more concerned with appearances and fame than with true talent and artistry. Despite Sylvester's own success as a disco singer in the 1970s, he remains humble and down-to-earth, refusing to let his fame go to his head.
Line by Line Meaning
I was driving along in my big cadillac
I was cruising around in my luxurious car.
Saw a thumb going up, I said Driver go back
I noticed someone hitchhiking and asked the driver to turn around and pick her up.
Played her a track from my latest LP
I played her a song from my most recently released album.
Getting bad vibes she hadn′t recognized me
I was getting negative energy from her because she didn't seem to know who I was.
She said she didn't know me but my name′s been in lights
She claimed not to recognize me, even though my name was prominently displayed in neon lights on the strip in Las Vegas.
Giant size neons on the strip every night
My name was displayed in huge neon lights on the Las Vegas Strip every night.
The camera man did the best that he can
The cameraman tried his best to capture footage of me.
Still she said I don't know you I just can't understand
Despite my fame, she still claimed not to know who I was and couldn't comprehend why I thought she should know me.
I′m a star, yeah
I am a celebrity.
I′m a star (Baby bathe in my glow)
I am a famous person and people should bask in my presence.
I'm a star, anyway
Regardless of whether or not she recognized me, I am still a celebrity.
I was trying to be nice but I′m not into that
I was attempting to be friendly, but I'm not interested in chatting with people.
I usually make it without any chat
I generally achieve success without engaging in small talk.
She was taking it easy, taking it slow
She was relaxed and moving at a leisurely pace.
I said Come on baby, I'm ready to go
I encouraged her to move faster and get going.
She said Drop me off here and to my surprise
She requested to be dropped off at this location, which was unexpected to me.
You wouldn't believe it, it was Beverly Drive
To my surprise, it was the famous Beverly Drive.
Some sort of commotion, what's happening here
There was some kind of disturbance or excitement going on at this location.
We′ve arrived at her premiere, I shouldn′t be here
I realized that we had arrived at the premiere of her own event, and it was awkward that I was there.
She's a star, yeah
She is a celebrity.
She′s a star, I didn't know it
I had no idea that she was famous.
She′s a star anyway
Regardless of whether or not I knew she was famous, she is still a celebrity.
Writer(s): Alan Clarke, Tony Hicks, Terry Sylvester, Allan Clarke
Contributed by Callie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@stang8160
Truly a disco classic. Sylvester left us way too soon, but thank God he was here and gave us such great music. He was a star . . . and he only happened once!
@shirleyjeannite373
Ahhhh... Wasn't he?✨🌠
@larrycj4382
This is my ABSOLUTE fave Sylvester song!!! Here in October 2020, it is on my current top 25 playlist!! 😸
@chrispnw2547
The Stars album cover was next level beautiful. Long before we heard the terms 'living your authentic self', Sylvester was living his dream and having his moment. He did not shy / retreat even when his demise was imminent. Maximum courage Sylvester.
@brianhenry9143
This album is a masterpiece.
@larrycj4382
@David Topchiev So do I. And THIS song is on my current top 25 playlist in Oct 2020!!!! Yes, I do listen to current music too.
@victorialevy431
I wish I could have seen him in concert. Wow! He was good at everything he did! Pure excellence. Exquisite. Magnificent. Outstanding. All that and way more! Totally brave and unafraid. True to the game. He was proud of who he was and I was even prouder for him. You go baby! RIP my love.
@danielsantiago9316
PRIDE ! Alway's comes before the FALL ! My friend .
@stephaniejordan9066
No one like him in the music world.
@reneematte8426
I Love this long version ♥️🎶🎵😻