Foster Sylvers

Foster Sylvers
Name	Foster Sylvers
Caption	Foster Sylvers in 1973
Birth name	Foster Emerson Sylvers
Birth date	March 26, 1962
Birth place	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Singer, songwriter, musician, actor
Years active	1971–1990s
Associated acts	The Sylvers, Jerry Butler, Dynasty, Leon Sylvers III

Foster Sylvers Foster Sylvers was an American singer, songwriter, and musician best known as a lead vocalist and bassist in the family soul group The Sylvers and for his 1973 solo hit "Misdemeanor." He emerged from a prominent Los Angeles musical family and intersected with influential figures and institutions across rhythm and blues, soul, funk, pop, and television in the 1970s and 1980s.

Early life and family background

Foster was born in Los Angeles, California, into the Sylvers family, part of a wider Los Angeles music scene that included contemporaries like The Jackson 5, The Osmonds, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, and Stevie Wonder. His parents, Leon Sylvers Sr. and Linda Sylvers, raised a large musical household alongside siblings such as Alton Sylvers, Edmond Sylvers, Charmaine Sylvers, Angelina Sylvers, Patricia Sylvers, Shirley Sylvers, Floyd Sylvers, Cynthia Sylvers, Ricky Sylvers, and Sondra Sylvers. The family performed locally in venues connected to the Los Angeles gospel scene, Watts, and clubs frequented by acts like Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and Marvin Gaye. Foster’s formative years overlapped with institutions and events such as the Apollo Theater circuit, Soul Train, the Motown Records era, and the broader American civil rights movement cultural backdrop shaped by figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.

Career

Foster rose to prominence in the early 1970s as part of The Sylvers, a family group whose contemporaries included Jacksons (band), The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Spinners, and Earth, Wind & Fire. The Sylvers recorded for labels including Capitol Records and later SOLAR Records, linking them with producers and writers such as Jerry Butler, Giorgio Moroder, Leon Sylvers III, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and executives at MCA Records and Solar Records like Dick Griffey. The group toured with acts like The Isley Brothers, Con Funk Shun, Commodores, The O'Jays, and played festivals alongside Sly and the Family Stone, Curtis Mayfield, and Parliament-Funkadelic affiliates. Foster’s profile expanded through appearances on television programs such as Soul Train, American Bandstand, The Midnight Special, and variety shows hosted by Don Cornelius and Dick Clark.

Solo recordings and hits

As a solo artist, Foster released a self-titled album produced during the era when producers like Jerry Butler, Al Bell, Bert DeCoteaux, and writers associated with Philadelphia International Records were shaping soul. His single "Misdemeanor" became a crossover hit on charts monitored by Billboard and radio platforms influenced by programmers at KMPC and WBLS. The record’s success placed him in playlists alongside singles from Michael Jackson, Prince, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight, and Roberta Flack. The song’s composition and arrangement drew comparisons to contemporaneous work by Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Donny Hathaway, and production aesthetics linked to Motown and Stax Records alumni. Foster’s solo releases later appeared on compilations curated by labels such as EMI, Rhino Entertainment, and Reprise Records.

Collaborations and session work

Throughout his career Foster collaborated with family members including Leon Sylvers III and groupmates, and worked as a session vocalist and bassist with performers and producers across Los Angeles and Philadelphia soul circles. His session credits connect to musicians who recorded for labels like Atlantic Records, Stax Records, Motown Records, Island Records, and A&M Records, bringing him into musical proximity with session players and producers such as James Gadson, Ray Parker Jr., Paulinho da Costa, David Foster, Quincy Jones, and Herbie Hancock. Foster contributed to projects alongside artists like Jerry Butler, Dynasty, Eddy Grant, Tavares, The Whispers, and background sessions for acts produced by Clive Davis and executive-produced compilations featuring performers like Barry White, Lou Rawls, and Isaac Hayes.

Acting and television appearances

Foster and The Sylvers appeared on television variety and music programs, putting them in front of audiences of shows including The Jeffersons, Good Times, The Carol Burnett Show, and specials hosted by Bill Cosby and Flip Wilson. Their television work intersected with producers and networks such as NBC, CBS, ABC, and syndication outlets that aired Soul Train and Don Kirshner's Rock Concert. Foster’s media presence also linked to guest spots on sitcoms and family-oriented programs in the 1970s and 1980s alongside guest stars such as The Osmonds, The Jacksons, Donna Summer, Chaka Khan, and Gladys Knight.

Personal life and legacy

Foster’s legacy is preserved through samples, covers, and reissues that tie his work to later artists and movements including Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, Beyoncé, Maroon 5, Pharrell Williams, and the broader hip hop and R&B sampling culture fostered by labels like Def Jam Recordings and Bad Boy Records. His contributions are noted in histories of soul music, funk, and R&B alongside figures like Maurice White, Al Green, Otis Redding, Curtis Mayfield, and Gwen McCrae. Family connections continued with siblings and producers working into the 1980s and 1990s with artists on SOLAR Records and contemporary reunions at events held in cities such as Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, and Chicago. Foster’s music appears on anthology collections and tribute compilations curated by archives like Smithsonian Folkways and broadcast retrospectives on networks including BET and VH1.

Category:1962 births Category:American male singers Category:People from Los Angeles