Foster Sylvers has died aged 64 (Image: Express)
Former child star Foster Sylvers has died aged 64. The musician shot to prominence during the 1970s, performing alongside his family in their band The Sylvers.
His brother, Leon Sylvers III, confirmed that Foster had passed away in hospice care after battling stage four pancreatic cancer. In the wake of his death, his daughter Erin posted a photograph of her father on Facebook, heartbreakingly writing: “Rest well, Daddy. I love you so much.” Foster served as bassist for the family group, which enjoyed chart success with tracks including Boogie Fever, Fool’s Paradise and Hot Line. This marks the second occasion one of the siblings has succumbed to cancer, following Edmund’s death from lung cancer in 2004. Prior to that, the youngest brother Christopher, who never joined the group, died in 1985 from hepatitis, aged just 18.
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Foster Sylvers dead: The Sylvers star dies aged 64 after cancer battle (Image: Facebook)
The surviving Sylvers siblings are Olympia, Leon, Charmaine and James, who comprised the original quartet known as Little Angels, alongside Joseph, Ricky, Angie and Pat. During their time together, the siblings produced 10 albums, all released throughout the 1970s, and were frequently likened to the Jackson family.
The first album Foster appeared on, a solo record he created with his brother Leon, came out in 1973, when he was merely 10 years old. Owing to his widespread appeal, Foster featured on numerous American television programmes, including American Bandstand and Soul Train.
Two years later, he became part of the family band and shared co-lead vocals with Edmund on their 1976 chart-topping hit Boogie Fever. By the 1980s, the group chose to pursue a fresh direction to remain relevant amid the era’s evolving musical landscape. Consequently, Foster assumed lead vocal duties for their 1981 hit Come Back Lover, Come Back. The band formally split four years later, with Foster subsequently launching his own group, Hy-Tech, in 1989.
The band’s most successful track was Boogie Fever, which arrived in November 1975. In the song, the narrator reflects on how his girlfriend has recently transformed and now “boogies” to disco music while eating, watching films, and so forth. Upon realising she has “boogie fever”, he contacts a doctor, only to discover he has contracted the fever as well.
While Edmund performed the majority of the song, a 13 year old Foster featured prominently in the bridge. Since its release, the track has appeared in numerous films and television programmes including Despicable Me, Roll Bounce and the Stephen King miniseries The Stand.
In the wake of his death, fans took to social media in their droves to pay tribute to the singer. One said: “RIP you were a great talent along with your siblings you will never be forgotten.”
Another added: “I remember him performing with his older siblings. However, my favorite song of his was/still is “Misdemeanor”, with his sisters Angela and Patricia singing background and doing their choreographed dance steps (on Soul Train). R.I.P. Foster Sylvers.”