Sylvester Interview

He was born in San Francisco, and found fame and fortune in San Francisco. Songs like "Dance (Disco Heat)", "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)", and "I (Who Have Nothing)", took him to the top of the charts. Five of his songs went gold (signifying sales of more than 500,000 units) and one went platinum (sales of more than one million units).

He was named Best Male Singer at the 1978 Billboard Disco Forum; made an appearance in the Bette Midler film The Rose; is credited with discovering the Weather Girls, who started out as his back-up singers. Two Tons O'Fun; appeared on numerous TV shows including Merv Griffin, Dance Fever. Midnight Special, Don Kirshner's Rock Concert and American Bandstand; and finally, was honored by San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein on March 11, 1979, when she declared the day "Sylvester Day".

Of course, we're talking about Sylvester, the Queen of Disco.

We talked with Sylvester back on June 11th, 1981 about his career. This interview has never been published before. Step back in time with us for a conversation with one of disco's greats.

Q - Who was your musical inspiration when you were growing up?
A - Oh, I don't know, not too many people. Very few people, if any people, inspired me while I was growing up. I was living my fantasies is what it basically boils down to. The things I thought would be fun to do; I sort of lived out, and did those things.

Q - You never talk about your early days, your years of struggle, and I'm wondering why?
A - I don't know. No one really asks, and plus I never really struggled that much. I always enjoyed it all the time, so it really wasn't a struggle for me.