Foster Sylver, the singer best known from his hits with The Sylvers, has died at age 64. The former child star succumbed to pancreatic cancer, according to TMZ. Sylvers was the second youngest of 10 children, who released classic R&B songs throughout the 1970s.
Despite going through personal issues later in life that led to legal trouble and jail time, Foster Sylvers left an important mark in Black music history.
Here are five things to know about Foster Sylver:
Foster Started As a Solo Act:
By 1973, The Sylvers put out their first two albums, achieving their first two Top 20 Billboard R&B singles with “Fool’s Paradise,” and “Wish I Could Talk to You.” Meanwhile, Foster, the youngest of his siblings, was being prepped for a solo career. His self-titled album was released that year at age 11, which included “Misdemeanor.” The funky track eclipsed the success of his siblings, peaking at No. 7 on the Billboard R&B singles chart and No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“Misdemeanor” was a Heavily Sampled Song
Although “Misdemeanor“ was Foster’s only hit single as a solo act, its impact was felt long after its release. Since the 1990s, “Misdemeanor” has been one of the most sampled songs to come from The Sylvers’ family. Rappers like Shyne, Run the Jewels, J Dilla, and Big Daddy Kane, have all sampled the track. The most notable sample came courtesy of Dr. Dre, who used it for The D.O.C.’s lead single, “Funky Enough.”
Foster Was The Youngest Guest on “Soul Train”
R&B has seen its fair share of young stars and prodigies, with many of them appearing on the TV institution “Soul Train.” Throughout the show’s 36-year run, numerous child acts have graced the stage, from The Jackson 5 and New Edition to 3LW and Immature. Foster stands alone as the show’s youngest performer. Making his debut performance on the show in 1973 singing “Misdemeanor” and “Hey Little Girl,” he was only 11-years-old.
Foster Gave His The Sylvers Their Biggest Hit
After the success of “Misdemeanor,” Foster joined the rest of his older siblings as an official member of The Sylvers. He made his presence felt immediately on their 1975 album, “Showcase.” Although the group was famous for sharing vocals, Foster took lead vocals on the album’s lead single, “Boogie Fever.” His lively vocal performance on the proto-disco cut helped the song go all the way to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Foster Was a Talented Bass Player
Although most will remember Foster for his youthful, cherubic vocals, he was more than just a child singer. Foster was a talented instrumentalist. In 1975, Foster played bass on select songs throughout the “Showcase” album, taking after the group’s regular bassist, older brother Leon III. Foster would later play bass for Evelyn “Champagne” King on her 1984 R&B hit, “Shake You Down.”