LAMAMIMET

Foster Emerson Sylvers was born in Memphis, Tennessee on February 25, 1962. He began his recording career as a child, releasing his self‑titled debut album in June 1973. The album featured the single “Misdemeanor,” written by his brother Leon Sylvers III, which rose to number 7 on the Billboard R&B chart and earned him appearances on American Bandstand and Soul Train.

In 1975 he joined his siblings in the family group The Sylvers, contributing co‑lead vocals to the 1976 chart‑topping hit “Boogie Fever.” The group’s success brought further television exposure and solidified their place in the 1970s soul‑disco scene.

Sylvers continued to record as a solo artist, releasing additional albums in the late 1970s and collaborating with acts such as Dynasty and Evelyn “Champagne” King. He later formed the duo Foster Sylvers & Hy‑Tech, issuing the albums Plain & Simple (1987) and Prime Time (1990). His career was marred by a 1994 conviction for a sex offense, after which he remained on California’s sex‑offender registry.

Foster Sylvers died from prostate cancer on May 30, 2026, at age 64 while in hospice care. His contributions to early 1970s R&B and his role in The Sylvers left a lasting imprint on American popular music.