Added: 6 months ago
From: Manyek
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  • Nancy Wilson @ 14:34

  • Wow, they still sound great at 38.10

  • I love the Sylvers!

  • DeBarge + The Jacksons = The Sylvers

  •  <thank God i didn't bow to the pressure. i always knew something wasn't right and i wouldn't have survived the "business". wow, just wow.

  • just finished watching their Unsung. unbelievable. had no idea. wow. Leon is my Hero. Mom's, beautiful spirit, beautiful everything. Olympia, thank you for surviving. Edmund, rest my brother. the daughters, all so gorgeous and talented. i don't know how you guys survived. the brothers in the joint, what up, for real. you will never know how much you are loved. God Bless the Sylvers, everyone, especially Mom's. do you guys know how much pressure my father put on me to become an entertainer?>

  • i love the sylvers too. man they were a beautiful family and they have also had thier down falls and triumps as well. im glad to know about the sylvers and about the debarges stories makes me like both familes even more.

  • Thank you for sharing this story. I was sitting here wondering what ever happened to the Sylvers, and now I know!!!! Brings back so many memories!!

  • the ending to this piece was really strong.  They had real talent.

  • They were always a good looking family.

    I was a little girl but I remember having a crush on Foster back in the day. ;-)

  • @tooakki I agree!!!

  • The closing performance of "Forever Yours" should be released as a single as should the version of "Our Day Will Come." with their lovely mother from Opelousas, Louisiana. What a story and what a family. There is a film in here. I have always been a fan and hope that they will continue singing and sharing their gifts with the world.

  • My God,I knew things went awry,but I had know idea this happened,and they didn't tell all...!

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  • @veeseee128 "Disco didn't help them anymore than it did The Jacksons"

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  • MIND YOU, I WANTED TO BE ANYONE WHO HAD AN AFRO SINGIN AND DANCIN TO DISCO/FUNK lol

  • LOVED THE FRO's. WANTED TO BE THEM WHEN I WAS 14yrs old lol

  • Wow! This family has been through a lot. I remember "Misdemeanor." Then, the group just seemed to disappear. Blood is thicker than mud. They put their own brother (Leon) out of the group?? I wonder how long they were estranged after that? Thank you, Unsung. Thanks for the post.

  • All that hair! What beauty and pride. Back In the Day!! Too bad we went back to relaxing our hair.

  • Unsung is Top Notch, best thing to happen to television in 30 years.

  • jesus christ, everybody in that family is gorgeous.

  • yo that song at the end should be put out again its beautiful! I felt chlls! Ive learned a lot also ths family survived an awful lot, n than to the father, its no wonder more than 2 wern lost! GOD THE FATHER OF ALL BLESS THEM AND US AMEN? IN JESUS NAME.

  • I luv these documentaries, theres sooo much I never knew....side note:.THOSE AFROS makes me wanna grow one

  • Love the song at the end!

  • two many afros on stage., doesnt work.

  • I just watched it again, and cried this time. Such a talented & gifted family. I've always been a fan of their music, and all of the side producing & writing that they've done. Long live the "SYLVERS" and their music.

  • love the SYLVERS, but Edmund wasnt mentioned @ all. he has a solo career after the group. beautiful family, and will always be GREAT in my book! LOVE THE SYLVERS

  • 25:00 Thats alot of hair spray.

  • Hanging out with Ike Turner, oh naw that's bad news

  • Beautiful story...sad, inspirational and tragic. Its is sad that how shysters, like some producers take advantage of talented people.

  • ~GOD BLESS THE SYLVERS~

  • WOW! MOM SYLVERS has a beautiful voice, too! Great family; heartbreaking story. I'm glad that they are all adjusted and doing well now. The music industry can help to break up families and lives beyond repair, sometime.

    Peace and love...

  • WOW!!!... The Sylvers are true survivors. This is a great story to learn from.

  • @rtisleo Stick to your guns; Be observant and pay attention to everything; Peoples's feelings and family is waaaaaaayyyyyyy for important than money, fame, and having pop success.

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  • I have a question, why was Leon's amazing work with groups like Shalamar left out on both The Sylvers Unsung & Shalamars Unsung? he produced many hits for them, and did not participate in there Unsung, as far as I can remember. He worked on every Shalamar album there was & didnt he write a Night To Remember? Not 2 mention his backaground with Dynasty, and BlackStreets hit Before I let u Go, r his own solo work (not a hit but still)

  • @HaRsHcAnDy Probably... because it wasn't about Leon; rather it was about the Silvers. I thought he was interviewed in Shalamar's Unsung - right?

  • @VenetianSymbol Hmm havent watched Shalamars Unsung completely in awhile, but I guess if you consider this Unsung to be abouth The Sylvers as a group or The Sylvers as a family. The DeBarge Unsung covered Switch all the way to both Bunny & El's solo work. Thats y i was expecting them to mention Leon as a producer for SOLAR. Oh well still an amazing story :)

  • Someone shoulda given Mrs Sylvers some kinda role, or somethin... what a fox!

  • This is the most amazing story. God bless the sylvers family.

  • What a truly amazing story...

  • I dry my eyes because I am so happy see that today, the Sylvers are still a family.

  • i used to hate when people compared foster sylvers and michael jackson. they are 2 different talents and both are musical legends.

  • i never heard of them but there voices blend real well together, may god bless them all .....great story

  • "Sylvers II" is a really underrated record, it really smokes. They need to re-release it.

  • @Phil07050 yesI spoke with him on facebook. Hes doing well.

  • I feel the same as others, how in the hell did I miss out on this phenomenal series. These are our people! Their history, their journey and their struggle. Thank You TVOne for bringing back this series. Spread the word...new documentaries are airing on TVOne. I

  • Momma Sylvers,that's REAL strength.....

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  • Who's the little boy sitting on Angie's lap at the 34:05 mark?

  • How on Earth have I missed this Documentary series??? I feel like these are my peeps -- Heatwave, Shalamar, Rose Royce, Sylvester, The Sylvers...this is fantastic...thanks Manyek!!!!

  • Cant thank you enough for sharing this wonderfull story, what a great, strong family!

  • Wow!! Awesome!!

  • You know it's all over when dad starts hanging out with Ike Turner.

  • Thank God for out of the box teachers!

  • Olympia was soo pretty!

  • i love to watch them dance.they was simply wonderful and the sisters in the group was insanely sexy

  • I love how at 34.52 Charm aine is correcting Pats clapping and Leon is directing the tempo with finger snaps lol.I love the Sylvers!! Does any one know if Ricky is out yet? I hope so its time to live life to the fullest.

  • @Nanadsyl Yes, Leon's still the leader.

  • @Nanadsyl He got out right before Christmas.

  • I never stopped loving the Sylvers. I followed Leon's success for quite a while, but lost track of the rest of the family. I love them all. It is good to see that they are all doing very well. Prayers of recovery for Foster and Ricky. God bless you all!!

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  • My hat is off to one of the most talented and loving families in the music industry...I Love you...The Sylvers....may your star always shine bright...God bless you all....

  • @miken2k Beautiful and true words!

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  • I had not heard of them but I have heard that "boogie fever" song in commercials.

  • Ok, I wasn't born when they were popular. got it.

  • I have no idea who these folks are

  • WOW JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU KNOW SOMETHING. I'VE A NEW FOUND RESPECT FOR THIS FAMILY AND LEON SOUNDED LIKE A INTELLIGENT BROTHA, WHICH DOES NOT MIX WELL WITH THE MUSIC INDUSTRY THEN; EVEN TODAY WITH A INDUSTRY THATS NOT ONLY BUBBLE GUM BUT PROMOTES NEGATIVE LOW INTELLECT SOME ONE LIKE A LEON WHO THOUGHT OUTSIDE THE BOX WOULD BE CONSIDERED A REBEL, BUT A REBEL WITH A CAUSE. I LOVE NON CONFORMITY TO BULL SHIT. THANK YOU LEON AND FAMILY FOR THIS INSPIRATION. HOTEP AND CONTINUED PROSPERITY.

  • Thank you to the Sylvers for opening up about their lives. Someone will learn from this.

  • Olympia was such a beautiful and talented youg lady....for someone to have abducted and assaulted her like that was just cruel and evil!

  • Go join their message board at yahoo groups and go like their offical page on facebook. Show them love if this is one of your favorite groups.

  • Too bad for the law suits and shady managers. All of these guys and ladies contributed to writing songs eventually, and created some amazing music for themselves and so many other groups. Even their outside projects were great: Foster produced half of Janet Jackson's first album; Silverspoon Productions produced great stuff for Gladys Knight and the Pips (the Visions LP)...and Leon even got Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis started as producers. The Sylvers' influence remains relevant!!

  • I have some questions: Are all of the Sylvers saved now? When did Edmund get saved? Does anyone know the spiritual gifts any of them have? (I know Angie has the gift of teaching and Pat is a minister) What denomination do they belong to (cogic, fgbcf) I'm just curious if anyone would know these things.

  • THE LORD is going to restore to The Sylvers what the enemy took away from them. The inheritance of finances that is overdue to them will be restored 7 times based on Prov 6:31. It belongs to them and their children. They will be spiritually restored and healed of all the damage they endured.

    In the Name of Yahshua HaMashiyah (Jesus Christ)

  • beautiful!

  • Mama Sylvers CAN SANG too! I really like this family. God bless them, in Jesus' Name!

  • I disagree! All the Sylvers could sing and only someone with a big voice like Aretha could maybe drown out them! Leon is a prolific writer & producer(like over 200 recorded songs) and he's worked with tons of people! Plus James, Charmaine, Foster and Edmund wrote for several artists. The Jacksons just had more commercial success...they had so many legendary people guiding them.

  • Lord my childhood has been returned to me in less than an hour!! The Sylvers!!

  • that gap the lead singer had when he was younger..isn't there in this vid

  • @trishafungirl12 I agree.

  • at 34:31 Edmund looked hot in that pic!

  • @BeautyinChaos1 Beautiful looking man for sure!

  • @RememberTheTime09  Chile don't I know it! Lol.

  • Awesome post!! I have always been a Sylvers fan and I will Forever be.

  • @trishafungirl12 do u honestly believe that ur self i like the sylvers but they were always compared to j5 not the other way around

  • too bad they came out around the time of the jacksons and osmonds they were good

  • nice.

    

  • Very inspirational story. They still sound so good. I know they're Christmas album is going to be good. God Bless Them .

  • @trishafungirl12 Right there are so many cant forget my Ohio Players, Brothers Johnson, Chaka and Rufus..we need a Funk Hall of Fame!!

  • Unfinished Letter should've charted! Thats a beautiful song!

  • @frankievernon So,true!

  • @trishafungirl12 I agree and Leon Sylvers III can be the first inductee!!!!

  • "Were buidling an album from scratch" Umm unless you're doing a covers album isn't every album from scratch?

  • The Sylvers and The Jacksons were both highly talented families.

  • am i the only one who confused them with the sylvesters

  • God Bless this family........

  • I so loved this moving documentary; what beautiful music they made, and make still. So glad there's a happy ending for the wonderful Sylvers, God be praised for that.

  • I became obsessed with this family after buying the "Soul Train" dvds and seeing their performance of Wish that I could talk to you" a couple of years ago. Since then I have been downloading everything I could find from their first three albums. The album Sylvers 2 is especially hard to find! When they started the unsung program I always said they should do the Sylvers...dream accomplished!!!

  • @trishafungirl12 You are SO right!! They induct R&B greats into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame....Now what kinda sense does that make?? LOL....it's terrible.

  • @trishafungirl12 Indeed my friend!!!! They belong in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

  • @trishafungirl12 I knew it had to be a Jackson 5 fan! lol...Im not a hater tho, i'll give credit where credit is due and the Jacksons DEFINITELY made great music, no doubt about it. But i can almost promise you the people who disliked are some biased haters.

  • Who in the HELL disliked this wonderful documentary???? Show Your Ugly Face!!!!

  • @ProtaJ -

    It was probably Jermaine Jackson. ;-)

  • @WayneInSF Probably! lol

  • @trishafungirl12, Yes it iis and they truly are!!! :)

  • HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLYMPIA & RICKY!!! :)

  • Forever Yours makes me feel some kind of way....all warm and fuzzy...

  • You should always stick with family but they were in a rough situation. They probably would've been blacklisted even earlier had they ditched Ross instead of Leon. Hindsight is always 20/20. Leon did alright for himself on his own! As long as they learned from it and get better together thats all you can ask. Hopefully they get rights to their music.

  • @RememberTheTime09 Is Al Ross still alive?

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  • you see what happens when you trust that devil (ross) they should have chose their brother over that swindling demon. smh

  • Question...Is Leon Sylvers Jr. the father of Chris? Since he left the family in 1964 and Chris was born in 1967. Did Leon and Shirley reconcile? Just curious.

  • @Phil07050 Good question. Ive seen a few family pix with 2 cute little boys around the same age. I wonder is that Micheal (Olympia's son) and Chris (Ms Shirleys youngest).They look very close in age too. One of the boys looks like Rodney Allen Rippey lol!

  • @Nanadsyl  Amen

  • @Nanadsyl Yes, I know one of the boys is Olympia's son (i'm not sure how close in age he and chris were).

  • The music of The Sylvers needs to be re-issued.

  • @PinkCashmere25 Especially their three Pride Records albums.

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  • @soln4suhreborn Yes that music is golden. We don't want to lose it. So please sign the new petition at Ipetitions it's a step in that direction! We can't post comments that are links here but it can be easily searched on the US version of that site. It's really easy. A demand has to be shown for it to hopefully happen.

  • Leon Sylvers has been my favorite producer since the eighties when I was a teen. I bought so many records on the Solar label because of him. Thank you, Leon and thank you to the whole family for your beautiful voices.

  • edmund looks just like michael jackson

    

  • @Multyie7227 When?! Sorry,I don't see it at all.

  • one of them look like mario

  • Amazing family, I will definitely buy their Christmas album!

  • DAMN THEY STILL SOUND GOOD HARMONIZING -- WOW!!!!

  • I love how they are into community based services now.

  • Wow! What an amazing story of triump, stardom, pain, fall, failure, rise & moving forth with life as a family. I work with mentally chaallenged people & it's an everyday struggle. It takes the entire village for a good outcome but, most of all, it takes understanding & patience. Life is full of choices, chances & failures but, it's how we handle each one. God is good all the time;All the time God is good. Blessings to the Sylvers family.

  • what kind of "man" leaves his 10 kids for his wife to raise alone? I thought my father was "unique" in that way - he left 9 of us for my Mom to raise, and gave NO help in any way at all. God bless strong, loving, courageous women like Mrs. Sylvers - and my blessed Mom (may she Rest in Peace)

  • @millerd2able I think thats where the phrase "strong black woman" came from or maybe that phrase is as old as time.

  • @Nanadsyl Haha,but I don't think I could do it...especially not as gracefully! Miss Shirley Sylvers is a special woman.

  • @millerd2able ...my withe had eight sisters, no brothers. nine girls, and the father left. how in the hell can you put a woman through child birth 10 times and leave? Shirley is still beautiful. unbelievable. i am in shock and awe and sad, all at the same time. when they made it big, they were still livin in the projects. damn. record companies need to be abolished. what horrible monsters they are.

  • OMG THEY STILL SOUND FANTASTIC! LISTEN TO THE HARMONY!

  • I REALLY enjoyed this one. This was well done. I know more about them than I knew before and I appreciate them a lot more.

  • To Add: What was going on in that era? Folks seemed to have many kids: The Jacksons, The Osmonds, The Sylvers, DeBarge. These musical families seem to have a minimum of 9 kids spanning the same era 50s to early 70's. I love big families but, I feel for the mothers who were constantly pregnant. I don't know if I can cope. I have 3 boys (that I love so much) and I heave all day too.

  • @Bizz2k Thats true I grew up in the 60s and 70s and there were lots of families in our neighborhood with 9, 10, 11 kids. Families used to produce a lot of children down south to work the land. I dont know why they continued when the moved north or west in their case lol.

  • 10 Kids! I'm sure the house was buzzing with kids, their friends, cuzins, friends of friends, mama friends and the lot. There would be crys, laughter, screams, yells, singing, fights....I love big families! But, even though their dad left, I hope he was doing something with his kids. How could he walk out on a whole large lovely family that he created? It's like walking out on ones-self . And they were very young when he left. If you are friends with Ike Turner, what do you expect??

  • @Bizz2k I know it breaks my heart to hear Mrs Shirley say she was moving all over LA cause there was no place for them to be. Really?? WTH thats a damn shame.

  • @rokhamdagamer81 Both of you stole my idea! Forever Yours,Love Changes,Diamonds Are Rare and Swept For You are perfect love/wedding songs! Forever Yours is the best Sylvers album in my opinion!

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  • Right now in the sylvers message board, fans are posting up their encounters with the sylvers. Get updates and stay in touch with the sylvers ;)

  • If you guys have not already, go like the sylvers offical page on facebook and join the sylvers message board at yahoo groups. You can get updates on the fam, ask questions, see tons of photos, and see their "aint nothing but a party performance" on the facebook page. The fam runs both groups. Support the group u luv sooo much.

  • that is one good looking bunch

  • I agree for voting Leon(the actor) out of the Five Heartbeats...but Leon Sylver out of the Sylvers? Wrong move!

  • omg Foster Sylvers is so cute on 23:14 i love him

  • @NaeNae10iry Yes!!! Oh,how I would love to see that "New Horizons" Soultrain performance in full...EDMUND was a showman!!! Such great voices,moves and looks.....pure bliss.

  • @RememberTheTime09 i wish they would have it on youtube so i can watch it over and over again

  • Leon said.. aint nobody telling me im not writing on my on group.. LOL.. YES

  • It's a shame the dad left. I feel with such a powerful male influence, they would have achieved a lot more success, not saying they were not successful, I just think they would have reached even higher levels, plus, I feel their financial contracts would have been better negotiated and there would not have been that outside influence to turn the group against Leon.

  • The Sylvers are TRULY infectious!!!!! Every since this Episode premiered on Unsung and noticed that the WHOLE episode was on here I watch this EVERYDAY. This was a BEAUTIFUL family! (Prettier than DeBarge and the Jacksons...except for Janet ;-D) LEON was a genius!!!!! I definitely agree that this story should be made into a movie! I hope when Ricky and Foster are released they're ready to work! WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE SONG THAT MAMA SHIRLEY WAS SINGING AT THE END WITH HER KIDS!?!?!?!

  • @antyonne The song is"OUR DAY WILL COME" you've probably heard the 1963 version by RUBY & THE ROMANTICS.