Foster Sylvers — the child star whose early solo success and later work with his family helped shape the sound of 1970s R&B — has died at 64. His brother, Leon Sylvers III, confirmed the news to Eurweb.com. He shared that Foster had been battling prostate cancer that had spread to other parts of his body.
Born in Memphis and raised in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, Sylvers broke through at just 11 years old with his 1973 self-titled debut album. Its standout single, “Misdemeanor,” became a national hit and led to appearances on “American Bandstand” and “Soul Train.”
He later joined his siblings in The Sylvers, the family group behind a run of charting singles including the No. 1 hit “Boogie Fever,” which became a defining track of the era’s R&B, soul and disco crossover.
After his time with the group, Sylvers moved into studio work, contributing to projects including Dynasty’s “Your Piece of the Rock,” “When You Feel Like Giving Love,” and “Satisfied,” as well as Evelyn “Champagne” King’s “Shake Down.”