Terry Sylvester was born on the 8th of January, 1947 in Liverpool, England. His
father James, a jazz trombone player, introduced him to music at an early age.
He was brought up in the Allerton area of Liverpool, and lived the next road
over from Paul & Mike McCartney. He left school just before his 15th birthday and
worked for one year as an apprentice panel beater for Peter Harrison, (George
Harrison's older brother). At 16 he was sharing the stage with the Beatles
regularly in and around Liverpool and at the world famous Cavern Club, fronting his
own group the Escorts. When the Beatles appeared at the Cavern for the last
time on the 3rd August 1963, Terry & the Escorts were invited by the Beatles to
be on the same bill.
The ESCORTS
In August 1965, the Escorts were appearing with the Hollies at the "Hit House
Club" in Munich Germany. When a couple of members of the Escorts were taken
ill before the show, Graham Nash & Allan Clarke from the Hollies graciously
filled in for them, and performed with Terry for the first time. In January 1966
when guitarist Ralph Ellis decided to leave the Swinging Blue Jeans, the then
18 year old Terry was asked to join the group.
The SWINGING BLUE JEANS
The Swinging Blue Jeans had a number of hit records including "Hippy Hippy
Shake", "Good Golly Miss Molly" & "You're No Good". From 1966 to 1969 Terry
toured the UK and Europe continuously, and appeared on numerous TV and radio
shows. In 1968 when they were touring Czechoslovakia, a lucky tip from a high
ranking fan enabled them to leave the country the day before Russia invaded.
The HOLLIES
In December 1968, Graham Nash left the Hollies to form Crosby, Stills, &
Nash. The remaining members of the group remembered Terry from Munich, contact was
made & the rest as they say, is history. Terry's first single with the
Hollies, "Sorry Suzanne" reached number 3 in the UK charts and established the group
once again as a top ten hit making act. Terry's first album Hollies Sing
Dylan went even further, all the way to number 1. Soon after, they recorded "He
Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", with the then unknown session man Elton John
playing piano. The song became a world wide hit, and remains to this day an
anthem for those who choose to help people less fortunate than themselves. More
hits followed including the follow up single "I Can't Tell The Bottom From The
Top", U.S. number 1 "Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress","Gasoline Ally Bred" and
the 1974 universal classic love song, "The Air That I Breathe".
During the 1970's the Hollies toured extensively, performing in North & South
America, Australia the Far East, & Europe. Also, during this period the trio
of Sylvester-Clarke-Hicks wrote a good number of the Hollies songs. In 1975
they recorded what many people regard as their finest album, Another Night.
Christchurch, New Zealand in 1976 was the location & year for the Hollies Live
album that still sounds fresh today. Sony re-released it in 1998 on CD
titled, Live Hits-The Hollies.
I BELIEVE
Terry also wrote songs for himself and released a solo album. The album I
Believe, recorded at Abbey Road Studios and produced by Alan Parsons and the
Hollies long time producer Ron Richards, was re-released in 1997 in CD format.
The cover photograph of the US release was taken by famous UK photographer
David Bailey. In 1975 Terry was asked by Alan Parsons to sing the critically
acclaimed final song "To One In Paradise" on The Alan Parsons Project debut album,
"Tales of Mystery And Imagination".
In 1981 Terry recorded and produced an album with Oscar winning songwriter
and Bread member James Griffin. The album "Griffin & Sylvester" was recorded in
Memphis Tennessee, and is now available in CD format with added bonus tracks.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Terry owns the rights to all of his
recordings & songs. His music publishing company Charlotte Music, has over 200 songs
in its catalogue. Apart from Terry, artists that have recorded his material
include Percy Sledge, Denny Doherty, Dean Ford, Lynn Paul, Wicked Lester, High
Button, Joan Turner, Liverpool Football Club, and of course the Escorts, the
Swinging Blue Jeans, the Hollies, and Griffin & Sylvester.
Terry has been awarded 5 Platinum, 9 Gold, and 6 Silver Discs so far in his
career.
Toronto Canada is his home now, where he lives with the love of his life
Diane. In his spare time he enjoys reading books on the history of the Native
American Indian, collecting Georgian silver & Dinky toys, watching baseball,
holidaying in Central America & the Caribbean, and of course keeping in touch with
his beloved Liverpool Football Club. He keeps fit by working out in the gym,
taking long country walks, playing golf, swimming, & playing tennis.
CONCERT PERFORMANCES
As well as performing with his backing band, Terry also likes to appear in
concert with his solo up close & personal "Live & Acoustic" stage act. Both
feature the Hollies & Swinging Blue Jeans hits, plus songs & stories from his
early days at the Cavern Club, where he appeared with the Beatles & the rest of
the great groups from that wonderful era.
|
