Terry Sylvester - Life and Career

Life and Career

Sylvester grew up in the Allerton, Liverpool. He attended school with future Badfinger guitarist Joey Molland. At age fourteen, Sylvester was employed for a time as a panel beater by George Harrison's brother. The first group he co-founded, The Escorts, appeared with The Beatles many times in the early 1960s. The Escorts had a minor UK chart hit with a cover of 'Dizzy Miss Lizzy' (on Fontana records TF 453) in 1964. A compilation of The Escorts singles 'A' and 'B' sides featuring Sylvester; 'From The Blue Angel' was later issued on LP (Edsel FORD 1) then in 1995 on CD (EDCD 422). In 1966, Sylvester began a three year stint with the Swinging Blue Jeans, replacing guitarist/vocalist Ralph Ellis. In late 1969, Hollies Sing Hollies debuted Sylvester's songwriting. His first song for the group was 'Gloria Swansong', and he continued to write by himself ('Pull Down The Blind', 'Cable Car' 1971), with Allan Clarke ('Why Didn't You Believe', 'Man Without A Heart', 'Perfect Lady Housewife' 1970 etc.) and as part of "Clarke-Hicks-Sylvester". ('Please Sign Your Letters', 'Do You Believe In Love', etc.). Clarke-Hicks-Sylvester composed most or all of the songs on several albums: 'Confessions of The Mind' (1970), and the Polydor (UK) sets: 'Hollies' (1974), 'Another Night' (1975), 'Write On' and 'Russian Roulette' (both 1976 - tho's neither issued in the US in original form,) plus 'A Crazy Steal' (1978). Some of Sylvester's work appeared on b-sides on some singles releases including "Indian Girl" (1972).

Sylvester took on a greater share of responsibilities during the 1972-73 period when Swedish vocalist Mike Rickfors temporarily replaced longtime singer Allan Clarke (who left to go solo for a time). He deputised for Clarke singing the US big hit 'Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)' on The Hollies 1973 US Tour & on American TV appearances. He later took a number of lead vocals during this period on The Hollies albums 'Romany' (1972) (which included the cover of Judee Sill's 'Jesus Was A Crossmaker' which later was featured in the Cameron Crowe movie 'Elizabethtown') and the (still unissued in the US or UK) follow up 'Out On The Road' (1973), on which Sylvester took lead vocals on several songs including Tony Hicks' 'Slow Down, Go Down' (a minor chart hit as a single in Australia) and which included his notable solo numbers; 'Pick Up The Pieces', and 'Mr. Heartbreaker' (co-written with Dean Ford late of The Marmalade group).

In 1974, Sylvester released his eponymous solo album, rereleasing it as I Believe with a slightly revised track listing in 1976. His friend James Griffin of Bread guested harmony vocals on the song 'Travelin' Boy', while Sylvester cut solo versions of his Hollies songs 'Cable Car', 'Indian Girl', 'Pick Up The Pieces Again' and later a solo version of his 1973 Hollies song 'I Had A Dream' was added to the CD version of the album. After a 1974 single on Polydor ('For The Peace of All Mankind') then two 1976 singles ('I Believe' & 'At the End of The Line') all taken from his solo album failed to chart, in 1978 Sylvester issued the rare non album singles; 'Too Bad Lucy Jane' c/w 'Realistic Situation' (Polydor 2040 194) and 'Silver And Gold' c/w 'Realistic Situation' (2058 985) in the UK, but these also failed to chart. He also earlier had contributed vocals to The Alan Parson Project's Tales of Mystery and Imagination album in 1975, singing; 'To One In Paradise'. A further solo album; 'I Believe In Love' on Major Oak Records (MORECD 9894) appeared in 1994, comprising live versions of both his Hollies and solo recorded songs plus covers such as 'It Never Rains In Southern California' etc., from a concert recorded on 20 March 1994 in Germany.

After a period of discontent, partly over musical policy, Sylvester split with the Hollies in May 1981, in an incident that precipitated the resignation of longtime bassist Bernie Calvert.

That same year, he recorded Griffin & Sylvester (issued on Polydor in 1982) in collaboration with ex-Bread member Jimmy Griffin in Memphis, Tennessee. From this album a single 'Please Come Into My Life' was taken but failed to chart. In the mid 1990s Sylvester teamed up with James Griffin again as 'Griffin & Sylvester' touring the UK and Canada as a part of the 'Soft Rock Cafe', the friendship and partnership continued on and off up to Griffin's death in January 2005. Their 1982 album was re-issued on Compact disc with three bonus songs in 1999.

A compilation 'Anthology' 2CD set of Sylvester's recordings with The Hollies (mostly Sylvester lead vocal tracks), The Alan Parsons Project, solo, and Griffin & Sylvester titled: 'The Complete Works: 1969-1982' was issued in France on Magic Records (3930048) in 2001.

More recently, as a member of the Hollies, Sylvester was inducted into the (United States) Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with the original Hollies lineup of Graham Nash, Allan Clarke, Tony Hicks, Bobby Elliot, Bernie Calvert and Eric Haydock, thanks to the success of "The Air That I Breathe", "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" and "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress".