Sylver Logan Sharp
Part One
"The Beginning"
By Rodney Wayne Branche
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Copa: What developed your interest in music?
Sylver: My Grandparents were musicians and my mother was a singer, dancer, pianist, poet and author. It's in my DNA, that's the best way I can say it. "I just came into the world this way" as my mother describes it. My mother was always involved in some sort of musical production, she studied the Arts in college. There was no idle time for me, there was always something to do. It was like a right of passage. For example. think about a kid who has both parents that are professional athletes, it's the same sort of thing. |
Sylver Logan Sharp
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Copa: What schools have you attended?
Sylver: It's pretty interesting, I grew up in DC. and studied Dance and Vocals at Duke Ellington School for the Arts. Believe it or not after graduating from High School I attended an Airline Academy and worked for an Air Line for a while. I was always singing, dancing and performing, I have been an artist for most of the adult portion of my life. My mother was my first dance teacher. When I was two I attended my mother's dance class, there was no need for a baby sitter. So this was the lifestyle for me as a child. |
Copa: When and where was your first experience singing ?
Sylver: It was a Miss Congeniality Pageant at Benedict College, my Grandfather was on staff there. I was about 2 or 3, I won the contest and had to sing. I did not embrace myself as a true vocalist until High School. At this time I danced and modeled on a regular basis. My mother informed me about Duke Ellington School for the Arts so I auditioned and was accepted into their program. While I attended Ellington, my skills were shaped to a higher degree. Here is where I found my voice under the direction of Edward Jackson, a well known vocal coach. He was also the leader of the DC Youth Corral. During this time I had connected with other local musicians such as Trumpeter "Too Tall" Steve Coleman, formally of Chuck Brown's Band, Ricky Wellman who was an extremely well known Drummer, he is of the Wellman Family who are known for great drummers. Ricky has also played with Miles Davis for the last 5 years of his life. Derrick Pierson and the late Al Johnson who was a great songwriter/producer has past on now. All were like my 'Big Brothers' that took me under their wings. I recorded my first professional recording because of Steve Coleman, I sang for a group know as the "Pump Blenders." You have to be a real DC head to remember these guys.
Sylver: It was a Miss Congeniality Pageant at Benedict College, my Grandfather was on staff there. I was about 2 or 3, I won the contest and had to sing. I did not embrace myself as a true vocalist until High School. At this time I danced and modeled on a regular basis. My mother informed me about Duke Ellington School for the Arts so I auditioned and was accepted into their program. While I attended Ellington, my skills were shaped to a higher degree. Here is where I found my voice under the direction of Edward Jackson, a well known vocal coach. He was also the leader of the DC Youth Corral. During this time I had connected with other local musicians such as Trumpeter "Too Tall" Steve Coleman, formally of Chuck Brown's Band, Ricky Wellman who was an extremely well known Drummer, he is of the Wellman Family who are known for great drummers. Ricky has also played with Miles Davis for the last 5 years of his life. Derrick Pierson and the late Al Johnson who was a great songwriter/producer has past on now. All were like my 'Big Brothers' that took me under their wings. I recorded my first professional recording because of Steve Coleman, I sang for a group know as the "Pump Blenders." You have to be a real DC head to remember these guys.
 Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards
Copa: How did you get the opportunity to perform with "Chic?"
Sylver: Nile Rodgers and the late Bernard Edwards were putting "Chic" back together back in 1991, they were signed to Warner Brothers at the time. I'm sure you are familiar with the one and only Dyana Williams, on on-air personality in Philly. I would consider her to be one of my 'Auntie Angels.' At the time I was singing background for another of my 'Auntie Angels' Jean Carne, I sang background for her for about 6 years. Another of her friends a gentleman by the name of Nathan Heathman was Jean's Music Director. I used to sing with Nathan at the Ibex in Washington, DC at Missouri and Georgia Avenue Northwest back in the day! Actually I was too young to be in there but I was sitting near Nathan by the piano bench in the "Marvin Gaye Room." He would often invite his friends to sing and would have me to act as background vocals because I knew all of the songs. Several months passed, Dyana called me on the phone and stated that she had the perfect situation for me. She said, "I was just on the plane with Nile Rodgers and they are putting Chic back together and you would be perfect for them. Later she called me back and actually had Nile on the phone and he asked me how soon could I get to New York to meet him. Immediately I informed him that I was packed and ready to go! The next day I arrived in New York, a car was sent to pick me up at the airport. When I got to the audition location I was informed that they had been looking at many girls for over the course of a year. Finally my turn was up...all I knew is that the new position as lead singer for Chic was for me and I was going to get it! While I was about to begin, I noticed Nile and Bernard looking through the window of the door to the recording studio smiling in my direction. Seconds later they came out and told me if I could sing half as good as I looked we would be in business! They started to sing a line to me and I would sing it back to them. Later they led me to a booth and gave me some headphones. I would sing back whatever it was they wanted to throw at me, they started to give each other high fives. By the end of the day they offered me the gig. Now about that same time I was nominated for a WAMA (Washington Area Music Awards) in Washington DC. My band was one of the bands who were performing in the show and I had to be there. You should have seen the look on both of their faces! So I took a shuttle back to DC, performed my and returned to New York about 2 days later. At this time the were auditioning more girls to find a second one to sing with me. So that's how I got into 'Chic." |
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Next: Part 2
"New York, New York"
~Copa