Sylver Logan Sharp
Part 2
"New York, New York"
By Rodney Wayne Branche
 Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards
Copa: What were your first recording sessions like?
Sylver: Well, after returning to New York from Washington, DC, Nile and Bernard recorded my vocals on the new songs for the CHIC-ism CD. One of the techniques CHIC is known for is recording “gang vocals”. Meaning 2 or 3 singers would sing the parts full out. Back in the day, some of those singers were Fonzi Thorton, Luther Vandross, Diva Gray, Michelle Cobb and several other great singers. They all were session singers on “everybody’s" record. Fonzi is on every CHIC record there is. You will clearly here Fonzi and Luther on "Everybody Dance" and "Dance Dance Dance" and so on. At the time, we were recording the backgrounds, assembling everything in sort of a layering process and then adding my lead vocals once the backgrounds were done. There is a technique to learning and executing the CHIC sound and rhythm. After about 3 days of recording me alone, they brought in Fonzi. He currently sings with Aretha Franklin and also tours with Brian Adams. Fonzi said to me “I’ll teach you everything you need to know about singing CHIC songs.” We are 'thick as thieves' to this day. He is my brother. While Nile and Bernard were recording me, they brought in several girls to audition for the second female position. I think they were searching for someone that was about my height and weight, looks a little like me, so they had the “book end” effect. I knew that being a part of this famous group, the other girl and I would have to like each other. We would have to sing well with each other, there could be no competition or drama; THAT would not be acceptable. They already had established a rhythm with me so the other singer would need to jump in and be fabulous! Several auditions later, after the fifth girl, I asked them to “step into my office” , which was the hallway…I still can’t believe I said that… and I made the suggestion for them to give my friend and fellow singing partner (in DC) an audition as well. I said, “She’ll be perfect but she's not my height and doesn't look anything like me but we are friends, and we sound amazing together.” They looked at each other and said, "Why not?" "What have we got to lose where is she, get her up here! I immediately phoned my great friend, Jenn Thomas, at her office and said to her, “Get sick right this second, cramps, migraine something, I just got you an audition with CHIC”. A short while later, Nile’s office called Jenn and made travel arrangements for that day. She arrived a few hours later, nailed the audition, and was hired on the spot! |
Fonzi Thorton
Luther Vandross
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Stay tuned for Part 3 of the Sylver Logan Sharp Story!
Link to Part One "The Beginning" : http://www.copastyle.com/sylver-logan-sharp-part-1.html
~Copa