Mighty Real: A Celebration of Sylvester

To celebrate the birthday of the iconic San Francisco disco diva Sylvester (1947-1988), join us at this event that will highlight the GLBT Historical Society’s archival holdings documenting the singer’s life and times. In a recorded video, the society’s registrar Ramón Silvestre will present some of the Sylvester-related objects in our Art & Artifacts Collection. We will also be presenting clips of some of our archival footage, including a scarce video of what was waggishly billed as the diva’s 40th birthday celebration in 1987-although the star was only 38 at the time. This footage features some moving clips of Sylvester performing sentimental standards backed by a jazz band.
SPEAKERS
Ramón Silvestre, Museum Registrar & Curatorial Specialist is an expert in material culture studies. He previously was a Visiting Fellow at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, and has published in many national and international professional journals, including The Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press. He holds a Ph.D. in anthropology and a master’s degree in curatorial and museum studies from the University of Arizona, School of Anthropology. He has conducted fieldwork and museum collections acquisitions among the Kalinga and Ifugao tribes in northern Philippines, the Iban in Indonesia and the Dayak in Borneo.

[@donniehagy5125]

I cannot thank you enough for this documentary on a man that literally saved this little country boy's life. Loved him then; love him to this day.

[@rogerbarrett1979]

Sylvester James, Jr. was born on this day in 1947. If he was alive he'd be 75. He was such an extraordinary and fantastic singer and showman. God bless you, Sylvester.

[@konsejitos]

when I die, I will look for the cloud where Sylvester is performing and stand in line.

[@11Christys11]

I’ll be right behind you! RIP Sylvester

[@garyturner5204]

Such a wonderful commemorative collection of videos and film of Sylvester! Thank you for sharing this! Such an incredible and talented entertainer and singer!

[@briansadler6982]

I love you baby! Sylvester is my idol! I can't get enough!

[@TheRetroWoman80]

Already know the music of this unforgotten and unbelievably talented🌈🌈family artist, and I saw his story on Unsung a long time ago. But I never tire of coming across any docs on him. He is always missed😔💚

[@DavidRoss-lo7kz]

The man was iconic

[@MagnusVonBenz]

Thank you Leigh Pfeffer for putting all the footages together, I really enjoyed.

[@VictoriousandGlorious74]

Like you shuuuuuuuuuudddddddddd…..!!!! Mitey Real..!!!!!!!

[@thisgirlshair]

This is the most awesomeness thing! Good work!!!🔥❤️

[@HydeWest]

My legendary guardian Angel ! 😘 👼🏾

[@sallygray6791]

SYLVESTER 🎉🎉🎉🎉 GET INTO IT!!

[@hugovargas9535]

Beautiful documentary thank you 😊 awesome! Sylvester ❤enjoyed the video from Guadalajara Mexico 🇲🇽

[@magdalenasoul1734]

love this video and waiting to convert this to audio to put on my radio station kmsf-db

[@donalito666]

He’s my guy. Sylvester did so much, in music and for gay people, and has never really got the recognition for that. Perhaps because he was way before his time. In Sweden, where I live, he is almost unknown by my fellow hbtq. I miss him so much. ❤❤❤

[@bernadettehunt9346]

I loved him, saw him with the superwomen, they blew the ceiling off the venue🥰

[@blueskye6372]

Nice. ✌😊💏

[@BassGods]

11:04 No, no, no more of that. Lmaooooooof. That's the second time I've seen someone say that about Disco music when it started being frowned upon. And you could not play that famous Disco tune.

[@nancifyme]

I cracked up over that and the deadpan delivery. I’ve watched it 3x.

[@cumberland19132]

Rupaul did it long after Sylvester in the 90s but of course billy porter wouldn't acknowledge that known fact he doesn't like Rupaul darlings

[@DaRigues]

This is bad. Startede good but then just went of the wall.