Sylvester, Greg's Blue Dot, 1981 Live Performance

[@Lawrence_619]

just like Aretha Franklin and Patti LaBelle, Sylvester would take yo' ass to church in a New York minute, baby....."Dance, Disco Heat" was basically a gospel song, by the time he finished with it.. He was wayyyyy more than a dude who liked to wear women's clothes...Sylvester was a "stone cold singer"....and he could sing just about anything..jaz, hard rock, pop, r&b, gospel, blues standards and disco. I just shake my head at how far ahead of his time, he was. One of the all time great divas, Sylvester James.

[@Swoop2565]

Indeed…a phenom

[@mishk9700]

I love the end of You make me feel, that definitely takes it back to church, I mean there are not many singers like him, I have been watching all his live stuff here, he had some voice, heard do you wanna funk on a movie lately and have been watching him since. I also found out that he and Etta James (my all time favourite singer) were good friends, her album 'Rocks the house' which is live is my favourite album, I can see that the way they sing can be similar in places, and yes Sylvester could sing anything, he was before his time and gone too soon. It's wonderful that people put up performances like this which we would otherwise not be able to see, so thanks to the uploader, yes the video is vhs quality but the sound is still very good.

[@lockness1980]

Well said!!!!!

[@bronzevenus7836]

A reminder that there were once performers who only needed a microphone to electrify an audience.

[@johnnyeckhardt9011]

I had the honor of doing his sound for this show.....as well as most of the "live" shows at Greg's Blue Dot between 1980 and 1984

[@joelthames1141]

Johnny - do you know who did the live intro for Syl? The by line said it was Greg H - I'm not sure about that!

[@reittahanda548]

I was there to see this AWESOME show with my “family” Jeff Mast, Ray Dunlap, Jimmy Phillips, Sam n Jason “Thumper” n too many more to mention! Greg’s was surely the place to be!! And OF COURSE, we’d leave Probe to check things out at Greg’s n vice versa! Two of the hottest clubs in town!! ❤️👍🏻❤️

[@adrilo4377]

Wow, that must've been awesome! I never had the chance of seeing him alive, tell us more about it, please.

[@aeichler]

That's great. Videographer Larry Evans (the VJ at Revolver) left me all of his tapes and I put a few like this on KZbin.

[@adonaiyah2196]

@@aeichler cpuld you upload any more sylvester shows

[@tremaynelewis3861]

❤❤❤ flamboyant 🦩 and extraordinary 🎉

[@texmex3343]

Sylvester was giving you all his life with ZERO shame. The balls it took for him back then, this man was incredible and a great artist and singer RIP.

[@paulreuben7343]

As a inner city militant back youth at school i just thought he was doing what Bowie and Marc Bolan and the other Glam rock bands were doing in the 70s, i think many took it as an extension of that..there were no cries for his harm and i dont remember him as being a "victim" he just did his thing and no-one was that bothered.

[@curtistisdale8150]

#Obsessed 4Life RIP Beautiful Human...

[@PugsDaddy]

Saw this one live. It was the first time I had gone to Greg's with my BF Michael. We had a total blast.

[@js-td8gt]

Greg's... so many Sunday mornings, so many friends, so much joy. The music, the dance, a few cocktails, and Sylvester. What more could we want?

[@donaldbrown9056]

The best to ever grace the music world,I listen to his music everyday

[@googlepigs7027]

I think he should much more recognized than he is. He has a depth and soulfulness that is very great and touching.

[@tomtalker2000]

He wasn't only a gay icon in my community. He was a disco legend whose music will live on forever...!!!

[@adonaiyah2196]

He wasn't just a gay guy he was more than that

[@paulreuben7343]

and no one made a big deal out of it, many of us thought he was just doing what the glam rock guys were doing but only he was black and it was disco

[@sharjjahnaziz4122]

I was there back in 1981. I was in the crowd.

[@adonaiyah2196]

Were u now

[@bobballard3146]

Probably the most gorgeous creature to ever hit the Earth.

[@Swoop2565]

This is one of the best mini concert vids I’ve ever seen🏆

[@tatsf]

Historic footage! The Legendary Sylvester!

[@fareedg6703]

Saw him perform live when I was 14 y/o at the Sheas Theatre in my home town of Buffalo NY. I became a big fan after that concert. Sylvester and the two tons of fun laid their souls on the stage that night.

[@adonaiyah2196]

You were so lucky seeing him then

[@tremaynelewis5059]

He❤was amazing 😊

[@quinnthereaux7719]

I am so grateful that this footage exists ❣️

[@sistamaryclarence]

quinn thereaux yesss I came here t say this .. my generation needs these rare gems

[@farmyardflavours]

me too. he is dynamite 💕

[@keeem9916]

We found rare gems today 😭😍

[@adonaiyah2196]

Is that Patrick cowley

[@mjg239]

Love this. When is there going to be a proper movie on Sylvester's life? HIS LIFE A MOVIE ready to made. I know there are stage shows about his life, and TV One's Unsung series did a TV documentary on him and I'm thankful for that. But if they can make a movie about Harvey Milk (who was friends with Sylvester) they can make a film about Sylvester.

[@54international82]

A brilliant Sunday morning @ (what we called) 'Church'! I remember it like it was yesterday. One amazing man that will never be forgotten.

[@banyera]

There will NEVER / EVER be another Sylvester !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To do "I who have Nothing" ---- He had it ALL !! My Hero !!

[@RadiantVaughn]

Those stairs were never the same after that performance! I got my life!

[@sistamaryclarence]

RIP to this iconic beautiful being ..his voice and spirit remains unmatched ..RIP to the beautiful and power Izora Rhodes of Two Tons Of Fun 😍😍🙌🏾🙌🏾🏳️‍🌈

[@b72s2JFK]

He was my gorgeous and talented lovely. My heart continually aches

[@rubenzamorano5194]

SYLVESTER. NUMBER ONE FOREVER. KING ONDA DISCO. CLASSIC FOREVER.

[@felipenievesHiTEK]

Simply..... Sylvester is immortal, I was in 2 times when Sylvester come to México City, 1984 y 1986, great memories

[@adrilo4377]

Where un Mexico did he perform? I was too young to go I suppose, I wish I had seen him!! I've been searching for pics por footages of Syl in Mexico and there's nothing :(

[@antoniocasula5185]

I'm from ITALY. IN THE 1981 I WAS 18. SYLVESTER WAS GREAT. INCREDIBLE VOICE.

[@davidmagen415]

Oh my. How I loved him . Saw Anthony Wayne in Mighty Real and wept both times. Oh I loved Sylvester 🏖️

[@rosemaryrogers1478]

Fantastic ride🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@bjornpalenius2144]

Fun club and fun memories AND right next to Probe!

[@michaelgaynor6866]

Blessed to see the Phenomenal Sylvester twice, once at a club called Tracks in Denver and again at the Bourse Building in Philadelphia, Pa. He made me feel MIGHTY REAL! November 2020 Sylvester, Earth is sending Love up!

[@chrissangit]

yessssss!!!!! sylvester you slayed it on that stair case hunny!!!!! rip you sure did pay your dues and you brought that house down like a true legend and sho nuff professional!! you are truly an inspiration to me not only as being a gay black male but a stone sanger!!!!!!!!!! sing your heart out

[@craigbridge1928]

Just magnificent..

[@dddddadadad1796]

This made me smile. And I wasn’t even expecting to!❤ May his soul rest in peace wherever he is today!

[@billscott6819]

Great quality, this is awesome to see.

[@gabewilliams9862]

I wish I would’ve saw him, Freddie Mercury, Bobby Womack, and Johnnie Taylor perform. They knew how to move the crowd.

[@stanharry3722]

He was just so good looking and he could sing great as well..RIP Sylvester and thank you..

[@michaelburgess9707]

It made my day, week, month to find this performance captured on video. I had the good fortune to see him perform either at Probe, the Blue Parrot or even here at the Dot, I was having so much fun and am so grateful to have been young at that time.

[@carmenilardi276]

I remember seeing the ads for Greg's Blue Dot in the In Touch adult magazines of the 80's. This was a really nice performance. Greg's Blue Dot was not the San Francisco Philharmonic, but you could tell Sylvester really enjoyed being himself in there.

[@myqueenimagivemydumassopin6841]

1981 I was just born....what a beautiful cool guy.... Queen of the gay dance Hall.....

[@sistamaryclarence]

MY QUEEN ima give my dumass opinion cause yesss him and Donna Summer are definitely the Queen’s of Disco 🙌🏾😍 RIP to both of those beautiful souls .. and Izora Rhodes of Two tons of fun (one of his back up singers )

[@joannehines7806]

Lawd, have mercy!! Would have given anything to see him perform, but was too young at the time!! RIP "Empress" Sylvester!! 💘 🌈 💃 🎶

[@leiutley4083]

I love you Eternal Peace sang brotha

[@javawatson1350]

Give it to me Sylvester!!❤️

[@carlamonsalve8773]

THE TRUE ARTIST!!!!

[@juancarroza3851]

Maravilloso y mágico. Gracias. Sylvester!!!

[@Auntkekebaby]

Sylvester went OFF!!! LOVE!

[@Stephanie_b119]

She is My everything.. Real is the answer and She is the True Raining Queen....

[@mjg239]

The crowd in the clip at Greg's is REALLY singing and clapping (even jumping) along to "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" . I'm really thankful that this was recorded. Very rare for 1981. No smartphones existed then so it really took effort to record this!

[@aeichler]

It was recorded on an early 3/4 " tape recorder with a quality camera. Sylvester is standing on the stairs of the club singing live over his tracks.

[@mjg239]

@@aeichler Impressive! I'm glad that you captured history. I've never been to Greg's Blue Dot or seen Sylvester live, both were well before my time, so this is all I have to witness either one. Would really love if you upload any and everything you have from Greg's Blue Dot, men in jeans, random video, anything from the gay life of the past. I would love it. New subscriber here. :)

[@cristiancizmar]

Thank you for sharing this beautiful document!!!

[@gizmogearloose3391]

Sylvester...1947-1988...sing on...Sing On!

[@jamesmcclintock3419]

Saw him in San Francisco at theTracidero it was fabulous and at Greg’s blue dot in Los Angeles !!!!!

[@aeichler]

Greg's is where this was taped.

[@donsolis12]

incredible to see this , thanks!

[@chibakhan1]

Wonderful. I saw her perform at the Endup bar on San Francisco..such a pioneer

[@safetydc1368]

Awesome!!!! Thanks for posting. What a treat of a great talent!

[@joannehines7806]

Wish he were at some of the clubs that I visited: First Choice, Murphy's, the Duchess 2 ( The Village-NYC)!!

[@ChrisT-O]

Nice video, Sylvester is a real legend

[@patriciacurcio9455]

I think 🤔 Sylvester is 😎 ❤️ his music 🎶

[@juancarroza3851]

Amo a silvester!!! I love disco!!!

[@jdjking]

Greg's Blue Dot was the spot! One of the few after hours club in LA. This was definitely performed then.

[@mjg239]

Did you go? I'm so curious what is was like... what kind of music they played? What was the atmosphere? Were their darkrooms, etc?

[@michaelthomassambrano3934]

Loved this place, historic.

[@antaW1]

bravo!

[@antoniocasula5185]

Voce bellissima. Grandioso Sylvester

[@pierreperalta2500]

Gran Material,no había visto esta presentación.

[@nycgal-2002]

This may be a cliche but they just don't make them like that anymore. He/She had tons of talent not just the pose. Too many now aday think attitude is enuff ... it's not. He was a beautiful person ... left way too early...RIP.

[@ronp3000]

YESSS!!! Thanks for posting this and sharing the memories!

[@lisasmith9502]

This is wonderful!!

[@w.baillou]

I had never seen Sylvester in a live video and had an entirely different impression of him. For a very long time, "DANCE (Disco Heat)" was my favorite, not just Sylvester song, but of the Disco Era; until I heard the first two tracks of this video: I love it! If anyone knows the titles of those 2 songs PLEASE REPLY AND LET ME KNOW. Thank you....and thanks for uploading this video: what a beautiful soul!

[@bronzevenus7836]

"Over and Over" and "I Who Have Nothing"

[@farmyardflavours]

and that is how it's done !! 💋

[@duochannel256]

Wonderful video, Sylvester was one of a kind :)

[@bskeete]

Awesome!!!!

[@johnnyeckhardt9011]

Thanks for posting this!

[@tabbazzseaye7549]

Sylvester James Jr 1947- 1988

[@yolandascott6481]

Love you syl from Angie stl mo

[@cleopatradawn5561]

Gone ahaed Sylvester!

[@cbridges1202]

Best song hands down

[@geofflopez8482]

Thank you for sharing!!!!

[@mathieub4259]

Thanks for sharing :) ! Does someone know who were the backing singers ? I hear Jeanie Tracy but not Martha Wash...

[@melodiesproul4109]

I was first introduced to Sylvester in 1978 and even back then as a 12-year-old girl, I just wanted to eat him up.

[@rivkayovelz6083]

somebody knows the man of the right side is patrick cowley?

[@RutgerS.]

at what time stamp?

[@Daethaqt3000]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssssss!!

[@na_n_na_suu]

❤️❤️❤️

[@clivesmith9377]

I can't get over his death. So unfair!

[@darkfeather6857]

Does anyone know the name of the second song? It isn't on the Stars album, if it is, it's completely different.

[@darkfeather6857]

Thank you!!!!

[@Harlemblkboy]

it's "I Who Have Nothing"

[@Harlemblkboy]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHWmqIiMnKaKmJo

[@dddddadadad1796]

It definitely IS on the Stars album. My straight black Baptist mother had the album (I have it now) and it’s called “I Who Have Nothing”. That’s the FIRST Sylvester song I was introduced to

[@markymark1644]

Umm where can i find these instrumentals???

[@rilleydiegocavalcante3532]

Maravilhosa!!!

[@Abchwkd]

Alquien sabe como se llama la primera canción?

[@a.p.murdock4081]

"Dynamix"...with a red handkerchief.

[@orlandosanchez6196]

Sylvester and Divine

[@nicolaslorca1174]

name of the first song?

[@bronzevenus7836]

"Over and Over" -- written by and originally recorded by Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson.

[@vangoghmatisse1]

THE PAINTED LADY!

[@paulreuben7343]

its just discofied gospel

[@user-pp1on4fk7d]

Cut that bright light off!