Leon F. Sylvers III, 54, the eldest brother of the family who formed the group, became an acclaimed music producer. His hits included The Whispers' And The Beat Goes On, Shalamar's Second Time Around and Take That To The Bank and Gladys Knight & The Pips' You're No. 1 (In My Book). Recently he co-wrote Blackstreet's hit Before I Let You Go. Will Smith sampled And The Beat Goes On for his 1997 hit Miami. And Dr. Dre sampled Misdemeanor for The D. O. C.'s song It's Getting Funky.
"You can always do something new as long as you understand where you're from," said Leon, who has been married 21 years and has five children. "You don't have to be young. Just sound right."
Angie Sylvers-Polk, 47, has been a paralegal for nearly 20 years. Sylvers-Polk is divorced and has four children. Her son, Kyle, 19, is a dancer who has traveled with Christina Aguilera and appeared in the film Rize.
"I know that God uses people to touch other people and God intended for this family to use the talents and gifts he gave us to touch other people," she said.
Foster Sylvers, 45, who played the bass in the family band, is engaged and has three daughters. He is also an accomplished artist.
Fourteen years ago Foster was convicted with committing a sex act and is now a registered sex offender. He maintains his innocence and said that he is working to have his record expunged.
"I am going to sing again, for those who are broken, because I was broken and God fixed me," said Foster, a recovering drug addict who is now clean. "The bottom line is victory isn't won to the strong of to the weak or to the fast or to the slow, but it is the one who endures to the end."
Patricia Sylvers Deruso, 46, and her husband of 14 years, Lorne, are church elders. She is a praise and worship leader and is working on a gospel album with Foster.
James Sylvers, 52, is married and has two children. Ricky Sylvers, 49, is the father of five. James, a keyboard player, and Ricky, a guitar player, both have appeared on albums with Shalamar and The Whispers.
The Sylvers are looking forward to recording as a family unit.
"I see people asking where are The Sylvers now as a call, as a Macedonia call," Sylvers Deruso said, referring to a Bible passage. "I want people to know that we have answered the call and you will see us again."
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Edmund Sylvers died at 47 of lung cancer in Richmond, VA, in 2004 (JET, May 31, 2004). He sang lead on the group's biggest hits, Boogie Fever and Hot Line. In 1971 he was the voice of Marlon Jackson in the Jackson 5 TV cartoon. He recorded a solo album in 1980 that produced the hit single That Burning Love. Edmund was married and had 11 children, one of whom, Jeremy, starred in the 1991 thriller Child's Play 3 (JET, Sept. 9, 1991).