Out Spotlight XXXX

Today's spotlight is singer, showman, Disco Drag Diva Sylvester.

Born Sylvester James, September 6, 1948, Sylvester is best known as disco and soul musician, and a gay drag performer. Best know for the one of the greatest dance songs and anthems You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) He performed under only his first name, Sylvester. Known for singing in falsetto (despite a rich baritone voice), he is also considered one of the first Hi-NRG artists. He was raised by his grandmother, the jazz singer Julia Morgan. Sylvester was the first 'male diva' of disco.

He lived in San Francisco in the 1960s, performing in a musical production called Women of the Blues, then joined a group of drag performance artists called The Cockettes in the early 1970s. Another member of The Cockettes was John Water's favorite muse and actress Divine. Both can be seen in a 2002 documentary about the group.

In 1972, Sylvester supplied two cuts to Lights Out San Francisco, an album compiled by the KSAN radio station and released on the Blue Thumb label. He released two rock-oriented albums on Blue Thumb (their self-titled debut was also known as 'Scratch My Flower', due to a gardenia-shaped scratch-and-sniff sticker adhered to the cover). He then signed as a solo act to Fantasy Records in 1977, working with legendary Motown producer Harvey Fuqua.

Sylvester soon met his frequent collaborator Patrick Cowley. Cowley's synthesiser and Sylvester's voice proved to be a magical combination, and pushed Sylvester's sound in an innovative new dance-oriented direction; his second solo album,Step II(1978), unleashed two disco classics: You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real), and Dance (Disco Heat). By this time both his live shows and recordings also recognizably featured the back-up vocals of Two Tons O' Fun later known as the Weather Girls. In 1979 he had three Billboard awards and an appearance in the movie,The Rose, starring Bette Midler.

Sylvester and Cowley moved to Megatone Records in 1982, and hit with the classic with Do You Wanna Funk? His close friends inclduded other Megatone artists Linda Imperial and Jeanie Tracy and legendary Patti LaBelle.

With pressure pressure from the label to 'butch up' his image led him to attend meetings in full-on drag. A drag photo shoot, which he staged and presented to label heads as a gag (calling it his 'new album cover') would later grace the cover of Immortal after Sylvester died; it was the label's way of paying tribute to his spirit.

In 1985, one of his dreams came true as he was ask to sing back-up for Aretha Franklin on her Who's Zoomin' Who comeback album. Moving to Warner Bros. in the 80's, his only album for them Mutual Attraction with the single,Someone Like You, featured original cover art by Keith Haring.

Like so many others, including Patrick Cowley before him, Sylvester died of complications from AIDS in San Francisco on December 16, 1988. He was 40 years old.

On September 20, 2004 Sylvester's his anthem, You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real), was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame. A year later, on September 19, 2005, Sylvester was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame for his achievement as an artist.

The Fabulous Sylvester: The Legend, The Music, The 70s in San Francisco, a biography by Joshua Gamson was published in 2005.

Sylvester's You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)



Sylstar Website

Video Dance(Disco Heat)

Video Do You Want to Funk (Remix)

Video Some One Like You (1986)

Every picture tells a story

Sometimes a picture tells a story. Can you see any clues to JFC from the mural?


Only a week to get read for OMG's JFC discussion group. Discussion will be 5:00pm EST Friday, September 19th and throughout the day Saturday, September 20th.

Want to check out the mind of Milch as a writer and creator? Watch this lecture/talk/workshop/extemporaneous commentary Milch did at a Writer's Guild Association gathering.

The Idea of the Writer

The talk from December 12th gives a lot of insight. (NSFW - language this is Milch we're talking about )
Milch December 12th part 1
Milch December 12th part 2

If y0u have the time and interest check out the whole series.

And for the first episode of JFC - don't forget to listen to the commentary, more clues to figuring out what is going on.

But don't forget Kem Nunn. JFC wouldn't have had a surf setting with out the surf noir writer. (Tijuana Straits) While Nunn, didn't get writing credits until the second half of the episodes, he was a collaborator and producer with Milch on the project from the very beginning.

Here's an interview (check out the podcasts in the middle of the page) with Nunn, talking about writing surfing and influences.

And of course all this Toothy talk in September you can't help remember these pictures.

Wheel of Fortune

Difference just a letter or two makes....


Swing.


Schwing!

Who says CH only means neutrality.

too hip to hop or to PoP?

........ middle of an international phone call

A: Here's the description of Julian.

J: Anything interesting?

A: Just listen.

Julian Beckett

20 something indie producer, never appears clean-shaven, a tight button up shirt, untucked, tight ball crushing jeans with a white belt, 80s throwback sunglasses, messy hair, white shoes or sneakers, smoker, talks about "needing to go to yoga", is "green", flirts with vegetarianism and waify girls, adores musicians, secretly wants to be one; suggestion of not always that "low"; makes demands on set to exert his power, not for any creative purpose; committed to being hip for the sake of being hip, emulates other indie directors; "gets" the business and the " kids"

J: Damn, kinda a Brett Rattner and Paul Thomas Anderson mash up? (laughing)

A: (laughing too) Yeah you got it.

J: That describes 80% of the indie guys out there. Think CW going let them get away with the smoking and not low part ?

A: Just smoke mirrors and the power of suggestion. Remember I'm an actor.

J: Oh that's right. I think I've seen in you in a few things.

A: You have have you?

J: (changing the subject) Ahem, what does Sophia think?

A: She thinks is pretty damn funny, especially that I have to lay down to get the damn jeans zipped. They're debating these Asics sneakers which make my feet look like boats and this funky white vintage albino crocodile shoes. I'm wearing my own watch. Gotta give the Nichols signature look.

J: Nichols signature huh? Thought you'd try for a hat or suspenders or a funky coat. The watch, and not the ring?

A: You know I would if I could.

J: I know, and I know you you're pushing for those god awful white shoes. You're gonna tell them that Sam Fuller wore them around town back in the day or something aren't you?

A: (busting) Well yeah..

J: You are so full of bullshit, you already did, didn't you?

A: So whaddya think?

J: Think you're full of bullshit, and you're gonna walk like Frankenstein.

A: Hey now, this isn't about my forehead.

J: Didn't say it was, was talking about those damn tight jeans and those shoes. Tell Sophia to take a picture worthy of the hipster indie producer and send it.

............

Freebird

Seems like Jake knows his inner bird.
Or was it pure coicidence?

"Many Native American cultures have the belief that a person is assigned an animal upon the time of birth."

Owl: Nov 23 – Dec 21
Changeable and mutable as the wind, the Owl is a tough one to pin down. Warm, natural, with an easy-going nature, the Owl is friend to the world. The bearer of this Native American animal symbol is notorious for engaging in life at full speed, and whole-hearted loves adventure. This can be to his/her detriment as the Owl can be reckless, careless, and thoughtless. Owls make great artists, teachers, and conservationists. However, due to his/her adaptability and versatility – the Owl would likely excel in any occupation. In a supportive, nurturing environment the Owl is sensitive, enthusiastic, and an attentive listener. Left to his/her own devices, the Owl can be excessive, overindulgent, bitter, and belligerent.


Beaver: Apr 20 – May 20
Take charge, adapt, overcome – this is the Beaver motto. Mostly business, the Beaver is gets the job at hand done with maximum efficiency and aplomb. Strategic, and cunning the Beaver is a force to be reckoned with in matters of business and combat. One might also think twice about engaging the Beaver in a match of wits – as his/her mental acuity is razor sharp. The Beaver has everything going for him/her – however tendencies toward "my way or the highway" get them in trouble. Yes, they are usually right, but the bearer of this Native American animal symbol may need to work on tact. In a nurturing environment the Beaver can be compassionate, generous, helpful, and loyal. Left to his/her own devices the Beaver can be nervous, cowardly, possessive, arrogant, and over-demanding.



Something to crow about? Or maybe raven?

Do the animals fit the person? Test yourself to see.

Nothing could be finer

... than to be in Carolina.

One Tree Hill films at Screen Gems Studio in Wilmington North Carolina. Austin is familiar with the area because he filmed the television show Surface there.

This was Austin the last time he was in Wilmington. You think he'll bring back the look for this time?

Granted he's gotta throw a shirt on for a few scenes here and there.

Or will he stick to the high and mighty hair in an homage to David Lynch now that he's to play a indie film producer? Although he may need a little more product to get the full Lynchian look.

Austin will be starting in episode 8 ( In October) and will be in 10 episodes this season as a indie producer named Julien. (Thanks Spooky!)

OTH averages about 21 episodes per season, so it is a good assumption that Austin will become a major part of the story line with Lucas and Peyton for season 6 and will be part of the series sweeps in November February and May.

"Action is his reward"

Recent chatter about Tobey and the deal for Spiderman 4 and possibly 5 is a reminder of when Jake was in contention for stepping in and filling those Spidey tighties. Jake has always had a place for playing a superhero in him.

Would Jake's approach to the Peter Parker and Spiderman darker or more of internal struggle than Tobey's approach? Or would or could he have take it even further in the Superhero saves the world scenario?

Would they have to recast Mary Jane if he did, to avoid the Gigli curse?

Could he have taken over the franchise then and led it to the box office records it has become?

And the biggest one:

Would it have been better to step into established role and franchise like Spiderman or create a franchise on your own like he is doing now with Prince of Persia? Both from artistic perspective and from the Hollywood ladder.