When he was a kid, Norman Sylvester would get up on Sunday mornings before church and listen to his father’s gospel quartet sing on a radio station broadcasting out of Monroe, La. “One of the most beautiful sounds you’d ever want to hear,” he says. Sylvester was born in Bonita, La., in 1945 on his grandmother’s … Read more
I got a chance to have one of Portland’s well respected blues musicians take time to say hi to Sarah Billings Fan. Norman Sylvester, aka Boogie Cat, has been a long time mentor and friend to many musicians including Patrick Lamb, LaRhonda Steele, Gretchen Mitchell, myself and many others. Take a minute to get to … Read more
Norman Sylvester joins the movement to “Heal the Health Care Blues” Musicians are used to playing benefits for colleagues with medical needs and no health insurance. But this time, they’re being proactive — they’re playing a benefit concert for a movement that’s designed to get them all covered. If the campaign for single payer health … Read more
It’s considered a jinx in the performing arts industry to wish someone “good luck” before a show. Instead, it’s customary to say “break a leg.” But, say a performer was to break their leg, chances are it would put them in such financial straits that it could take years for them to climb out. That’s … Read more
A Tribute To Ray Charles by Thom Jurek – Allmusic.Com This tribute to Ray Charles is performed by a host of regional artists from the northwestern United States. It’s well-meaning, and in some cases very well done. It’s also a benefit recording for the Oregon Food Bank, by Patrick Lamb Productions. The best moments here are … Read more
A Family Affair Boogie Cat – bcp 103 by Jim DeKoster – Living Blues Magazine Issue 171, Vol. 35, #1 Norman Sylvester was born in Bonita, Louisiana, in 1945 and moved with his family to Portland, Oregon, when he was twelve. After picking up the guitar with his buddy Isaac Scott, he formed his first band in … Read more
Ross William Hamilton / The OregonianJuly 03, 2008 As outdoor music festivals go, it’s hard to imagine a more picture-perfect start than Thursdays kickoff of the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. ‘It’s perfect,’ said Jean Kempe-Ware, the public relations manager for Oregon Food Bank. ‘We couldn’t have better blues-festival weather. It’s … Read more
“There are those who play music and then there are artist, the embodiment of all elements. Norman Sylvester is an artist and stylist who is a rooted singer/songwriter. The man hands down is an entertainer. Not only is he the quintessence of soul music with the funk, but also a gentlemen, which is hard to … Read more
By The T The Boogie Cat,- Norman Sylvester, says “Meow, Meow” to all you cats and kittens out there. WhenThe Boogie Cat says “Meow”, you can believe it! The anxious rumors creeping around town about him having a heart attack, while untrue, are testimonies to the man’s popularity as a performing artist, and as a person. The true … Read more
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