Disco legend Sylvester wasn’t born in San Francisco, but he came into his own as an artist in the City in the 70s. He was a trailblazer both musically and culturally — with his high, clear falsetto and unapologetic presence as a fabulous gay black artist, he became known as the “Queen of Disco”.
The story of his life and music are now being brought to the stage in “Mighty Real: A Fabulous Sylvester Musical”, currently running at the Brava Theater in San Francisco. Co-creators Anthony Wayne and Kendrell Bowman came by the KALW studios and spoke to Jen Chien about sequins, platform heels, and the resilient spirit of the man behind the disco ball.
Click the audio player above to listen to the complete interview.