70s child star Foster Sylvers dies at 64 after devastating fight with cancer as heartbroken family pays tribute
FOSTER Sylvers, child star and member of a family R&B group, has tragically died.
The standout singer from the 1970s ensemble was just 64 years old.
His brother, Leon Sylvers III, confirmed his death following a battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, TMZ reported.
The star died in hospice.
Leon said further updates would come from their sister, Pat Sylvers.
Following the announcement of his death, Foster’s daughter Erin posted a touching tribute to social media.
“Rest well, Daddy,” she wrote.
“I love you so much.”
Her heartbreaking post to Facebook was accompanied by a photograph of the pair together.
Foster rose to fame during the 1970s when he performed alongside his family in their band The Sylvers.
The group had a string of hits including Fool’s Paradise, Boogie Fever and Hot Line.
Foster performed with his siblings James, Edmund, Ricky and Angie.
And he played the bass and supported artists including Dynasty and Evelyn “Champaign” King, as well as releasing solo music.
His brother Edmund died in 2004 from lung cancer.
Their other brother Christopher – who was their youngest sibling – died in 1985 when he was just 18 years old from hepatitis.
The remaining Sylvers siblings are Olympia, Leon, Charmaine and James.
They formed the original quartet known as Little Angels, alongside Joseph, Ricky, Angie and Pat.
Over their careers, the group of siblings released 10 albums, all issued during the 1970s, and were regularly compared to the Jackson family.
Foster was just 10 years old when he recorded his first solo project in 1973.
Due to his considerable popularity, he went on to appear on multiple television programmes, including American Bandstand and Soul Train.