Hollies vocalist in rare Manila tour

MANILA, Philippines - Of all the legendary British Invasion bands of the ‘60s, the Hollies are among the few that never toured Manila.  The Rolling Stones are another group that for some strange reason, stayed away. But the list of those that came reads like an all-star cast, including the Beatles, Dave Clark Five, Zombies, Peter and Gordon, Herman’s Hermits, Freddie and the Dreamers and Searchers.

So when concert promoter Steve O’Neal recently announced the arrival of former Hollies harmony vocalist Terry Sylvester, the general reaction of music fans was:  “It’s about time.”

Over 20 years after the Hollies’ anthem He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother topped the UK charts on its second issue, Sylvester is coming to town to join the Cascades in a double-header at the PAGCOR Grand Theater on Oct. 17 and to perform in a solo concert at the Hard Rock Café in Makati on Oct. 19.

Sylvester, 63, sang the harmony on He Ain’t Heavy with Allan Clarke on lead vocals and Elton John playing piano.  In 1969, it reached No. 3 on the UK charts.  Proving its immortality, the ballad made it to No. 1 on a reissue in 1988 — seven years after Sylvester had left the band to go on his own.

Sylvester will arrive in Manila on Oct. 14.  He will be busy rehearsing on Oct. 15 and 16 then will perform as the front act of the Cascades show on Oct. 17.  Sylvester will guest on radio and TV programs on Oct. 18 and the next day, will appear in his solo concert.

Before auditioning to take Graham Nash’s slot with the Hollies in 1969, Sylvester was the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist with British bands the Escorts, Merseybeats and Swingin’ Blue Jeans.  He gained a solid reputation in music circles as a vocalist with a natural ability to hit the high notes.   

A Liverpool native like the Beatles, Sylvester grew up in a neighborhood close to where Paul McCartney lived and was an apprentice working for George Harrison’s older brother Peter in his teens. 

When Nash left the Hollies to form a band with Stephen Stills and David Crosby, Sylvester stepped in to fill the vacuum.  He had the perfect voice to complement Clarke and his first single with the Hollies. Sorry Suzanne zoomed to No. 3 in the UK polls.  Sylvester went on to record 12 studio albums with the Hollies and sang on such hits as The Air That I Breathe, Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress and I Can’t Tell The Bottom From The Top.  In all, Sylvester enjoyed a run of 116 weeks on the UK charts with various Hollies singles and 63 weeks on the album honor roll.  His resumé is distinguished by five platinum, nine gold and six silver discs.

Sylvester collaborated with Hollies originals Tony Hicks and Clarke to compose several songs which were album jewels, including Another Night, I’m Down, Hello Lady Goodbye and Time Machine Jive.

In 1981, Sylvester and Bread vocalist James Griffin came out with a beautiful soft-rock album that signaled the Liverpool musician’s emergence out of the Hollies shadows.  He also recorded a solo album featuring his hit I Believe (When I Fall In Love, It Will Be Forever) and several mellow compositions like Pick Up The Pieces Again, It’s Better Off This Way and Cable Car.

In 2001, the French label Magic Records issued a two-disc album highlighting Sylvester’s best 43 songs.  It’s a much-sought-after release because Sylvester’s best solo, Griffin duet and Hollies efforts are featured in a collector’s compilation.

Last March, Sylvester was inducted into the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame with Nash, Clarke, Hicks, Bernie Calvert, Bobby Elliott and Eric Haydock as members of the Hollies.  Hicks and Elliott were absent because of touring commitments with a new Hollies band.  Sylvester showed up wearing jeans and a red T-shirt while Nash and Clarke looked dapper in suits.

In his solo show, Sylvester’s repertoire is a retrospective of his musical journey with the Escorts (Dizzy Miss Lizzie), Blue Jeans (Hippy Hippy Shake, Good Golly Miss Molly, You’re No Good) and Hollies.   He sings songs from the Beatles era, too — after all, he and the Fab Four are the only Liverpudlians to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.  And he belts out all-time Hollies favorites like Bus Stop, Just One Look, On A Carousel and Carrie Anne. But Sylvester’s concert is never complete without his remarkable version of I Believe.

For all those years that music fans missed the Hollies performing live in Manila, Sylvester will try to make up with his appearance on the Cascades show and his own solo concert at the Hard Rock Café.  It’s a chance of a lifetime to watch Sylvester perform.  He’s coming off his first UK tour in 30 years so his vocal chords are well-tuned to mesmerize Filipino music fans.  Sylvester is an artist worth your time.

For reservations to Sylvester’s 8 p.m. solo concert at the Hard Rock Café in Makati on Oct. 19, call 893-4661 to 64.