Terry all set to shake up Hard Rock

MANILA, Philippines - Former Hollies harmony vocalist Terry Sylvester won’t hold back in showing why he deserved his recent induction into the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame as he unravels his repertoire of popular hits in a solo concert at the Hard Rock Café in Makati on Oct. 19.

Showtime starts at 8 p.m.

Sylvester, who flew in from his home in St. Augustine, Florida, last Wednesday, said he’s excited to perform before Filipino fans for the first time. With the Hollies, Sylvester was on stage in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore but never in Manila, for some strange reason.

“I’m used to the warm weather but not the humidity,” said Sylvester who lives in a beach house. “I love it in Manila. I’m hoping to put on a good show so I can be invited back. I know my good friend, John Ford Coley, often visits Manila to do shows. I’ve heard a lot of good things about Filipino music fans. They really appreciate good music and a good concert. That’s what I intend to do at Hard Rock, play good music and put on a good show.”

Sylvester’s set list will consist of songs that fans can sing to. He won’t only do the traditional Hollies hits like He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother, Carrie Ann, Just One Look, Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress and The Air That I Breathe but also well-loved Merseyside songs Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying by Gerry and the Pacemakers, ’Til There Was You by The Beatles and Hippy Hippy Shake by the Swinging Blue Jeans.

Sylvester also has a few songs on reserve in case the fans ask for more. He belts a mean I Saw Her Standing There by The Beatles and two of his much-applauded songs on acoustic guitar are the Hollies’ Sandy and Our Day Will Come.

Sylvester said he couldn’t ask more from what he has been blessed with in his life.

“I’ve been self-employed since I was 15 1/2,” he said. “I left school when I was 14, thought of playing pro football then decided on a career in music. I’ve been blessed because I started performing in the ‘60s and now, I’m in my 60s and still doing shows. I own 20 percent of the Hollies records where I performed so thrice of four times a year, I pick up checks from royalties. It’s like winning in the lottery.”

What’s remarkable is Sylvester’s voice has remained as strong, velvety and high-pitched as when he sang harmony for the Hollies from 1969 to 1981, a 12-year run that led to his enshrinement in the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame in rites at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City last March.

“The key is discipline,” said Sylvester. “I don’t smoke, I don’t do drugs. Since I’m self-employed, I must be disciplined in everything I do. As a professional performer, I know my career depends on how I do on stage and I make sure I always do well.”

Sylvester was born in Liverpool and lived just 200 yards away from Paul McCartney’s home. In his early teens, he worked as a panel beater — hammering battered car sidings to cure dents — for George Harrison’s older brother Peter. Sylvester performed with his first band, the Escorts, on the same bill as The Beatles and the Merseybeats on the last show at the Cavern Club in Liverpool in the 1960s.

From the Escorts, Sylvester moved to the Swinging Blue Jeans then joined the Hollies as Graham Nash’s replacement in 1969 without an audition. His first single with the Hollies, Sorry Suzanne, zoomed to No. 3 in the UK charts.

Sylvester left the Hollies in 1981 for several reasons. First, he and bassist Bernie Calvert were outvoted by lead vocalist Allan Clarke, drummer Bobby Elliott and guitarist Tony Hicks in deciding whether or not to retain manager Robin Britten. Second, Sylvester didn’t like the music being presented by new Hollies producer Bruce Welch of the Shadows fame. And third, Clarke voiced the opinion that the group would no longer tour.

“I loved performing on stage so when the idea to scrap touring came up, I thought what was the point of staying on?” said Sylvester. “We hadn’t had a hit since ’74 and Bruce wasn’t giving up hit material. Besides, I felt Robin did a good job as our manager. Bernie and I wanted to keep him. When I left, Bernie went a week later. Today, all the Hollies are earning from the contracts that Robin negotiated so we owe him a lot.”

Sylvester said he felt slighted when in 1984, Clarke, Hicks and Elliott invited Nash back for a reunion tour and album. He was left out and never asked to rejoin the band.

In 1997, Sylvester relocated from London to Toronto and later, to Florida. He continues to perform regularly, often with Herman’s Hermits frontman Peter Noone. In March next year, Sylvester will join Wayne Fontana, the Merseybeats, Chris Farlowe and Dave Berry in a Solid Sixties UK tour. It will be his first UK tour in 30 years.

“I’m looking forward to the UK tour,” said Sylvester. “It’ll also give me a chance to see my four kids again. We’ll be backed up by the band Vanity Faire. The tour will go on for three months and we’ll do shows in major places, like the Royal Albert Hall in London.”

A project that Sylvester is eagerly anticipating is his involvement in Martin Scorsese’s documentary on George Harrison, Living In The Material World. He will be called to Hollywood soon to shoot sequences as Harrison in the film which is being produced in coordination with the Beatle guitarist’s widow Olivia.