Breaking

9-Year-Old Boy Dies After Being Shot in Head in Croixville Housing Community; Police Detain 15-Year-Old

Concerned Residents Clean Christiansted Town Using Their Own Tools, Money, and Some Help from the VI Fire Service

Territory May See Veterans Cemetery Through DeGazon-Sponsored Bill

Credit and Debit Cards of WAPA Customers Were Compromised Since August 30th, WAPA Says, Authority to Finally Start Issuing Notification Via Mail and Email

Sports Tourism in VI Gains Momentum as DC United Team is set to Play Exhibition Soccer Game on St. Croix

Carnival Breeze Brings 3,700 Tourists to St. Croix During Maiden Call; Senators, Tourism Officials Want to See More

Limetree Bay Willing To Provide $10 Million To Help Add Life to a Dying G.E.R.S.

American Airlines to Serve St. Croix With New Flights Next Summer

The Sudden Death of Influential Roots Reggae Visionary, Vaughn Benjamin of Midnite Band and Akae Beka, Has Rocked the Virgin Islands and Reggae Community Around the World

Arthur A. Richards K-8 School Hosts Anti-Bullying Campaign

Come Out. Hang Out. Have Fun at The Meat Up, One of St. Thomas’ Latest Hot-Spot for Good Food with Friends and Family.

UVI Board of Trustees Approves $47.1 Million Fiscal Year 2020 Budget; Sets $3 Million Fundraising Goal

Man Dies During Early Morning Car Accident on St. Croix; Driver of Car Arrested (Updated)

'You Did Everything You Could to Prevent this from Happening': An Emotional Goodbye to Young Aaron Benjamin

Back in Business: Cost U Less on St. Thomas Opened its Doors Friday to Thousands of Customers 2 Years after Irma and Maria

Bill Aimed at Regulating Credit Use by Gov't Departments and Agencies Among Others Held in Committee

Juan Luis Hospital Announces Completion and Availability of Mobile Dialysis Facilities

Tractor Trailer With Tank Carrying Thousands Of Gallons of Liquified Gas Flips Near Cool Out Bar; Driver Injured But Alive

Credit and Debit Card Hack Through WAPA Appears to be Widespread in Virgin Islands; WAPA Says Support Services Will be Made Available to Affected Customers

Facing Life in Prison Without Parole, Mother and Boyfriend Plead Not Guilty in Murder of 4-Year-Old Boy

Send-Off Fit For A Legend: USVI Bids Goodbye To Kylo At Festival Village

Breaking News / Culture / Entertainment / Featured / News / Virgin Islands / December 30, 2017

ST. CROIX — U.S. Virgin Islanders at home and abroad, along with fans around the world came together in person at the Crucian Christmas Festival Village and through The Virgin Islands Consortium’s livestream of the memorable event to say goodbye to Kyle “Kylo” Sylvester, one of the most recognizable names in Virgin Islands music, who was known was for his attention-gripping performances with the Stylee Band. Mr. Sylvester died during a plane crash earlier this month that left all five occupants dead. The news sent shockwaves throughout the region.

Artists forewent pay and decided instead to perform in honor of Mr. Sylvester at the tribute. The roster boasted almost every artist in the Virgin Islands, including R. City, the V.I.’s most prominent duo who performed at the Festival Village on St. Croix for the first time on Friday night.

From the moment the show began, emotions ran high. Former St. Croix Queen and professional dancer Elle Nielsen opened the event with a moving performance to the song Flash Lights, originally sang by Mr. Sylvester and VIBE Band out of Tortola. Emotions only grew stronger and more poignant when Stylee Band played for the first time without Mr. Sylvester, and for several minutes without any singer. That moment evoked strong memories as the intro was very recognizable, and intervals during which Mr. Sylvester’s raspy voice would engage the crowd were left only with his memory.

The thousands around the world who gathered to watch The Consortium’s live feed, expressed themselves throughout the show in the comments section, most expressing sadness at Mr. Sylvester’s passing. And they lauded the Stylee Band, whose members — even in the face of such a great loss — held their composure throughout the show, performing not only for themselves, but backing up all the artists, except R. City, for the duration of the hourslong tribute.

Every artist who performed last night honored Mr. Sylvester’s memory. At several points, eventgoers were asked to turn on their phones’ light and raise them high for Mr. Sylvester. R. City played multiple songs they shared with Mr. Sylvester; Pumpa, another well established Virgin Islands artist, took to the stage and gave it his all, singing multiple of Mr. Sylvester’s songs; at one point Pumpa held up a picture of Mr. Sylvester as he paid homage.

A slew of other artists took the mic in succession performing songs known to be performed by Mr. Sylvester, as well as their own hits.

The Festival Village was at capacity; some would argue that the crowd overwhelmed the venue. Residents from all age groups descended on Frederiksted to witness what was destined to be a historic event to be emblazoned in the minds of USVI residents for a long time.

Near the end of the show, those close to Mr. Sylvester, all of them dressed in white, took to the stage one last time to honor his memory. It was there that emotions became the most visible. As the song Flash Lights was played and lit cellphones were held high, Mr. Sylvester’s family and friends held each other and let the tears flow. Iaryn Williams, founder of the Stylee Band who writes songs, plays the keyboard and produces the group’s rhythms — a local legend in his own right — did not attempt to hide his emotions. To him, Mr. Sylvester was more than a band member and leader singer; he was a longtime friend.


Tags:



Staff Consortium




Previous Post

Watch: Performances Of Tuesday Night's Festival Village

Next Post

1,150 WAPA Customers Restored Over Holiday Weekend; Latest Update Released





You might also like

Leave a Reply


More Story

Watch: Performances Of Tuesday Night's Festival Village

Watch performances from Xpress Band and Spectrum Band, as well as a video with a child singing "Old and Grey" from Patrice...

December 28, 2017