Twenty-one years after Sylvester James, a flamboyant and out-gay disco icon from San Francisco, passed away, two regional organizations that assist those with HIV and AIDS are now benefiting from his music.
James, who was 41 years old, passed away on December 16, 1988, from AIDS-related complications. But it wasn’t until last week that the drag performer’s estate distributed a check for roughly $140,000 to Project Open Hand and the AIDS Emergency Fund.
A homosexual Castro estate lawyer, an executive at an East Bay record label, a writer doing research for a book on the singer, and of course the continuing appeal of disco all play a part in the tale of how the money ended up in the coffers of the two neighborhood NGOs.
The story begins in May 1988 when the recording artist simply known as Sylvester left the AEF and Rita Rockett’s food program at San Francisco General Hospital’s Ward 86 for AIDS patients the royalties from his music, which included the international hits “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” and “Dance (Disco Heat).”
Who inherited Sylvester James’ money and estate?
Tim McKenna, Sylvester’s manager, and buddy hired Gross as his legal counsel at the time. McKenna was appointed by Sylvester as the executor of his will, and he supervised the administration of Sylvester’s estate until his own passing in 1990, two years later.
Following Sylvester’s instructions, Tony Elite and his wife Ourania Marcandonatou were appointed as the will’s executors. To assist in resolving the legal challenges pertaining to both men’s estates, The Elites contacted Gross.
