Sylvia Tella

Sylvia Tella is a reggae singer and songwriter from Manchester, United Kingdom. Born in 1961, she develops her career across the UK and Nigeria and also identifies with Nigerian and European heritage. She begins singing at the age of seven with her father’s band, and at thirteen she wins a talent contest at the Russell Club in Manchester. At fifteen, she is discovered by Frank Farian, the manager of Boney M, which leads to worldwide touring and helps launch her solo career after the group disbands.

Career

Tella’s work spans more than three decades and extends beyond reggae into R&B, jazz and rock. She becomes known as a featured vocalist with several English acts, including Pop Will Eat Itself, Bronski Beat and the Blow Monkeys. She also works with Longsie D, Pinky, Akabu, the all-female reggae band Winjama, and Vivian Jones. Her collaborations include writing a track for BB Queen with George McFarlane of Rondor Records.

She performs internationally, including at the Reggae On The River concert series and on the Spirit Of Unity Tour with Steel Pulse. She first performs with Steel Pulse in 1998. Her work also includes performances in New York, where she appears alongside Sugar Minott at his birthday celebration at SOB’s Nightclub and records Heartbreak Hotel and Turn Your Lights Down Low at Living Room Studios with production by Sidney Mills. She also records Can’t Stop with Renel and Jerry from the Fugees production team.

Recordings and recognition

Among Tella’s singles are He’s My Baby, When Your Young, Love Is A Dangerous Game, Happy Home, Sweet Like Honey, Jamaica Land, Brothers And Sisters, There Is No Love, Mother Nature and Spell. Her reggae hit What’s Love Got To Do With It reaches number one. She wins Best Female Vocalist at England’s People’s Reggae Awards and also receives the first Black Women’s Achievement Award for arts and entertainment.

Later work and wider activity

Tella records Time of Change, which appears on the reggae video show Rockers, and she works on Tella Like It Is, an album produced by Sidney Mills, Barrington Bailey, Mafia and Fluxy. In addition to music, she works on television and serves as Executive Secretary of the Nigerian NGO Vision In Aid Of Citizens Foundation, where she works with founder Senator Iyabo Anisulowo. She is a devout Christian and describes faith, determination and purpose as central to her work.