Sylvia

Country singer-songwriter Syliva – born Sylvia Jane Kirby on December 9, 1956, in Kokomo, Indiana – is best known for her hits “Drifter” (1981), “Nobody” (1982), and “Fallin’ in Love” (1985). She also won numerous awards including the Academy of Country Music’s Female Vocalist of the Year (1982) and Billboard’s Number 1 Country Female Artist (1982). Her musical career began when she performed at her local church at the age of 3. Determined to carve out a career as a recording artist, she relocated to Nashville, Tennessee at the end of 1975 and took a secretary job with publisher / producer Tom Collins. Working her way up the ranks, she landed a deal with RCA Records in 1979 and released her debut single, “You Don’t Miss a Thing,” that same year. The song reached the Country Top 40, as did her follow-up single “It Don’t Hurt to Dream” (1980). Sylvia finally made the Top 10 with the release of 1981’s “Tumbleweed,” which was lifted from her debut album, Drifter. The title track of that album became her first number 1 single and was followed by the Top 10 hits “The Matador” and “Heart on the Mend.” Her next number 1 single, “Nobody,” became her most successful release, also charting on Billboard’s Hot 100 Singles chart and Adult Contemporary chart. “Nobody” was also a hit in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. More Top 10 hits followed including “Like Nothing Ever Happened” (1982), “Snapshot” (1983), “I Never Quite Got Back (From Loving You)” (1983), “Fallin’ in Love” (1985), “Cry Just a Little Bit” (1985), and “I Love You by Heart” with Michael Johnson (1985). After the release of her Top 20 album One Step Closer (1985), Sylvia recorded her sixth album, Knock Around, which was shelved by RCA and she left the label. She spent the next several years working on her songwriting career and didn’t return to her recording until 1996 when she released the album The Real Story. Sylvia has continued to record sporadically and spends her time coaching up and coming musical artists and music industry professionals.