Sylvain Sylvain
Sylvain Mizrahi[1] (February 14, 1951[2][3] – January 13, 2021),[4] known professionally as Sylvain Sylvain, was an American rock guitarist, most notable for being a member of the New York Dolls.
Sylvain Sylvain
Sylvain Sylvain Mizrahi
February 14, 1951
Cairo, Egypt
New York City, U.S.
January 13, 2021 (aged 69)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
- Musician
- Guitar
- vocals
- piano
1971-2021
- New York Dolls
- The Criminals
Early years[edit]
Sylvain was born in Cairo, Egypt, to a Mizrahi Jewish family,[5][6] who fled in the 1950s,[7] first to France and finally to New York, United States. They lived first on Lafayette Avenue in Buffalo, New York, but later moved to the New York City neighborhood of Rego Park, Queens, while he was still a child. Sylvain had dyslexia.[8] He attended Newtown High School in Queens and Quintano's School for Young Professionals in Manhattan.[9]
Prior to joining the New York Dolls, Sylvain and future New York Doll bandmate Billy Murcia ran a clothing company called "Truth and Soul," which helped define his fashion sense and would play a role in the band's groundbreaking look.[10] He had one brother, Leon (deceased), and one sister, Brigitte.
Personal life[edit]
After living in Atlanta for several years, Sylvain moved to Nashville in 2015.[17] On April 27, 2019, Sylvain announced that he had cancer. He set up a GoFundMe page to raise money to help pay for treatment.[18] He died from cancer at his home on January 13, 2021, at age 69.[19][4]