A photo of the Stylee Band member Kyle K. Sylvester aka ‘Kylo’ is shown in the background as artistes performed at the Crucian Christmas Festival Village on December 29, 2017. Photo: VIC

Kyle K. Sylvester aka ‘Kylo’, the popular singer of the USVI based Stylee Band, died in a tragic plane crash close to the St Croix airport on Thursday night December 7, 2017. Photo: Team of Reporters

From the moment the show began, emotions ran high, the Virgin Islands Consortium reported on December 30, 2017.

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 recognisable, and intervals during which Mr Sylvester’s raspy voice would engage the crowd were left only with his memory.

Every artist who performed honoured 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, according to the VI Consortium.

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.

Massive crowd on hand to say goodbye

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.

VI had also honoured memory of Kylo

The late Sylvester aka ‘Kylo’, who has family ties in both the British and United States Virgin Islands, was also remembered here in the Virgin Islands (UK) earlier this month.

His Virgin Islands based family and friends held a Candlelight Vigil in remembrance of Sylvester’s life on Thursday December 14, 2017 at the Tortola Pier Park, in Road Town.

Sylvester was well known for his energetic and captivating performances here in the VI.