Cleo Sylvestre, actress, alter ego Honey B Mama,
jazz singer and blues band leader, died on Friday 20th September 2024 following a stroke
Sylvestre, also known as Cleopatra Palmer, who had worked in film, theatre, television and music since the 1950s, died at the age of 79 on Friday morning, according to a statement from Fulcrum Talent.
The veteran screen and stage star was known for playing Melanie Harper, Meg Richardson’s adopted daughter, in ITV’s Crossroads and sang as Cleo, with the Rolling Stones backing her on a cover of To Know Him Is to Love Him in 1964.
In 2023 she was awarded the MBE for services to drama and charity.
Sir Mick, the lead vocalist of the Rolling Stones, said in an Instagram post: “So sad to hear of the passing of my old friend, the actress and singer Cleo Sylvestre, the first female vocalist to sing with the Stones.”
She was brought up in Euston, north London, by her mother, Laureen Sylvestre (née Goodare). As a child, and later as an adult, achieving success as an actor in the face of racial and class prejudice meant everything to the multi-talented British performer. Her first part in a film came at the tender age of 8 as Susie in the 1953 Johnny on the Run directed by Lewis Gilbert for the Children's Film Foundation. Although primarily an adventure story aimed at childen it had a very dark subtext, concerning a rural home for refugee children whose parents had been murdered in the death camps of the Third Reich. The film's message was one of tolerance for difference and repect for the equal rights and value of all human life.
Johnny on the Run
directed by Lewis Gilbert
Running time: 1 hour 5 minutes 16 seconds
A Tribute My Friend Honeybee (Cleo) and the Rosie
My late uncle, Owen Cole, was a pianist, playing in West End clubs and restaurants during the 1930s/1940s. One of the venues was The Shim Sham Club in Wardour Street. Cleo’s mother Laureen Sylvestre, born the same year as my uncle, was also employed at the Shim Sham. Cleo and I spoke about this coincidence when we first met 20 or more years ago at the Rosemary Branch in Dalston, near where Cleo lived.
The day after I heard the sad news about Honeybee, I was sorting through some old 45s. Which record was on top of the pile? “ To Know Him is To Love Him” sung by Cleo. Reverse side: “There are but five Rolling Stones”, the Andrew Oldham Orchestra. As well as seeing Georgie Fame and the late Zoot Money at the Flamingo, we would see The Stones at Studio 51, Leicester Square, Sunday afternoons. Cleo, who went out with Brian Jones during the 60s, shared memories about seeing the Stones in this small basement venue. Cleo and I were both teenagers in the 60s. It was easy to get to know musicians in smaller venues. Although we did not know one another at that time, we led parallel music lives.
Cleo was manager of the upstairs theatre at the Rosie in Dalston. On the last Friday of the month, she became Honey Bee Mama in the downstairs bar, backed by a group of excellent musicians, including guitarist Pete Spencer and playing saxophone, Mick Eve, who was with Georgia Fame at the Flamingo during the 1960s.
Cleo sang wonderfully expressive blues, her acting ability threading through the music: “ Midnight Special”, “ Why Don’t you Do Right” “I Hear You Knockin’, “Baby, What You Want Me to Do” delivered with Cleo’s individual rendering. Esther Philips “I’m A Bad Bad Girl” was particularly expressive and Cleo’s ending line was: “I’m a Bad Bad Girl, in The Rosie All Alone”. Songs also included “Midnight Special” and my favourite: Going Down to Dalston Junction, Gonna Get Me A Mojo Hand” – Lightnin’ Hopkins would surely have approved the change of lyrical destination.
I once suggested to Cleo she might try “Soulful Dress” by Sugar Pie, one of my favourite songs, which then sang its way into the Honey B repertoire.
The finale of Honey B’s evening was the appearance of her yellow Honey B Mama coat, her name: "Honey B Mama" printed on the back. Coat was put on and Honey B left the stage…
Another treasured memory is Honey Bee at the 100 club in 2021 for "Tales of the Woods". An excellent evening with wonderful musicians, including the much missed pianist Claire Hamlin.
Thank you Cleo, the Honey Bee, for your music and friendship.
Adele Tinman
Honey B Mama at The Rose & Crown Pub, Hoe Street, Walthamstow on 14/04/23
Running time: 33 minutes 27 seconds
Cleo obviously enjoyed doing this gig, although there was almost no light and the sound mixing was atrocious. Pearls before swine?
