She is best known for her time as the Mistress of Ceremonies of the House of Blues Sunday Gospel Brunch, and her appearances in her signature long, white embroidered dress with a wide, feathered hat.
She was hired by the Mike Curb Congregation which led to recording sessions with artists including George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Willie Bobo, Frank Zappa, Connie Francis, The Pointer Sisters, Ronnie Laws, and Wayne Henderson.
The Sunday Gospel Brunch was hosted at House of Blues venues across the United States in major cities such as Houston, Orlando, Chicago, New York, San Diego, Vegas, and Dallas.
[12][13] On choice of repertoire, St. James was quoted as saying: "Even with experienced gospel singers, I tell them not to try a ballad unless they can throw down and leave blood on that stage,"Following the close of The House of Blues, Lance Sterling, owner of The Rose in Pasadena, brought St. James in to emcee The Rose's Soulful Sunday Brunch, adding live soul and Motown music along with gospel choir.
[1] With Side Effect With others Timeout wrote, "5 Things We'll Miss Most About The House of Blues on Sunset: Sylvia St. James, the iconic buxom figure and the original mistress of ceremonies, earned her and HOB a page in The Gospel Music Encyclopedia.
For almost two decades, the blinding light of her long, white, embroidered dresses and matching wide-brimmed feathered hats had people praising the holy spirit between spoonfuls of grits.