Kathy Sledge

Kathy Sledge (born January 6, 1959) is an American singer–songwriter and music producer. She rose to fame in the 1970s as a member of Sister Sledge, one of the highest-selling female groups of the 1970s.

Sledge sang lead on their Top 10 songs "He's the Greatest Dancer" and "We Are Family", the latter of which received a nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 22nd Annual Grammy Awards in 1980. She continued performing with the group until their hiatus in 1987.

In 1989, Sledge pursued her solo career, releasing her debut album Heart on Epic Records in 1992. The album's lead single, "Take Me Back to Love Again", peaked at the top of the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. In 1997, she featured on an international hit song "Freedom" with Robert Miles. From 1993 to 2011, Sledge occasionally reunited with Sister Sledge in one-off performances. In 2011, Sledge began collaborating with several music producers and releasing songs that have found success on the US Dance Club Songs chart. In 2021, Sledge began touring with her own spin-off group, Sister Sledge featuring Kathy Sledge.

Early life

Katherine Sledge was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 6, 1959. Her mother, Florez Sledge (née Williams), was an actress, while her father, Edwin Edgar Sledge, was a Broadway performer and member of the tap dance duo Fred and Sledge. Her elder sisters, Norma, Carol, Debbie, Joni, and Kim, are also singers. Her maternal grandmother, Viola Williams, was an opera singer.

Her vocals were discovered by her grandmother at the age of six. Sledge's interest in music and performing grew after she competed in local talent shows at the age of six. She also performed at her family church, Williams Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. During her teenage years, she enrolled in Olney High School, where she graduated from in 1977.
 

Career

1965–1989: Sister Sledge

In 1965, Sledge formed the female group The Sledge Sisters, alongside her sisters Debbie Sledge, Joni Sledge, and Kim Sledge. The group performed in local clubs. In 1971, they debuted as Sisters Sledge, releasing their first single, "Time Will Tell," on New York City-based record label Money Back Records. In 1973, they began performing as Sister Sledge and signed with Atco Records, a subsidiary of Atlantic Records. They released two singles, "The Weatherman" and "Mama Never Told Me", the latter of which had minor success on the UK singles chart. In 1975, Sister Sledge released their debut album Circle of Love, which peaked at number 56 on Billboard's Soul LPs chart. In the mid-1970s, Atco Records began focusing more on hard rock acts and some British and European bands. As a result, Sister Sledge changed label rosters to Cotillion Records, another subsidiary of Atlantic Records.

Sister Sledge released their second album, Together, in 1977, which spawned a minor hit song "Blockbuster Boy". After the album's commercial failure, Cotillion Records paired the group with music producers Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of disco group Chic. The group's third album, We Are Family, was released in January 1979 and peaked at number three on the US Billboard 200, later achieving platinum status in the country. The record spawned the singles "He's the Greatest Dancer", "We Are Family", and "Lost in Music"; the former two topped the US Hot Soul Singles chart and charted within the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100. "We Are Family" received a nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 1980 Grammy Awards. Sister Sledge went on to release four more albums on Cotillion Records: Love Somebody Today (1980), All American Girls (1981), The Sisters (1982), and Bet Cha Say That to All the Girls (1983).

In 1985, Cotillion Records became defunct, and Sister Sledge moved to its parent label, Atlantic Records. They released an album, When the Boys Meet the Girls, which experienced mainstream success in the United Kingdom. Following the release of their greatest hits compilation Freak Out: The Greatest Hits of Chic and Sister Sledge in 1987, Sister Sledge took a hiatus.

1989–1997: Heart and subsequent releases

In 1989, Sledge embarked on a solo career and signed with Epic Records. In February 1992, she released her debut single "Take Me Back to Love Again", which peaked atop of the US Hot Dance Club Play chart. Sledge released his debut solo album, Heart, on March 17, 1992. The album peaked at number 86 on the US Top R&B Albums chart. The single "Heart" peaked at number sixteen on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart. With the album's final single, "All of My Love", only reaching number 56 on the US Hot R&B Singles chart, Sledge left Epic Records in 1993.

In January 1993, she rejoined Sister Sledge for a European Tour. The group also performed on British television programs Later... with Jools Holland and Top of the Pops. By 1994, she had parted ways with Sister Sledge again and moved further with her solo career. In January 1995, she released a cover version of Stevie Wonder's "Another Star" on house music record label Narcotic Records, which peaked at number 54 on the UK Singles Chart and number two on the UK Dance Singles chart. She released a follow-up single, "Another Day", which peaked at number 85 on the UK Singles Chart and number eight on the UK Dance Singles chart. Sledge featured on Swiss-Italian musician Robert Miles' song "Freedom" for his album 23 am (1997). The single peaked at number three in Italy, and also peaked within the top twenty of other European countries.

1998–2002: Reunion with Sister Sledge

In December 2000, Sledge briefly reunited with Sister Sledge for a Christmas performance at the White House for former-President Bill Clinton. In 2001, Sledge toured with the group and also appeared alongside the group during the 2001 version of "We Are Family". In the same year, she featured on Sylk 130's song "Rising", which peaked at number twenty on the US Dance Club Songs chart.

2011–present: Sister Sledge featuring Kathy Sledge

In 2011, Sledge released a single, "Give Yourself Up", with Adam Barta on Universal Records. The song peaked at number twenty on the US Dance Club Songs chart. In September 2013, Sledge was the first signing of the new Pacific Electronic Music record label formed by Jerry L. Greenberg, Max Martire, and Lenny Ibizarre. On September 25, 2013, Sledge received an "Outstanding Contribution to Music" award at the 16th Annual DJ Awards at Pacha, Ibiza. In 2014, she released two singles: Aristofreeks' remix of "We Are Family" and "Keep It Moving", the latter of which peaked at number two on the US Dance Club Songs chart. Later that year, she was bestowed the Linda Creed Shining Star Award from The Artists United. In 2015, she continued to release songs with the Aristofreeks, including "Thinking of You" and "Get On Up", the latter of which peaked at number eight on the US Dance Club Songs chart.

In 2020, Sledge and her daughter Kristen launched their own web-series talk show, FamilyRoom. In 2021, Sledge formed her own spin-off group, Sister Sledge, featuring Kathy Sledge.

Artistry

Voice and musical style

Sledge's voice is classified as a contralto. Several publications have described her voice as "distinctive" and "unique". Christian John Wikane of PopMatters described Sledge's voice as "tonic for the soul." American musician and music producer Narada Michael Walden adds, "Kathy is raw, rugged, and rough, tough and ready for all singing occasions." Her music includes various styles of musical genres such as contemporary R&B, disco, house, and jazz. Although her debut album Heart (1992) followed a contemporary R&B sound, Sledge primarily shifted into house music in 2014.

Influences

Sledge has named Michael Jackson as one of her greatest musical influences. Sledge recalled being accompanied to a record store on Market Street in West Philadelphia by her elder sister Carol, to buy the 7-inch single "I'll Be There" by The Jackson 5 after hearing the song on the radio. Sledge toured alongside The Jacksons during their Destiny World Tour in 1979. She has also credited Billie Holiday as her favourite jazz artist. In 2010, Sledge created a tribute show to Holiday titled The Brighter Side of Day: A Tribute to Billie Holiday.

Other artists that Sledge has mentioned as inspirations include James Brown, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, and Mavis Staples. She has cited Gladys Knight's vocal style—especially on her song "Midnight Train to Georgia"—as an early influence that inspired her to practice phrasing.

Philanthropy

Sledge served on the Board of Directors for the nonprofit organisation We Are Family Foundation. She retired from that position after becoming an honorary trustee. In December 2015, Sledge became the first celebrity ambassador for the Halo Foundation.
 

Personal life

Sledge has been married to musician Philip Lightfoot since 1981, and together they have two children, Kristen (b. 1983) and Phillip Jr. (b. 1985).