Kathy Sledge (born January 6, 1959)[5][6] is an American singer–songwriter and producer. Sledge is best known as the youngest and founding member of Sister Sledge, an American vocal group which is made up of her sisters that formed in 1971.[3] As a member of the group, Sledge sang lead on their biggest hits "He's the Greatest Dancer" and "We Are Family"; the latter of which received a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1980.
Kathy Sledge | |
|---|---|
 Sledge in 2015 | |
| Born | January 6, 1959[1][2] |
| Other names | Kathie Sledge[3] |
| Education | Temple University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1971–present |
| Spouse |
Philip Lightfoot (m. 1981) |
| Children | 2 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Labels | |
| Website | kathysledge |
After achieving success beginning the late–1970s through the mid–1980s with Sister Sledge, Sledge embarked on her solo career in 1989. She has had several hits on the International Pop and Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, including "Take Me Back to Love Again", which hit #1 in 1992.
Biography
editEarly life and education
editBorn in Philadelphia, Sledge was the youngest child born to Edwin (1922–1996), a former Broadway star of dance-tap duo 'Fred and Sledge' and Florez (née Williams; 1928–2007). Her siblings are Norma Carol Blackmon, Debra, Joan and Kim Sledge. Sledges' grandmother Viola Williams was an opera singer. For high school, Sledge attended Olney High School; graduating in 1977.[citation needed] After completing high school, Sledge continued her education at Temple University;[3] majoring in Recreational Opportunities for the disabled.[citation needed]
Career
editSledge along with her sisters formed Sister Sledge in 1971. Sledge performed the lead vocals on the two Top 10 US hits the group had on the Hot 100, "He's the Greatest Dancer" and "We Are Family" which were released in 1979. Sledge left the group and embarked on a solo career in 1989. In 1992, Sledge released a solo album, Heart, which peaked at #86 on the R&B charts. The album produced two singles, "Take Me Back to Love Again" (US R&B #24) and "All of My Love" (US R&B #57). Sledge collaborated with dance producer Robert Miles on the dance/pop single "Freedom" in 1997. She returned to the dance chart in 2001 as a featured vocalist for King Britt's musical project Sylk 130 on the track "Rising".
In 2011, Sledge released a track called "Give Yourself Up" on Universal Records, featuring Adam Barta, and produced by Mike Rizzo and Mr. Mig, which hit Top 20 on the Billboard Hot Club Play Chart.[7] In September 2013, Sledge was the first signing of the new Pacific Electronic Music record label formed by Jerry L. Greenberg (former President of Atlantic Records), Max Martire & Lenny Ibizarre.[8] On September 25, 2013, Sledge received an "Outstanding Contribution to Music" award at the 16th DJ Awards at Pacha, Ibiza.[9] and performed the new Aristofreeks remix of "We Are Family". The first release of the five remixes of "We Are Family" that she re-recorded with the Aristofreeks were released on November 11, 2013. Sledge also has a single together with the same group, "Keep It Moving" (2014), which went up to the No. 2 spot on the US Dance chart.
Personal life
editSledge has been married to musician Philip Lightfoot since 1981 and together they have two children, Kristen (b. 1983) and Phillip Jr. (b. 1985).[10] Kathy's life with her sisters, after their initial fame, was somewhat tumultuous. There is still a genuine love between the sisters. As she describes, "all families butt heads and while we fight, we still love each other."[11]
Discography
editSolo Artist
editAlbums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| US R&B [12] | ||
| Heart | 86 |
Singles
edit- As main artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US R&B [12] |
US Dance [12] |
UK [13] | |||
| "Take Me Back To Love Again" | 1992 | 24 | 1 | 62 | Heart |
| "Heart" | — | 16 | — | ||
| "All of My Love" | 57 | — | — | ||
| "Another Star" | 1995 | — | — | 54 | Non-album single |
| "Another Day" | — | — | 85 | ||
| "Good Times" | — | — | — | ||
| "Do You Want to Know a Secret" | 2014 | — | — | — | |
| "A Little A Lot" | — | — | — | ||
| "Love Will" | — | — | — | ||
| "Falling Deep in Love" (with Horse Meat Disco) |
2019 | — | — | — | |
| "Jump into the Light" (with Horse Meat Disco) |
2020 | — | — | — | |
| "Good Times Are Coming Back Around" | — | — | — | ||
- As a featured artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Dance [12] |
US Electronic [12] | |||
| "Freedom" (Robert Miles featuring Kathy Sledge) |
1997 | — | — | 23am |
| "Rising" (Sylk 130 featuring Kathy Sledge) |
2001 | 25 | — | Non-album single |
| "Give Yourself Up (To the Music)" (Adam Barta featuring Kathy Sledge) |
2011 | 20 | — | |
| "Keep It Movin" (Aristofreeks featuring Kathy Sledge) |
2014 | 2 | 24 | |
| "We Are Family" (Aristofreeks featuring Kathy Sledge) |
— | — | ||
| "Thank You" (Aristofreeks featuring Kathy Sledge) |
— | — | ||
| "Thinking of You" (Aristofreeks featuring Kathy Sledge) |
2015 | — | — | |
| "Get On Up" (Aristofreeks featuring Kathy Sledge) |
8 | 33 | ||
Filmography
edit- 1975, 1977, 1982, 1983, 1992: Soul Train — Herself (5 episodes)
- 1979: American Bandstand — Herself (1 episode)
- 1982: Fridays — Herself (1 episode)
- 1984: The Jeffersons — Kathy Satin (1 episode)
- 1992: It's Showtime at the Apollo — Herself (1 episode)
- 2000: 100 Greatest Dance Songs of Rock & Roll — Herself
- 2006: Archive Footage:Be My Baby: The Girl Group Story — Herself (uncredited)
- 2008: Soul Power — Herself with Sister Sledge (uncredited; 1974 concert series from the "Rumble in the Jungle" between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Warner, Jay (October 14, 2006). On this Day in Black Music History. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780634099267 – via Google Books.
- ^ The Virgin Encyclopedia of 70s Music, 2002.Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ a b c Ebony, February 1980.Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ "Kathy Sledge's husband Philip Lightfoot". November 4, 2015.
- ^ Joel Whitburn Presents Top R & B/hip-hop Singles, 1942-2004, By Joel Whitburn · 2004.Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ Chic, Sister Sledge.Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ Slomowicz, Ron, (DJ), "Song of the Day: Kathy Sledge featuring Adam Barta - 'Give Yourself Up'" Archived 2012-11-18 at the Wayback Machine, About.com Guide, April 29, 2011
- ^ "Jerry Greenberg, Former Atlantic Prez and Chic Breaker, to Launch New EDM Label Pacific Electronic Music". Billboard.
- ^ Essential Ibiza (23 September 2013). "DJ Awards 2013". essentialibiza.com.
- ^ A Sledge sister's family follow-up, Kathy Sledge hit it big with "We Are Family." Today, she manages artists - and the credo still holds true, by Kristin E. Holmes, Inquirer Staff Writer, March 2, 2008.Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ "Sixty Seconds with Kathy Sledge". Metro. May 7, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Kathy Sledge | Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved on May 10, 2019
- ^ Kathy Sledge | full Official Chart History. Official Chart Company. Retrieved on October 27, 2019
