Kathy Sledge

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]

Kathy Sledge
In Philadelphia, PA. 2015
Born (1959-01-06) January 6, 1959[1][2]
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Other namesKathie Sledge[3]
EducationTemple University
Occupation
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • producer
Years active1971–present
Spouse(s)
Philip Lightfoot
​
(m. 1981)​
[4]
Children2
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentsVocals
Labels
Associated acts
Websitekathysledge.com

After achieving success beginning the late–1970s thru the mid–1980s with Sister Sledge, Sledge embarked on her solo career in 1989. Sledge 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

Early life and education

Born 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 (nee Williams; 1928–2007). Her siblings are Norma Carol Blackmon, Debra, Joan and Kim Sledge. Sledges' grandmother Viola Williams was a opera singer. For high school, Sledge attended Olney High School; graduating in 1977. After completing high school, Sledge continued her education at Temple University;[3] majoring in Recreational Opportunities for the disabled.

Career

Sledge 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 emabarked 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" 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

Sledge has been married once and has two children. Sledge has been married to musician Philip Lightfoot since 1981 and together they have two children, Phillip Jr. (b. 1985) and Kristen (b. 1983).[10] Kathy's life with her sisters, after their initial fame, was somewhat tumultuous with lawsuits restricting her from singing with the name Sister Sledge and in certain countries. 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

Sister Sledge Discography

Albums
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
R&B
[12]
Heart 86

Singles
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 24162 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 224
"We Are Family"
(Aristofreeks featuring Kathy Sledge)		 ——
"Thank You"
(Aristofreeks featuring Kathy Sledge)		 ——
"Thinking of You"
(Aristofreeks featuring Kathy Sledge)		 2015 ——
"Good Times"
(Aristofreeks featuring Kathy Sledge)		 ——
"Get On Up"
(Aristofreeks featuring Kathy Sledge)		 833

Filmography
  • 1975: Soul Train — Herself (4 episodes; 1977, 1982, 1983, 1992)
  • 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

References
  1. Warner, Jay (October 14, 2006). On this Day in Black Music History. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780634099267 – via Google Books.
  2. The Virgin Encyclopedia of 70s Music, 2002.Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  3. Ebony, February 1980.Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  4. "Kathy Sledge's husband Philip Lightfoot". November 4, 2015.
  5. Joel Whitburn Presents Top R & B/hip-hop Singles, 1942-2004, By Joel Whitburn · 2004.Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  6. Chic, Sister Sledge.Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  7. Slomowicz, Ron, (DJ), "Song of the Day: Kathy Sledge featuring Adam Barta - 'Give Yourself Up'", About.com Guide, April 29, 2011
  8. "Jerry Greenberg, Former Atlantic Prez and Chic Breaker, to Launch New EDM Label Pacific Electronic Music". Billboard.
  9. Essential Ibiza. "DJ Awards 2013". essentialibiza.com.
  10. 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.
  11. "Sixty Seconds with Kathy Sledge". Metro Newspaper UK. 2019-05-07. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  12. Kathy Sledge | Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved on May 10, 2019
  13. Kathy Sledge | full Official Chart History. Official Chart Company. Retrieved on October 27, 2019
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