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,

Sledge sang lead on their US 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 also sang lead on their UK number-one song "Frankie. She continued performing with group until 1989.

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 atop 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. 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 Billboards Soul LP's chart. In 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. which peaked atop of the US Hot Dance Club Play chart. Sledge released debut solo album, Heart, on March 17, 1992. The album peaked at number 86 on the US Top R&B Albums chart. 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. 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 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. In June 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 July 2013, Debbie Sledge and Joni Sledge sued Kathy for misuse of the Sister Sledge, resulting in Kathy only being able to use the name as a "factually descriptive term".

In September 2013, Sledge was the first artist to sign with the newly formed Pacific Electronic Music record label 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. In 2021, Sledge began performing as Sister Sledge featuring Kathy Sledge''' after acquiring the "Sister Sledge" trademark name back in 2017. 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." Sledge recalled being accompanied 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.

Other artists that Sledge has mentioned as inspirations include James Brown, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, 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).

Discography

Albums Title Album details Peak chart positionsUSR&B HeartReleased: 1992 Labels: Epic Formats: CD, cassette LP 86

Singles As main artist Title Year Peak chart positionsAlbum US R&B "Take Me Back to Love Again" 1992 24 1 62Heart "Heart" — 16 — "All of My Love" 57 — — "Another Star" 1995 — — 54rowspan="9" "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

Filmography 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)