Joni Sledge

Joni Sledge
Sledge c. 1979[1]
Born	Joan Elise Sledge[2] (1956-09-13)September 13, 1956 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	March 10, 2017(2017-03-10) (aged 60)[3] Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Resting place	Ivy Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Education	Temple University
Occupations	Singer songwriter producer
Years active	1971–2017
Spouse	Thaddeus E. Whyte III ​ ​ (m. 1992; div. 2000)​
Children	1
Musical career
Genres	R&B disco pop soul
Instrument	Vocals
Labels	Atco Cotillion Atlantic

Joan Elise Sledge (September 13, 1956 – March 10, 2017)^[4] was an American singer best known as a founding member of the family vocal group Sister Sledge. The group was known for their hits during the mid-1970s through the mid-1990s; most notably 1979's "We Are Family" and "He's the Greatest Dancer".^[5][6]

Early life

Sledge was born the third of five daughters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Edwin Sledge, a tap dancer, and his actress wife, Florez (née Williams).^[6] Described as a warm extrovert, Sledge attended Olney High School, graduating in 1974. Sledge majored in communications while in college and began acting in school productions at Temple University.^[1][7][8] During her sophomore year at Temple, she directed her first stage-play "Wild Flower", written by Hazel Bright and produced by Ron Alexander.^[9]

Career

Main article: Sister Sledge

In 1971, Sledge and her sisters formed the musical group Sister Sledge and released their debut single "Time Will Tell". In 1975, they released their first album Circle of Love. On their third album We Are Family (1979), Sledge sang lead vocals on the single "Lost in Music". In 1980, she performed lead vocals on their "Reach Your Peak" for their album Love Somebody Today. In 1981, Joni began sharing lead vocals with her sister Kathy Sledge within the group. Following the departure of Kathy Sledge in 1989, Joni performed as the lead vocalist of the group.

In 1996, Sledge wrote the song "Brother, Brother Stop" after witnessing a shooting incident in Los Angeles. The song was featured on Sister Sledge's greatest hits collection. She also wrote and produced their album African Eyes (1997).

Sometime during her career, Sledge briefly lived in Paris, France and studied at Sorbonne University.

In addition to singing, Sledge was also a songwriter and producer; writing and producing the song "Brother, Brother Stop" for a Sister Sledge greatest hits album in 1996. Sledge's production of their album African Eyes which was released in 1997 was nominated for a best-production Grammy.^[6]

Personal life

Sledge had a son named Thaddeus Everett Whyte IV from her marriage to Thaddeus E. Whyte III which was from 1992 until 2000.^[9] Sometime during her career, Sledge briefly lived in Paris, France and studied at Sorbonne University.^[9]

Death

Sledge (middle) performing in Vienna. Austria

Sledge, at age 60, was found dead by a friend at her home on March 11, 2017, in Phoenix, Arizona.^[10] Her death was originally attributed to unknown circumstances as she had no known illnesses, according to close family sources.^[11] On March 14, 2017, Sledge's cause of death was ruled "natural causes" related to a pre-existing condition.^[12][13][14]

Filmography

• 1975: Soul Train — Herself (4 episodes) (1977, 1982, 1983)
• 1975: The Midnight Special — guest singer with Spinners performing their hit song "Then Came You".^[15]
• 1979: American Bandstand — Herself (3 episodes; 1980, 1981)
• 1980: The John Davidson Show — Herself (1 episode)
• 1981: Kids Are People, Too — Herself (1 episode)
• 1982: Fridays — Herself (1 episode)
• 1984: The Jeffersons — Joni Satin (Season 10, Episode 16; My Guy, George)
• 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)

References

1. Ebony Magazine – February 1980
2. New York Times – Joni Sledge, Singer in the 'We Are Family' Group Sister Sledge, Dies at 60 – March 12, 2017
3. Mystery surrounds death of Sister Sledge star Joni Sledge as publicist says We Are Family singer was 'not sick' – March 12, 2017
4. Ebony – Joni Sledge, Joni Sledge, Founding Member of Sister Sledge, Has Died – March 11, 2017
5. "Sister Sledge singer Joni dies at 60". BBC News. March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
6. "Joni Sledge obituary". TheGuardian.com. March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
7. Chicago Tribune – The Living Arts – July 11, 1976
8. Joni Sledge Acting
9. Beckett-Brown & Hodges Funeral Home — Joan Elise Sledge (1956–2017)
10. Adam Sweeting (March 12, 2017). "Joni Sledge obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
11. Fox2 — Joni Sledge of Musical Group Sister Sledge dies at 60 — March 11, 2017
12. "Cause of death for Sister Sledge star Joni Sledge revealed". PinkNews. March 16, 2017. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
13. Music – News – Joni Sledge Died Of Natural Causes – March 14, 2017
14. NY Daily News – Joni Sledge – Family Mourns Loss of Late Disco Icon – March 17, 2017
15. "The Spinners & Joni Sledge (Then Came You) 1975". Archived from the original on April 6, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2017.