Kathy Sledge (born January 6, 1959)[ Joel Whitburn Presents Top R & B/hip-hop Singles, 1942-2004, By Joel Whitburn · 2004. Books.google.com, Retrieved April 20, 2020.][ Chic, Sister Sledge. Books.google.com, Retrieved April 20, 2020.] 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.][ The Top 7 Female Bands from the 1970s. American Songwriter. Retrieved on December 18, 2025][ Top 20 girl groups. Classic Pop Magazine. Retrieved on December 18, 2025]
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.[ Sister Sledge Grammy Award Nominations. Grammy. Retrieved on December 18, 2025] 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 music 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.[ Sister Sledge’s Kathy Sledge Will Not Perform With Group for Pope Francis. Billboard. Retrieved on December 18, 2025] 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.[ Sister Sledge Legend Wasn’t Allowed To Hear Own Songs Before Recording. News Week. Retrieved on December 18, 2025]
Early life
Katherine Sledge was born in Philadelphia, on January 6, 1959.
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 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.[ Sister Sledge AllMusic Biography. AllMusic. Retrieved on December 18, 2025] 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 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.
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.
In 1985, Cotillion Records became a defunct and Sister Sledge moved its parent label roster 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 in 1987, Sister Sledge took a hiatus.
1989–1997: Heart and subsequent releases
In 1989, Sledge embarked a solo career and signed with Epic Records. In February 1992, she released her debut single "Take Me Back to Love Again",[ Take Me Back to Love Again (Cassette Single) - Kathy Sledge. AllMusic. Retrieved on December 15, 2025] 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.[ Billboard Top R&B Albums chart. Billboard. Retrieved on December 16, 2025][ Hot Dance Club Play chart. Billboard. Retrieved on December 16, 2025]
In January 1993, she re-joined Sister Sledge for a European Tour. The group also performed on British television programs Later... with Jools Holland and Top of the Pops.[ 17/06/1993 Episode. Top of the Pops Archive. Retrieved on December 16, 2025] 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.
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 "". In the same year, she featured on King Britt's song "Rising", which peaked at number twenty on the US Dance Club Songs chart.
2005–present: Sister Sledge featuring Kathy Sledge
By 2005, Sledge had formed her own version of Sister Sledge; which included her daughter Kristen Gabrielle and friend Su Wingate. Billed as "Kathy Sledge" or "Sister Sledge, they began performing together throughout the following years. In April 2011, Kathy rejoined the original group for a one-off televised performance of "We Are Family" on The Oprah Winfrey Show.[ Music Goddesses. Oprah. Retrieved on January 4, 2026] 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.[ Grace Jones, Chaka Khan, Sister Sledge And Gloria Gaynor Perform At Etam Spring/Summer 2012 Fashion Show (PHOTOS). Huffpost. Retrieved on January 9, 2026] 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".[ Lightfoot v. DeBruine. Casemine. Retrieved on January 7, 2026]
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.[ INTERVIEW: Kathy Sledge invites everyone into her ‘Family Room’. Hollywood Soap Box. Retrieved on December 18, 2025] In 2021, Sledge began performing as Sister Sledge featuring Kathy Sledge after acquiring the "Sister Sledge" trademark name back in 2017.
Artistry
Voice and musical style
Sledge's voice is classified as a contralto. Several publications have described her voice as "distinctive" and "unique".[ Kathy Sledge: 6 September 2014 – New York. PopMatters. Retrieved on December 18, 2025] Christian John Wikane of PopMatters described Sledge's voice as "tonic for the soul."[ Finding the Light: An Interview with Kathy Sledge. PopMatters. Retrieved on December 19, 2025] American musician and music producer Narada Michael Walden adds "Kathy is raw, rugged, and rough, tough and ready for all singing occasions."
Influences
Sledge has named Michael Jackson as one of her greatest musical influences.[ ‘Everything Marvin Gaye does is sexy’: Kathy Sledge’s honest playlist. The Guardian. Retrieved on December 19, 2025] 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.[ Showbiz Analysis: Kathy Sledge on ‘We Are Family’ and the Gift of Music. Parade. Retrieved on December 19, 2025]
Other artists that Sledge has mentioned as inspirations include James Brown,[ Interview: Kathy Sledge The Voice Of "We Are Family". Equality365. Retrieved on December 19, 2025] Prince,[ Kathy Sledge "We'll Always Be Family". Ox Magazine. Retrieved on December 19, 2025] Stevie Wonder,
Philanthropy
Sledge served one of the Board of Directors for the nonprofit organization We Are Family Foundation.[ Directors Emeritus. We Are Family Foundation. Retrieved on December 18, 2025] She retired from that position after becoming an honorary trustee. In December 2015, Sledge became the first celebrity ambassador for the Halo Foundation.[ About Us. Halo Foundation. Retrieved on December 18, 2025][ We are Family! Interview with Kathy Sledge. Issuu.com, Retrieved on December 18, 2025]
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).[ 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. Inquirer.com,Retrieved April 20, 2020.]
Discography
Albums
Singles
- As main artist
- As a featured artist
Filmography
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1975, 1977, 1982, 1983, 1992: Soul Train — Herself (5 episodes)
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1979: American Bandstand — Herself (1 episode)
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1982: Fridays — Herself (1 episode)
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1984: The Jeffersons — Kathy Satin (1 episode)
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1992: It's Showtime at the Apollo — Herself (1 episode)
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2000: 100 Greatest Dance Songs of Rock & Roll — Herself
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2006: Archive Footage:Be My Baby: The Girl Group Story — Herself (uncredited)
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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
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List of number-one dance hits (United States)
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List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
External links
