Joni Sledge
{{Short description|American singer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Joni Sledge
| image = Joni Sledge.jpg
| caption = Joni Sledge c. 1979[https://books.google.com/books?id=1csDAAAAMBAJ&dq=joni+sledge&pg=PA142 Ebony Magazine – February 1980]
| birth_name = Joan Elise Sledge{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/12/arts/music/joni-sledge-singer-in-the-we-are-family-group-sister-sledge-dies-at-60.html?_r=0|title=Joni Sledge, Singer in the 'We Are Family' Group Sister Sledge, Dies at 60|newspaper=New York Times|date=March 12, 2017}}
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1956|9|13|mf=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|3|10|1956|9|13|mf=y}}[https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/mystery-surrounds-death-sister-sledge-10012137 Mystery surrounds death of Sister Sledge star Joni Sledge as publicist says We Are Family singer was 'not sick' – March 12, 2017]
| birth_place = {{nowrap|Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.}}
| death_place = Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
| resting_place = Ivy Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Singer
- songwriter
- producer
}}
| years_active = 1971–2017
| spouse = {{marriage|Thaddeus E. Whyte III
|1992|2000|reason=div.}}
| education = Temple University
| children = 1
| relatives =
| module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| instrument = Vocals
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| label = {{flatlist|
}}
}}
| website =
}}
Joan Elise Sledge (September 13, 1956 – March 10, 2017)[http://www.ebony.com/entertainment-culture/joni-sledge-died#axzz4bKYzwCJ8 Ebony – Joni Sledge, Joni Sledge, Founding Member of Sister Sledge, Has Died – March 11, 2017] 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, mid-1980s and 1990s; most notably 1979's "We Are Family" and "He's the Greatest Dancer".{{cite news|title=Sister Sledge singer Joni dies at 60|work=BBC News|date=March 12, 2017|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39246958|accessdate=March 13, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Joni Sledge obituary|website=TheGuardian.com |date=March 12, 2017|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/mar/12/joni-sledge-obituary|accessdate=March 13, 2017}}
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). 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.[https://books.google.com/books?id=1csDAAAAMBAJ&dq=joni+sledge&pg=PA142 Ebony Magazine – February 1980][http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1976/07/11/page/500/article/the-living-arts Chicago Tribune – The Living Arts – July 11, 1976][https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt3iFLUh3us Joni Sledge Acting] During her sophomore year at Temple, she directed her first stage-play "Wild Flower", written by Hazel Bright and produced by Ron Alexander.
Career
{{main|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).
At different times during her career, Ms. Sledge lived in Santa Monica, California and also Paris, France while studying at the 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.
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.[https://www.bbandhodges.com/obituary/4174551 Beckett-Brown & Hodges Funeral Home — Joan Elise Sledge (1956–2017)] Sometime during her career, Sledge briefly lived in Paris, France and studied at Sorbonne University.
Death
Sledge was found dead by a friend at her home in Phoenix, Arizona.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/mar/12/joni-sledge-obituary|title=Joni Sledge obituary|author=Adam Sweeting|website=The Guardian|date=March 12, 2017|accessdate=March 13, 2017}} on March 11, 2017, aged 60. Her death was originally attributed to unknown circumstances as she had no known illnesses, according to close family sources.[http://fox2now.com/2017/03/11/joni-sledge-of-musical-group-sister-sledge-dies-at-60/ Fox2 — Joni Sledge of Musical Group Sister Sledge dies at 60 — March 11, 2017] On March 14, 2017, Sledge's cause of death was ruled "natural causes" related to a pre-existing condition.{{cite news |title=Cause of death for Sister Sledge star Joni Sledge revealed |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2017/03/16/cause-of-death-for-sister-sledge-star-joni-sledge-revealed/ |access-date=5 June 2023 |work=PinkNews |date=March 16, 2017}}[http://www.music-news.com/news/UK/104175/Joni-Sledge-died-of-natural-causes Music – News – Joni Sledge Died Of Natural Causes – March 14, 2017]{{Cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/joni-sledge-family-mourns-loss-late-disco-icon-article-1.3001325|work=NY Daily News|title=Joni Sledge Family Mourns Loss of Late Disco Icon|date=March 17, 2017}}
Filmography
{{div col}}
- 1975: Soul Train — Herself (4 episodes) (1977, 1982, 1983)
- 1975: The Midnight Special — guest singer with Spinners performing their hit song "Then Came You".{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71s9BgxX0Vg |title=The Spinners & Joni Sledge (Then Came You) 1975 |website=YouTube |access-date=March 14, 2017 |archive-date=April 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406123752/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71s9BgxX0Vg |url-status=dead }}
- 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)
{{div col end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Sister Sledge}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sledge, Joni}}
Category:Singers from Philadelphia
Category:American disco musicians
Category:20th-century African-American women singers
Category:Burials at Ivy Hill Cemetery (Philadelphia)
Category:20th-century American women singers
Category:20th-century American singers
Category:21st-century African-American musicians