Born and raised in Philadelphia, Kathy Sledge is the youngest of five girls from Edwin and Florez Sledge. By age 6 she was singing songs with her sisters in perfect harmony. Who would have guessed that only 10 years later, she would record a song that would literally touch the hearts of millions around the World.
Kathy was born to perform. Along with vocal coaching and teachings from her grandmother, an experienced opera singer, her instinctive ability was bred from her father who was the other half of the legendary Broadway tap dance duo, Fred & Sledge. In addition to numerous performances for the congregation at their local church, Kathy’s elementary school years were spent performing in clubs and at local talent shows. With rising popularity in the Philadelphia area, word around town was that the “Sledge Sisters” was the “act to see.” A talent promoter contacted them to perform at a local cabaret and the rest, as they say, is truly amazing history.
Sister Sledge signed their first record deal with Atco Records, resulting in their very first No. 1 record in the UK “Mama Never Told Me.” They went on to record their second international hit record “Love, Don’t You Go Through No Changes on Me” which landed at No. 1 on the Japanese charts. Following this, Sister Sledge won the prestigious and highly sought after Silver Award at the Tokyo Music Festival.
After meeting Kathy and her sisters, hit songwriters Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards wrote and produced “We Are Family” for them. The song and the album went on to reach the No. 1 position on every imaginable chart all over the universe and also earned a Grammy nomination. That album also spawned two additional hit songs, “Lost in Music” and “He’s the Greatest Dancer.” It’s interesting to note that Kathy recorded the lead vocals to “We Are Family” in just one take. As the lead singer of Sister Sledge, she went on to sell several million more albums with many popular singles, including “Got to Love Somebody,” “All American Girls,” “My Guy,” and “B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Baby).” Kathy’s life would never be the same.
Sister Sledge’s appearances include Carnegie Hall and the Apollo Theater in New York City, as well as thousands of performances throughout the entire World. With more than 100 awards and commendations for their superb work in the entertainment field, Sister Sledge has become established as one of the world’s most successful female groups.
In 1992, Kathy recorded and released her very first solo album on Epic Records, Heart, which contained the No. 1 dance record “Take Me Back to Love Again.” In 1995 she covered one of her all time favorite songs by Stevie Wonder called “Another Star.” Kathy’s version went on to become the No. 1 club anthem in all of Europe, including a stint at the No. 1 position on the pop charts in Italy. Stevie describes her voice as “sexyfun”. He goes on the say “Her voice brings an uplifting and exciting quality to music”. In 1997 Kathy teamed with Robert Miles and recorded the top 20 pop and dance hit “Freedom.”
The start of the millennium was a monumental time for Kathy and her sisters. In addition to a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination, Sister Sledge was voted by VH1 one of the most successful girl groups of all time, second only to the Supremes. In 2001 “We Are Family” was voted the No. 2 biggest record of all time.
Today, Kathy is as busy as ever. In addition to heavy touring and performing all over the World, she is working on a new CD and one woman show called “The Brighter Side of Day,” which is based on the music of Billie Holiday. Her live performance show is supported by a sixteen piece band with some of the most amazing musicians to ever grace the stage. She recently starred in the hit musical “Oh What a Night” to standing room only crowds through out Australia and she also starred in the national gospel play, “What Men Don’t Tell.” She performs selected shows with her sisters, whenever her solo schedule permits.
Most recently, in recognition of her outstanding musical achievements, The Metropolitan College of New York was proud to confer upon her the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa.
Nile Rodgers puts it best; “Kathy has one of the most original and unique voices in pop music. Always has and always will!”
Source: http://www.fluidmedia.co.za/Disco%20Inferno/Sister%20Sledge%20biog.doc
