Joni Sledge

Joan Elise Sledge (September 13, 1956 – March 10, 2017), known professionally as Joni Sledge was an American singer–songwriter and music producer. She rose to fame in the 1970s as a member of the family vocal group Sister Sledge, one of the highest-selling female groups of the 1970s. Sledge sang lead on their US Top 10 songs "Lost in Music" and "Reach Your Peak". In 1984, a remix of "Lost in Music" peaked at number 4 on the UK Singles chart and also earned a silver-certification by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). She co-wrote and co-produced Sister Sledge's ninth album African Eyes (1998). Sledge continued to tour and perform with the group throughout the years. Her final performance with Sister Sledge was in October 2016.

Joan Elise 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. During her sophomore year at Temple, she directed her first stage-play "Wild Flower", written by Hazel Bright and produced by Ron Alexander.

In 1965, Sledge formed the female group The Sledge Sisters; alongside her sisters Debbie Sledge, Kim Sledge, and Kathy 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. 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. The group's third album, We Are Family, was released in January 1979 and peaked number three on the US Billboard 200, later achieving platinum status in the country. The record spawned the singles "He's the Greatest Dancer", "We Are Family", and "Lost in Music"; the latter of which Sledge sang lead vocals on and peaked at number 17 on the UK Singles chart. "We Are Family" received a nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 1980 Grammy Awards. The group followed up with another disco album titled Love Somebody Today (1980). Sledge sang lead on the album's second single "Reach Your Peak", which peaked at number 21 on the US Hot Soul Singles chart. Sister Sledge went on to release three more albums on Cotillion Records: All American Girls (1981), The Sisters (1982), and Bet Cha Say That to All the Girls (1983).

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 Freak Out: The Greatest Hits of Chic and Sister Sledge in 1987, Sister Sledge took a hiatus. After Kathy left the group 1989, Joni began alternating lead vocals with Kim. During the recording of African Eyes (1998), she took an more active role in the album's production, as she wrote and sang lead on most of the songs on the album.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia.