What Happened To Sister Sledge? | Almost Gave Up Singing? Falling Out With Each Other Lawsuits?

With a tap-dancing father, actress mother and opera singing grandmother, these four sisters were certainly destined from birth to create their own artistic success. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sister Sledge, consisting of the four Sledge girls ranging in ages from 12 to 16, officially formed in 1971. The family also included a fifth daughter that the girl’s mother had during a previous relationship and before marrying their father. Edwin and Florez Sledge’s daughters, Debra also known as Debbie, Joan also known as Joni, Kim, and Kathy, started out taking their cues from their grandmother, Viola Williams. Under her guidance, they sang regularly at their church and performed at various community functions throughout Philly. Everywhere they went everyone knew who they were, as they went by the name Mrs. Williams’ Grandchildren. Before long, they formed a band and, with Debbie serving as vocal arranger, Joni as artistic director, and their mother as manager, Sister Sledge was born.
#SisterSledge
SOURCES
sistersledge.com/
www.allmusic.c...
www.allmusic.c...
alt.obituaries...
www.theguardia...
www.reverbnati...
gilbertpclaw.c...
archive.voice-...
www.mirror.co....
www.newschaino...
www.billboard....
www.billboard....
www.billboard....
www.nme.com/ne...
startsat60.com...
www.glamour.co...
www.popmatters...
en.wikipedia.o...
www.instagram....
C O N N E C T W I T H M E!
I N S T A G R A M || / genuinelygenevieve
T W I T T E R || / genuinelygenn
T I K T O K || / genuinelygenevieve
Business Inquiries/PR: [e-mail]
INTRO & OUTRO:
Music by Ryan Little - Think About You - thmatc.co/?l=3...
VIDEO:
Music by Chinsaku - All This Time - thmatc.co/?l=8...
Music by Helkimer - Thoughts - thmatc.co/?l=1...
Music by Helkimer - Moments [Thematic Exclusive] - thmatc.co/?l=2...
ABOUT LET'S GET TO THE ROOT
Hi! I'm Genevieve and this is my second channel. I'm a lifestyle blogger who's obsessed with skincare, self love, 90's r&b music and anything chocolate! Don't forget to check out my main channel, Genuinely Genevieve!
Let's Get To The Root lives up to its name by going beyond just the surface. This channel takes a deep dive into all the interesting and shocking information about all your favourite Hollywood celebrities, entertainers, social media personalities, public figures, movies, television shows and more from back in the day to the present. You'll get all the nostalgic feels and find out what your favs have currently been up to. The answers to all your burning questions and extra juicy details you never knew before are all right here!

[@lisamuhammad5825]

The amount of immaturity and silliness is astounding. Of course, we don’t know every single thing that happened. But to hold a grudge all these years? All because a sister went solo? That’s just crazy to me!

[@leewilson2010]

Its sad and damn CRAZY....WTF is wrong with these famous families..??

[@thespadestable]

@Lisa Muhammad - Not silliness. It's common practice for the record company to break members apart in the attempt to market off of the star. The record company approached Kathy during a down period of the group's career, Kathy went with it, and the rest is history. There is no telling how many people had been playing games between the sisters in order to divide them, and Kathy's actions may have been the final straw. Women hold grudges against each other for more trivial reasons.

[@Jo-annSamurai3069]

I wouldn’t be surprised if the record company at the time had a lot to do with the sisters parting ways. It is called the music business. And just like any business, the main criteria is to make as much money as possible. A lot of the time when bands split up its to do with internal feuds. Very sad that the sisters couldn’t get past, one member wanting to go solo. She was given an offer she didn’t want to turn down. I love the songs, We are Family. And Greatest Dancer the best. They still look good. May Joni Rest in eternal Peace. 🕊️

[@corneliuswashington-gp1we]

@@thespadestable ....and they hold grudges LONGER.....we all knew that KATHY....was the STAR....and her sisters were merely merely backup at best so her going SOLO worked their LAST GOOD NERVE....and they probably will NEVER....get over it...

[@thebrownbaldy]

C'mon Kim and Debbie, please mend fences with each other, the track We Are Family means a lot to us

[@missvida6251]

😂😂😂 how ironic

[@beaniegee5129]

A story on The Pointer Sisters would be very interesting

[@misst3016]

👌🏾

[@shay_lah]

Hes The Greatest Dancer is still one of the best songs Ive heard. perfectly produced 👌🏾

[@danavixen6274]

Their hits are STILL amazing to this day! "We Are Family" will ALWAYS be a mainstay at many a celebration! 🥳🎉

[@Lemon_GACHA18]

You said it in the real song to

[@missvida6251]

I can't stand that song but they are pretty

[@danavixen6274]

@@missvida6251 🙄

[@lup1s]

It's weird because if you watch their videos from the We are Family era Debbie seemed the least enthusiastic of the girls . Now she's fighting the fiercest to hold the reins of the Sister Sledge brand. I still say they should have given Kathy their good graces and allowed her to do her solo work and leave the door open for her to return. It would've kept their name out there too. I guess too much ego was involved. I hope they can work out their differences before we lose another sister.

[@danavixen6274]

@@lup1s Agreed! Especially in lieu of Joni's death. May she rest in peace. 😔🙏🏾❤️🕊️

[@nataliemscrzysxycoolharris]

What a surprising story about them. It's a damn shame how the sisters didn't support Kathy and her endeavors. Makes me think of The Braxtons. They had their moments too but their Momma would check them something serious and they respected her. I didn't know that Joni had passed. May her soul continue to rest in peace.

[@Riogi]

I love sister Sledge and the music they make. May Joni rest in peace. She was amazing!

[@beaniegee5129]

RIP Joni Sledge

[@Doxiemama16]

"We're All American Girls" is a classic masterpiece. It never received a lot of airplay back in the early 80s, but it's a great song. Sister Sledge performed at our Grad Night celebration at Disney World. They were awesome!!

[@KCfromDCtheLeo]

One of the greatest disco-era acts that also made hits in the 80s. Great to see the act is surviving into the 2nd generation. Certainly hope the remaining original members can bury the hatchet and get along for the sake of the music.

[@1968dogg]

I am aware of Caucasian groups that hate each other but come together to get that loot. Ask Sting.

[@kevinpayton2664]

I listen to Sister Sledge on occasion. He's The Greatest Dancer and We Are Family are classics.

[@beaniegee5129]

We Are Family is and still is a Cookout classic!!

[@neilifill4819]

That’s so sad, though. I’m always amazed when adult siblings have a hard time getting along. Then courts and contracts get in the way, too. Sister Sledge is still great music, but the family dynamic is a cautionary tale.

[@leatricejones3865]

I loved this group so much. Their club hits were the best. Joni was my fav. I even had fan letter written to her that i never sent.

[@dalilap4743]

Such a talented family of women. The Greatest Dancer and Lost in Music are 2 of my favorite all time songs. The Philadelphia Sound is real and the number of artists that came from there was incredible.

[@cathleanjohnson675]

The original line up will never be seen again, glad I got to witness their heyday in my early 20s, something special, RIP Joni, gone too soon.

[@casey4602]

That's to say with the Emotions minus Pamela, Jones Girls and the Pointer Sisters...

[@errolthomas9426]

RIP Joni Sledge 1955-2017

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thank you for your outstanding documentary! I had no idea that so much bad blood had transpired. Keep up the great work!

[@justmarguax9207]

Another great one!! A nice trip down memory lane .

[@JuicyPopEntertainment]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@taureanmay7480]

​@@JuicyPopEntertainmentcool 😎 👌 👍 😌 ♥ ✨.

[@Bellasie1]

It seems crazy that Kathy was denied the right to even mention the name of the band she belonged to as the main lead singer... Wow, that is shameless coming from "family"! In this story, it seems clear that Debbie is the one creating the feud and having her own way, going as far as transforming the band into her personal clan.

[@lolafairchild88]

I sure did need a pick-me-up today! Love the content as always 🩷✊🏿.

[@JuicyPopEntertainment]

More to come!

[@taureanmay7480]

​@@JuicyPopEntertainment6:28 okay.

[@bobthebarber777]

Thinking of you.... The most amazing intro and one of the "Chic Edwards Rodgers" best productions 🙏🏻❤️

[@leewilson2010]

You know it to Thinking of you intro and the entire song is awesome..!!

[@traceycamille]

I was absolutely in love with them and still am!! They are beautiful and their voices 😍🔥💗💗

[@doginthecity9635]

“I was actually sued by my sisters,” Kathy clarifies. “I'd like to really make this clear: I never sued anyone, I never would. And I never left the band. I did a solo project and I was asked to leave the band. I was sued so that I couldn't perform as or from Sister Sledge, and that was frustrating to me. I like singing with a group! I'm not fighting my sisters, but I had to fight for the right to sing.

[@FourSeasons04]

In another interview, Kathy indicated she could barely find work because her sisters threatened to sue any promoter/venue who'd hire her as part of Sister Sledge. She said she almost lost her home due to lack of work.

[@doginthecity9635]

That is awful.. @@FourSeasons04

[@pauladeegan6926]

Thank you so much for all the time and effort you put in to making this video! It's a great video! Ever since you did The pointer sisters and what's going on with them I was so hoping that you would do Sister Sledge and you like read my mind LOL! I so hope all of the sisters come together again and whatever happened between the four of them just let that shit go man! Life is way way too short to be not speaking to a sibling not working things out for decades I believe you said in the video.

[@danavixen6274]

They're STILL beautiful and TALENTED! I hope they do bury the hatchet, if not for themselves, at least for their late sister Joni. 😔

[@SagittariusQueen1980]

I have their music downloaded on my Spotify, beautiful, talented sisters.

[@marvingonzalez6891]

The Zaire performance was INSANELY incredible, they were NOT fkn around, that version of "on and on" should have vinyl release

[@sarahreggie1668]

That performance was incredible! I found it on KZbin.

[@minkki5656]

Debbie seemed to be the toxic one of the sisters. She need to make amends, because life is too short. All of this pettiness is ridiculous.

[@OddWomanOut_Pi81]

Why is that everytime someone wants to venture out of the group, SALTINESS ensues??? Like, EVERYTIME! Nobody's ever happy and supportive of the person. It's so weird... I'm not abandoning u; just exploring all of my options. That doesn't mean I won't come back to the center; that I won't come back to the nucleus. I just don't want to be boxed in. Oooohhh child! 😩... It's like so many of these stories follow the👏🏾same👏🏾narrative 👏🏾.

[@kidwaryodproduction]

4:56 Jean-Paul Maunick (Bluey) always the best musician and musicmaker I ever heard. Every his works from Incognito, Bluey solo stuff and his latest project "STR4TA" was very great and always great :)

[@nicolesherman8974]

Love that you are doing all these throwback R&B groups/people! And I peeped two of them have been from Pennsylvania 👀

[@MaryCooksMemorableDishes]

Thats really sad.....money has been the evil. Family prayers for the loss of their sister. 🙏❤

[@bigsighmusicdroneblogs1843]

I was on stage with sister sledge one of ther last gigs and got Joni's autograph and 3 other sisters on my guitar.

[@timothylee3105]

I just saw them in concert last month....August 2024 in Orange County, they were FANTASTIC. Much ❤ sisters

[@themaryjayneexperience5427]

Loves me some Sister Sledge ... Thanks for the awesome vid.

[@blackamerican40]

I still remember the Frankie video with the older postal worker.

[@dumfriesspearhead7398]

So do I.

[@beaniegee5129]

Love these stories so much

[@rafaelramirez1507]

My all-time favorite song that I love from them is "Reach your Peak"

[@glencro]

That’s one of their best songs periodt

[@ejakaegypt]

They were beautiful and talented Still love their music ❤

[@aaronj.brooks1977]

Man seems like when family siblings get together and form a group and bring out some big hit songs and then all of sudden friction comes within the group Sister Sledge’s We Are Family is our theme song

[@glencro]

LOST IN MUSIC my favorite by them with Joni leading

[@laurenjordan5470]

I love Lost In Music, it's one of my favorites from them, it's Joni's song for sure, I remember an interview with Deb and Kim, Lost In Music was mentioned Kim said it was Joni's song and that Joni would be in her glory and in her element when performing it. I agree with Kim on that one.

[@davidgadson714]

why were they all hating on kathy her voice was the major part of the group without her voice they wouldnt have made it as far as they did

[@montezwashington385]

"We Are Family" was also the theme song for The 1979 World Series Champion Pittsburgh Pirates.

[@ronaldwilliams4954]

I remember in the early 80s I was like 12 or 13 I had a major major crush on these girls to the point it was crazy but Joni Sledge was my favorite oh my God that was my girl rest in peace

[@timothybrown6988]

I loved these ladies!

[@dubmoyet]

Kathy had a hit in the late 90’s when she was the guest on dance icon Robert Miles’ Freedom

[@iamryanlittle]

It's always dope to hear my music in these videos. Much love, fam!

[@MRJLS15]

They so talented love they music

[@davidsmith1162]

Still Love Those Sisters To This Day, & I Do Have Their Greatest Hits CD. Love U 4 Life.

[@thecloud9effect765]

Thank you.

[@Mes799]

Kathy is an amazing woman. She’s incredibly sweet and kindhearted. Her talent is outstanding. If you see her live shows, you’ll know that she endeavours to give a truly authentic Sister Sledge show. Debbie on the other hand is quite different. I believe she is conning audiences into thinking their seeing a sister sledge show. However, there’s really not much authenticity to it at all. You won’t hear a single recognisable voice and they play the songs quite differently. If you want the real experience, go see Kathy

[@skippybartalozzi]

Debbie is great top see live.

[@Mes799]

It’s not an authentic experience. They even change the keys of certain songs because she can’t sing them

[@thecloud9effect765]

Very interesting one.

[@TooSkinnyKenny]

listen to their beautiful ballad "Next Time You'll Know".

[@averyfisher9967]

I will support Kathy, and I love 💕 Sister Sledge, but, treating Kathy wrong ain’t right! I will always stay hopeful of the sisters coming because Satan is liar 🤥

[@Ladabee32]

I’m Kim’s daughter. I understand the perception of truth is left up to the listener. But inaccuracies don’t hurt any less. We love each other, we always will.

[@jennyhumphries8824]

So true

[@lup1s]

God bless. I would have enjoyed seeing Kim singing more lead vocalist.

[@draperlamarcakes]

Thank you for the response. Clarity is key. Integrity is everything. We the viewers/fans only normally get partial truths and are left to draw all kinds of conclusions.

[@longbranch11207]

Franky was a huge hit internationally growing up I use to hear that song all the time in the Caribbean

[@sarahreggie1668]

Yeah...I liked Frankie because it was different. I remember them saying a certain DJ was critical of the song, so they called the radio station and gave him the blues!

[@laurenjordan5470]

So love them, hope all 3 of them collectively will be on the same page again. #sisters #togetherness #wearefamily

[@m17434]

Thank you for this video about this amazing group. Their music still sounds fresh. Could you make a "Whatever Happened To" video about an underrated singer, Grace Jones? Thanks.

[@deronwilliams338]

I hate how they broke up.

[@leewilson2010]

THIS BREAK UP IS NOT RIGHT... ITS DOWN RIGHT STUPID...

[@Jo-annSamurai3069]

Good research. I did watch a video of Sister Sledge I only recognise one of them. Now I know why.

[@leprechaunalley7207]

I was a little girl when they were popular. I loved them and still do!

[@botaktatasumo]

We need a story on The Pointer Sister AND the underrated Three Degrees

[@vashtikelly6837]

I JUST WATCHED THE EPISODE OF THE JEFFERSONS WITH SIS SLEDGE STARRING ON THERE..... DO ONE ON THE POINTER SISTERS

[@MK-hh1vo]

Didn't know about the background drama! Cathy made that entire group, We are Family is all about Cathy's voice. I can't believe how jealous Debbie sounds about that. Very sad.

[@MEGABOINK65]

LOVE THEM!!!!!♥♥♥♥

[@dsainte3914]

Jesus! Debbie, Kim and Joni were possessive and had control issues ! For Debbie to hold onto the same resentment towards Kathy after 40 YEARS just b/c she went solo is 🤯🤦🏾💔 Is she as possessive & controlling w/her own kids?🤔

[@chesterrpope696]

@@HhEeAaDd it may didn't go Kathy way , but Debbie was still piss because Kathy at least tried , because Kathy was and still is the talented one. Debbie can not sing she only sounded kinda good because her sisters was standing beside her. Debbie can be mad all she wants because no one cares. Kathy is Sister Sledge and her name is stapled on ' We are family ' , Debbie can't sing , her daughter Camille can't sing either....

[@HhEeAaDd]

@@jaydaksy4094 Nah. Stay out of grown folks business. kathie is that you?

[@patienceboafo1998]

Huge huge fan of the sisters in my teens 👏 ❤ 😍

[@deamonghod]

Loved it! I hope you do the Pointer sisters as well💪🏾💯💯💯

[@alisonboulding185]

The Greatest Dancer, Reach A Peak, I've Got To Love Somebody, Amazing plus....

[@Asiatic637]

Man they were fine

[@eukalypta]

4 brothers..making awesome music..

[@Jo-annSamurai3069]

It’s great to see the sisters who are still performing looking and sounding so good. Obviously they don’t sound exactly the same because it’s different band members. Second generation extended family.

[@NatureGirl215LLC]

#215 Legends. ❤️💯

[@deronreed2945]

WE ARE FAMILY? WELL I GUESS NOT SO MUCH.

[@jeromewhite7681]

11.5 million?? Whew!

[@leroymaxwellii2747]

R.I.P. 🪦 Joni Sledge

[@hghrmnds816]

Debbie look good as hell, she got timeless beauty yo

[@jamielim5059]

Kathy Sledge is the voice of Sister Sledge 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 RIP Joni Sledge 🙏🏻

[@missvida6251]

They were so pretty, natural and slim/fit. I miss black women with slim fit bodies. I'm so tired of lace fronts being replaced as hair and bbl's

[@jjones317]

I feel the same way.

[@itakemytime1156]

There are still Black women who is all natural. Y'all talk a big game but your actions says so,thing different. There are women out there for everyone not clearly you are looking at particular women...

[@AJ-xc4qe]

OH WHAT OH WOW!!!

[@joemckinney837]

i use to love sister slegde they retired now this was my favorites in the 70 s

[@MrAitraining]

Nile and Bernard did more than produce for them. They did everything including musicianship and all the background vocals were Chic singers on the Sisters hits. Sledge's top tracks was Chic with a different sister singing just the lead.

[@FallGuy467]

The "We Are Family" LP was made on the heels of "C'est Chic" in late '78 when the label gave Nile and Bernard free reign to produce any act they wanted. They chose the Sisters, spent time with them and tailor made a classic. In Nile's book, he discussed how that dynamic and "DHM" backfired with Diana Ross and Motown.

[@MrAitraining]

@@FallGuy467 Nile was the hitmaker. I'm pissed the BBC doc the hitmaker got taken down from KZbin. Really good program on that era

[@Romiedahomie415]

You know this is very interesting that you say that because kids nowadays that start out his groups don’t even focus on your schoolwork anymore so if it was possible for the four sisters to go to school finished her undergraduate is still saying I don’t understand why people nowadays can’t do that with their kids that want to sing you kids don’t have to be a full-time senior they can get their education and entertain anyway we are family is a masterpiece

[@nolanwalls9894]

I'm glad they won they deserve because I luv them!!

[@househead67]

Why does Debbie somewhat favor Snoop Dogg? 🤔

[@jayelove1504]

Debbie, will be alright, just because she's the eldest of the 4, doesn't make her right or the boss....Kathy was the main voice in the recordings anyway....there's nothing wrong with doing solo projects....Kathy and her husband wrote the song All The Man That I Need....later done by Whitney Houston and later Luther Vandross....rest in paradise Joni!!🙏💔

[@craigathonian]

It's such a hard life doing what these girls did at such a young age. Normal families don't get along like they try to appear to outsiders....they are all different people. Then to be put in a pressure cooker for so many years ? I'm just glad they got to stay together just to taste success and were able to reap the rewards. Seperating from arguments is normal, but when it comes to artist who were tethered together for soooo long... that's a whole other alley with cats 🐱😺😼😼

[@MysteryZenSide2]

Q: Can you please make an edit to your video ? I noticed at the 05:12 mk the computer generated narrator says " SLUDGE " that is dis-respectful to this LEGENDARY band-

[@glencro]

Kathy is such an amazing singer and I feel that she threw away what could have been a great solo career chasing the Sister Sledge name. Of course, she has every right to the name just as any of the sisters but I feel that the world would have known Kathy Sledge had she focused on that. She made one cd thirty years ago.

[@sarahreggie1668]

Her solo album 'Heart' was so good!

[@fdozi5801]

That is so sad... life is truly too short to harbor such hate and anguish. Does 'we are family really mean nothing to them?? :(

[@MikeFisher67]

Great video on Sister Sledge I'm a big of there's

[@jamestaylor7119]

WOW,,its a shame how the other sisters turned on kathy because she wanted to go solo,,especially after kathy already put in 20 plus years in the group...smh.....that being said,,it never ceases to amaze me,,how the word of GOD prooves itself over and over...THE WORD OF GOD/BIBLE clearly says,,"""in the last days brother will be against brother,,dad against son,,mother against daughter,,sister against sister""".....🙄........that being said,,,after hearing this story,,ive now lost alot of respect for the sisters that turned on kathy,,turning on her simply because she wanted to go solo...like I said,,she had already put in 20 plus years in the group,,and she could've actually went solo 15 years prior to when she did if she wanted to...however,,the other sisters obviously were not appreciative that kathy stayed with the group 15 more years longer than she had to,,,in which shows there self centered UNGRATEFULNESS.....🙄....in fact,,every group has a star,,and kathy was always the star of the group in my opinion,,and like I said before,,she coulda went solo 15 years prior to when she did if she wanted to........PEOPLE ARE SO UNGRATEFUL,,,just like the bible says...""""men in the last days will be ungrateful,,heartless,,fierce,,betrayers,,headstrong,,puffed up with pride,,lovers of money,,murderers,,vain...🙄

[@bobthebarber777]

@3:10. Bernard Edwards

[@JuicyPopEntertainment]

Yes! My bad. 😬

[@taureanmay7480]

​@@JuicyPopEntertainment1:52 good one.

[@BRZandaz]

Is that an updated intro 👀

[@katmanjenks1961]

Why does there always have to be drama?!😼🤷🏾‍♂️

[@yawsmickeymike]

Money is the root of all evil. No matter how much education you have earned such as this group has, which was diplomas & undergraduate milestones. Yet the fame this group has gained, they forgot about a back up plan; as much as those showbiz passions, like many of these iconic acts are conflicted with; through an unlimited levels n variations. Leading to angry broke behavior with labels; turning on their family members; etc. " We Are Not A Family" would be a bigger hit than the original, if there was some kind of truce to all this malarkey. For life too short, and has shown that upon high levels of receipts during these current times. No matter if you're young or old, stop being so cold.

[@KaySeminomadic]

Nice video. Do you have one about Aly-Us

[@doginthecity9635]

I have been a big fan of SS since 1978 and followed their career to this day. Kathy had many opportunities throughout the years to go solo. After their final good LP in 1985 "When The Boys Meet The Girls" Sister Sledge's profile started to take a fall and their record contract came to an end. Kathy was given a solo project and she finally took the offer with EPIC Records... Great project, but sadly EPIC Records UK didn't provide a good promotional outlet. Debbie & Joni were the main sisters reasons for the Lawsuits against Kathy.. Sister Sledge is not Debbie featuring her children or friend as the group... Sister Sledge is Kathy, Kim, Joni and Debbie... Kathy, Joni and Kim were Sister Sledge for many years as a trio as Debbie kept leaving the group in their prime time to have children..

[@davidgadson714]

kathy was the voice of the group we really didnt hear much of the rest of them maybe a little of joni thats about it kathy is the lead an the voice period so how could they stop her from singing none of the song would have sound right without her voice just saying family jealious is so bad an sad it happens a lot in familys

[@WilderNest107]

Sad that they have not put their differences aside. Life is short as they are now 3