Sister Sledge was an American vocal group composed of members of the Sledge family. The group was formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1965, and originally consisted of sisters Debbie, Joni, Kim, and Kathy Sledge. Their music crosses genres of R&B, disco, pop, rock and Philly soul.
Sister Sledge first performed in talent shows and clubs in Philadelphia and eventually signed with Money Back Records. In 1972, they left Money Back Records and signed with Atlantic Records subsidiary label Atco Records, where they released two Top 10 dance songs "Love Don't You Go Through No Changes on Me" (1974) and "Pain Reliever" (1975). The group were moved to another subsidiary label Cotillion Records in 1976. They released six studio albums between 1977 and 1983, including the successful albums We Are Family (1979) and Love Somebody Today (1980) and singles "He's the Greatest Dancer" (1979), "We Are Family" (1979), "Lost in Music" (1979), "All American Girls" (1981), and "My Guy" (1982). In mid-1980s, they experienced a resurgence in mainstream popularity after the release of their single "Thinking of You" and a remix of their earlier single "Lost in Music" peaked at number 4 in the United Kingdom. In 1985, their single "Frankie" topped the UK Singles chart for four consecutive weeks and became the fifth highest-selling single in the UK for that year.
In 1989, lead singer Kathy Sledge left the group and pursued a successful solo career. The three remaining members released the poorly received And Now...Sledge...Again compilation album in 1992, which featured several re-recordings of their earlier hit songs. In 1993, Kathy rejoined with the group for a European Tour after several dance remixes of their singles "We Are Family", "Lost in Music", and "Thinking of You" began charting in the UK Top 40. From 2000 to 2003, the four original members reunited on special occasions, among them was for the We Are Family Foundation. Following this, Sister Sledge went through different incarnations of the group composed of several family members and friends began performing in the group. After Joni's death in 2017 and Kim's exit in 2019, different factions of Sister Sledge surfaced. By 2021, Kathy Sledge began performing as Sister Sledge featuring Kathy Sledge, and Debbie Sledge began performing as Sister Sledge featuring Sledgendary. As of 2025, Kathy Sledge holds the rights to the trademark name "Sister Sledge".Sister Sledge trademark filing. USPTO. Retrieved on March 13, 2026
Sister Sledge have sold over 20 million records worldwide, making them one of the highest-selling female groups of the 1970s.The Top 7 Female Bands from the 1970s. American Songwriter. Retrieved on December 18, 2025Top 20 girl groups. Classic Pop Magazine. Retrieved on December 18, 2025 In 2017, they were inducted into the Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk of Fame. Their song "We Are Family" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and the National Recording Registry.
History 1965–1971: Formation and early years In 1965, Philadelphia siblings Debbie Sledge (born 1954), Joni Sledge (1956–2017), Kim Sledge (born 1957), and Kathy Sledge (born 1959) formed the female group the Sledge Sisters. Vocally trained by their grandmother and opera singer Viola Williams, and managed by their mother Florez "Flo" Sledge, the group began performing regularly at their family's church Williams Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal and soon began performing in local clubs and political events throughout their hometown of Philadelphia.They Really Are Family. Ebony. Retrieved on January 3, 2026 Over the early years of their career, they went through several name changes, becoming A Group Called Sledge, and the Brand New Generation. 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
1972–1975: Atco Records In 1972, the group began performing as Sister Sledge and signed with Atco Records, a subsidiary of Atlantic Records.Sister Sledge Philadelphia Walk of Fame Biography. Philadelphia Music Alliance. Retrieved on January 3, 2026 In 1973, they released two singles, "The Weatherman" and "Mama Never Told Me", the latter of which peaked at number 20 on the UK singles chart.Sister Sledge UK Chart History. Official Charts Company. Retrieved on January 3, 2026 In 1974, the group released another single titled "Love Don't Go Through No Changes On Me", which became a moderately successful song on the charts.
In 1975, Sister Sledge released their debut album Circle of Love. The album peaked at number 56 on Billboards Soul LP's chart. The album spawn the singles "Love Has Found Me", "Circle of Love (Caught in the Middle)", and "Pain Reliever"; the latter of which peaked at number 7 on the US National Disco chart. By the 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.
1976–1988: Cotillion Records and commercial breakthrough
In 1976, the group released two singles "Thank You for Today" and "Cream of the Crop", both of which failed to make a huge impact on the charts. In August 1977, the group released their second album Together. The album was considered a commercial failure as the album did not chart. The album's lead single, "Blockbuster Boy", also failed to reach the Top 40 and only peaked at number 61 on the US Hot Soul Singles chart. During this time, Debbie Sledge went on maternity leave and briefly replaced by her elder sister Carol Sledge for televised performances. To bolster the group's profile, Atlantic Records paired the group with Chic musicians and producers Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards to record a disco album as disco was rising in mainstream popularity.
The group's third album, We Are Family, was released in January 1979 and peaked number 3 on the US Billboard 200, later achieving platinum status in the United States for selling over a million copies.Sister Sledge Gold & Platinum Certifications. Recording Industry of American Association. Retrieved on January 3, 2026 The album spawned the singles "He's the Greatest Dancer", "We Are Family", and "Lost in Music"; the former two both topped the US Hot Soul Singles chart and charted within the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. "We Are Family" was certified gold by the RIAA, and received a nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 1980 Grammy Awards.Sister Sledge Grammy Award Nominations. Grammy. Retrieved on December 18, 2025
During the group's Destiny World Tour with The Jacksons in mid-1979, Debbie Sledge went on maternity leave and was replaced again by her elder sister Carol Sledge. In 1980, they released their follow-up fourth album, Love Somebody Today, which was also produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. Four singles were issued from the album: the lead single "Got to Love Somebody", followed by "Reach Your Peak", "Let's Go on Vacation", and "Easy Street"; the first single hit number 7 on the Billboard R&B chart.
The group started shifting away from disco music as the genre began to decline in popularity.Sister Sledge Group Drops 'Chic Formula' for New Rockish Direction. Billboard. Retrieved on January 8, 2026 They began working with American musician Narada Michael Walden and songwriter Allee Willis on the recording on their next album. In February 1981, they released their fifth album All American Girls. The lead single and title-track, "All American Girls", followed the album's release and peaked at number 3 on the US Hot Soul Singles chart. "He's Just a Runaway", the second single from the album, spent peaked at number 6 on the US Dance chart. Having written or produced songs earlier songs in their career, the group began to take a more active role in the production of their next album. Released in January 1982, their sixth album The Sisters spawned a cover version of Mary Wells' song "My Guy". The song peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100, their highest-charting song since "We Are Family" in 1979.
After the release of their album Bet Cha Say That to All the Girls in 1983, the group's popularity began to fade as the album's singles "B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Baby)" and "Gotta Get Back to Love" achieve minor success. In May 1984, the group experienced a resurgence of popularity in the United Kingdom when Cotillion Records re-issued their single "Thinking of You", which peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles chart. In September 1984, a remix of their song "Lost in Music" was released and peaked at number 4 on the UK Singles chart. "Thinking of You" and "Lost in Music" earned a gold certifications by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in the United Kingdom.Sister Sledge - Thinking of You (Gold certification). British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on January 4, 2026Sister Sledge - Lost in Music (Gold certification). British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on January 4, 2026
By 1985, Cotillion Records began closing down and as a result, Sister Sledge was moved to their parent label Atlantic Records. When the Boys Meet the Girls, the group's seventh studio album, was released on June 7, 1985, by Atlantic Records. The album became an instant success and earned a Silver certification within a month of its release by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in the United Kingdom.Sister Sledge - When the Boys Meet the Girls (Silver certification). British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on January 4, 2026 Much of the album's success was fueled by the lead single "Frankie" which peaked atop of the UK Singles chart and held the top position for four weeks. The song also earned a gold certification by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in the United Kingdom.Sister Sledge - Frankie (Gold certification). British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on January 4, 2026 In late 1987, Atlantic Records released a compilation album titled Freak Out: The Greatest Hits of Chic and Sister Sledge, which included successful hit songs by Sister Sledge and American disco group Chic. Following the release of the album, Sister Sledge left Atlantic Records in 1988.
1989–2018: Lineup changes
In 1989, lead singer Kathy Sledge departed from the group to pursue her solo career, leaving Sister Sledge to continue on as a trio.Sister Sledge Legend Wasn’t Allowed To Hear Own Songs Before Recording. News Week. Retrieved on December 18, 2025 She signed to Epic Records and released her debut solo album Heart in 1992. In the same year, the remaining members of Sister Sledge recorded a compilation album titled And Now...Sledge...Again, which featured newly recorded songs as well as re-recorded versions of their earlier songs. In 1993, Kathy Sledge returned to the group for a European Tour after a remix of "We Are Family" by British group Sure Is Pure began charting in the United Kingdom, eventually peaking at number 5 on the UK Singles chart. Although Joni was not part of the European tour, she re-joined the group in 1994.
In November 1993, American singer Linda Howard performed in place of Kim Sledge during Sister Sledge's performance with the female group Jade during the A 70's Celebration: The Beat Is Back at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles, California. In April 1996, they joined Chic for concert performance at Nippon Budokan in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The performance was recorded and released as a concert film titled Live at the Budokan. Sister Sledge returned to the studio later that year to record another album. Joni Sledge took on a more active role in the album's production, writing most of the songs on the album. Their ninth album African Eyes, was released in February 1998 on independent label Fahrenheit Records.Sister Sledge - African Eyes (Release). AllMusic. Retrieved on January 5, 2026