Joni Sledge

Short Biography

Joni SledgeBornJoan Elise SledgeSeptember 13, 1956Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.DiedMarch 10, 2017 (aged 60)Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.EducationTemple UniversityOccupationSinger, songwriter, producerYears active1971–2017Spouse(s)Thaddeus E. Whyte III (divorced)Children1Musical careerGenresR&B;discopopsoulInstrumentsVocalsLabels AtcoCotillionAtlanticAssociated acts Sister SledgeNile RodgersKathy SledgeBiographySledge 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 at Temple University. During her sophomore year at Temple, Sledge produced and directed her first stageplay "WildFlower". Sometime during her career, Sledge briefly lived in Paris, France and studied at Sorbonne University. In addition to being apart of Sister Sledge, Sledge performed the song "Then Came You" with the Spinners on the television music show The Midnight Special in 1975. 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 and deathSledge had one child, a son named Thaddeus Everett Whyte IV from her marriage to Thaddeus E. Whyte, III. Sledge was found dead by a friend at her home on March 11, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona, She was 60 years old. Her death was originally considered due to unknown circumstances as she didn't have any known illnesses, according to close family sources. On March 14, 2017, Sledge's cause of death was ruled "natural causes".Filmography1975: Soul Train — Herself (4 episodes) (1977, 1982, 1983)1975: The Midnight Special — Herself1979: 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 — Herself2006: 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)