glencro
02-05-2013, 11:59 AM
I can remember when I was 12 and first begin to see Sister Sledge on Dinah, American Bandstand, The Merv Griffin Show , Midnight Special and so many other shows promoting their big hits "He's The Greatest Dancer" and "We Are Family". I was smitten by these beauties, so much so that I dumped my girlfriend Penny from "Good Times" who was actually my age. In fact, my very first album purchase was "We Are Family". I started collecting the magazines that they were featured in and was able to find their first two albums in the basement of a Kresge department store. I have probably purchased everything that they have released since whether it was bad or good. Lucked up on a few fans domestically and internationally and was able to obtain some great video footage on the group. I have always thought they were very beautiful, classy and made good music. Needless to say, I have mad love for my Sledge sisters.
About a decade or so ago, I begin to notice that there were two versions of Sister Sledge out there. Usually one with Kathy Sledge and some other girls and then a version with Joni Sledge and [[sometimes) Debbie Sledge and some other random tall, light complexioned female with long hair. In 2003, I sent Kathy an email through her website because I heard that Sister Sledge was coming to Detroit. To my surprise, she responded. She said that she didn't know anything about the show but Joni was touring and they were "working it out" and even asked me to let her know how the show went. It was Joni's version and though it was a good show it was n't a Sledge show.
The original line-up appreared on OPRAH's "Women Who Rock" and during her final season and they have all aged quite well. There was some great behind the scenes footage on Oprah's website, so I was excited because I figured that they had "worked it out".
I guess after avoiding the question of why are there two different versions or when will they get together, Kathy decided to be more candid about the situation. In her interview in the Daeida magazine, she confirmed that she has been estranged from her sisters. The www.sistersledge.com site has practically erased her from the legacy of the group, which is crazy imo considering that she was "the voice" of the group. She even mentioned that when she decided to record the solo album in 1992 she was given an ultimatum by some of her sisters on whether she can return to the group. For the most part Kathy states that Joni is fixated on being the leader of the group and has even insisted on leading some songs that Kathy had made a hit. Joni released some decent music on www.jonisledgeonline.com but again, it was Kathy's vocals that made those songs hits. Even as a youngster Kathy was often singled out by producers and given the leads to songs that they wanted to sing. She even turned down a lot of offers because she always had her sisters in mind.
The irony in all of this is that "We Are Family" is THE unity song for families, sports teams, gay and lesbian groups, etc and the singers of the song are not currently getting along. Hopefully , someday they'll be together [[again)
6000
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-HvhZpSQ60
About a decade or so ago, I begin to notice that there were two versions of Sister Sledge out there. Usually one with Kathy Sledge and some other girls and then a version with Joni Sledge and [[sometimes) Debbie Sledge and some other random tall, light complexioned female with long hair. In 2003, I sent Kathy an email through her website because I heard that Sister Sledge was coming to Detroit. To my surprise, she responded. She said that she didn't know anything about the show but Joni was touring and they were "working it out" and even asked me to let her know how the show went. It was Joni's version and though it was a good show it was n't a Sledge show.
The original line-up appreared on OPRAH's "Women Who Rock" and during her final season and they have all aged quite well. There was some great behind the scenes footage on Oprah's website, so I was excited because I figured that they had "worked it out".
I guess after avoiding the question of why are there two different versions or when will they get together, Kathy decided to be more candid about the situation. In her interview in the Daeida magazine, she confirmed that she has been estranged from her sisters. The www.sistersledge.com site has practically erased her from the legacy of the group, which is crazy imo considering that she was "the voice" of the group. She even mentioned that when she decided to record the solo album in 1992 she was given an ultimatum by some of her sisters on whether she can return to the group. For the most part Kathy states that Joni is fixated on being the leader of the group and has even insisted on leading some songs that Kathy had made a hit. Joni released some decent music on www.jonisledgeonline.com but again, it was Kathy's vocals that made those songs hits. Even as a youngster Kathy was often singled out by producers and given the leads to songs that they wanted to sing. She even turned down a lot of offers because she always had her sisters in mind.
The irony in all of this is that "We Are Family" is THE unity song for families, sports teams, gay and lesbian groups, etc and the singers of the song are not currently getting along. Hopefully , someday they'll be together [[again)
6000
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-HvhZpSQ60