Thursday, March 28, 2024

‘Sister Sledge’ to ‘Aristofreeks’: Kathy Sledge ‘Keeps it Movin’ (EUR Exclusive)

*In 1979, Kathy Sledge was in her late teens when she was the lead vocalist on the mega-hit record, “We are Family,” which she recorded with older sisters Debbie, Joni, and Kim.  Collectively, the four siblings from Philadelphia were called “Sister Sledge.”

“We are Family” became a “world-classic anthem” that proudly celebrated the true meaning of family love and unity.  Yet, after singing lead on a string of “Sister Sledge” hits, including “He’s the Greatest Dancer,” Sledge left the Grammy Award-nominated group in 1989 to pursue a solo career.

Since her exodus, the song “We are Family” and its inspirational lyrics, especially when performed by either Kathy or her sisters, have a paradoxical twist, sparking many inquiring minds to ask, “Are they still family?”

Now, 27 years after her departure from “Sister Sledge,” Kathy Sledge, as a solo artist, continues to grow by leaps and bounds on the world’s stage.  She is currently riding the high waves of success with her new international hit single, “Keep it Movin.’ ”

The tune, which has reached as high as No. 2 on Billboard’s Dance Club Music Chart, was recorded and released by Sledge and the “Aristofreeks” on the Pacific Electronic Music label.  Max Martire and Shanti Matkin are the “Aristofreeks” and rank among the world’s best Electronic Dance Music (EDM) DJs and producers.

“This project started out as just the remixing of some early “Sister Sledge” hits,” Sledge told EURweb’s Lee Bailey recently.  “Then Max, who is from Ibiza and Shanti, who is from the Netherlands, and me, from the United States discovered that we really had a real global thing going.  So we’ve been writing together for a while, and we love what we are coming up with.”

READ RELATED STORY: Kathy Sledge Ousted By Her Sisters from Performing for The Pope!

Sledge said that she and the “Aristofreeks” expect to release an album later this year.  While nothing is finalized, Sledge said she and her music partners would like to have other well-known recording artists on the international project.  Sledge mentioned on-going talks with rapper Snoop Dogg and R&B singer CeeLo Green, as well as other artists that she thinks the world of.

While Sledge is extremely excited by the success of her global-charting music and projects with the “Aristofreeks,” she is equally excited by other projects in her growing entertainment portfolio.  One such project is a show that she has produced called, “Brighter Side of Day.”  The production, as Sledge likes to call it, pays tribute to the legendary jazz singer, Billie Holiday.  “Brighter Side of Day,” which features Kathy as Billie Holiday, has received raved reviews, most recently from an engagement at Washington D.C.’s Blues Alley.

“I got tired of seeing Billie Holiday portrayed with a glass of liquor in one hand and a needle in her arm,” Sledge explained.  “She deserves to be remembered in a much better way. To me, Billie Holiday was one of the most amazing artist ever. I’ve been portraying her since my days in Vegas.”

Additionally, Sledge has created a show called, “Kathy Sledge Presents My Sisters and Me.”  No, the show is not a reunion of the four original Sledge sisters.  Instead, when Kathy sings the lyrics, “We are Family…I have all my sisters with me…” there’s a new meaning for “sisters.” Joining Sledge are female vocal stars Deniece Williams, CeCe Peniston and Karyn White.

“I love performing with these sisters on stage,” she said.  “One of the challenges that I had with my own sisters was it got to a place where they told me I couldn’t be the lead singer anymore, even though that’s how people liked it.  It got to a place where I decided to collect some of the most amazing female artists that I know to perform with.”

While Williams, Peniston and White are fabulous singers and recording artists in their own rights, the truth of the matter is, “We are Family,” written by Nile Rodger and the late Bernard Edwards of “Chic” was intended to show the world the strength and the family love of the four Sledge sisters.

my-sisters-n-me

Currently, Debbie, Joni and Kim continue to perform nationally and internationally as “Sister Sledge.”  Kathy tours nationally and internationally as a solo artist, who is now an Electronic Dance Music diva.

“It’s common knowledge that I don’t perform with me sisters anymore,” said Sledge, who several years ago was sued by her sisters (Sister Sledge, LLC) over trademark infringement.  “However, I would like to say that I’m not fighting with my sisters.  If anything, I do want to take part in the legendary brand that I helped build.  As it stands now, they have an inside company rule that I’m not allowed to say that I’m from, or, I’m of ‘Sister Sledge.’  However, at the end of the day, nothing can ever change that I was a part of ‘Sister Sledge. I would like to think in our case, we’re coming to a healing.”

We’ll have more from Kathy Sledge on the drama between her and her sisters in an upcoming edition of the Electronic Urban Report/EUR.

kathy sledge
Kathy Sledge

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