Disco Legend Joni Sledge Dies At Age 60

CNN reports:

Joni Sledge, a founding member of the R&B vocal group Sister Sledge, was found dead Friday in her home in Phoenix, publicist Biff Warren told CNN on Saturday. She was 60 years old. The Sledge family was shocked by her death as she had not been ill, Warren said. The cause of death was unknown. The group of sisters were best known for the 1979 dance anthem “We Are Family.” Other hits were “He’s the Greatest Dancer” and “My Guy.”

The sisters Joni, Debbie and Kim made up Sister Sledge. Kathy, a fourth sister, was another original member but left the ensemble in 1989, according to the group’s website. The group became famous in 1979 with the Grammy-nominated “We Are Family,” written by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers of Chic. The song celebrated familial bonds, became a staple at weddings and was adopted as an unofficial anthem by the Pittsburgh Pirates during their 1979 championship season.

Over their career Sister Sledge landed eight singles on the Billboard pop chart and 18 singles on the R&B chart. The group performed continuously since their formation and had a European tour scheduled for this year.