The Passing of Music Icons 2017 - Joni Sledge - March 11, 2017 | Eastern NC Now

Joni Sledge - March 11, 2017

    She was one of the founding members of the group Sister Sledge, which was another Philadelphia group founded in 1971. The stage name was not a publicity creation; that was the real family name. Joni and her sisters came from a musical family. Her father was a tap dancer and he mother was an actress. Her grandmother was an opera singer. She passed in Arizona on March 11, 2017 at 60 year old. At this time there is no cause of death known.    Sister Sledge Website

    Their hit "We are Family" became a number one hit in 1979 in the midst of the Disco Craze. The song had a unique R&B beat and some simple repetitive lyrics. It has become a metaphor for solidarity for any number of causes. Perhaps it is instructive to remember the theme in this current climate of our own political family squabble. The Disco craze was just another phase of the musical journey of this country. I stopped dancing somewhere between 1960 and early 1970's. The event went unnoticed at the time because there were quite a few other white guys with no rhythm to take my place. I did enjoy some of the music of that era, mainly because I try to enjoy all music. I have also been told that it also allowed some women to shake their booty in skimpy outfits, and there was a time when I enjoyed that as well. I never got over the transition from kulot shorts to mini-skirts that occurred while I was out of the country for a year. I am not complaining and I could very well be wrong, but sometimes it seems that the imagination is better than the reality. At least it was for a me until about 1969 or so. For that reason, I will always remember the Disco Era as a Spectator Sport 🔍 🔍 🔍 🔍 rather than a Participant Sport.

Regardless of your opinion of that era's music, you have to admit, that it was based on the use of some musical instruments and a fundamental principles of R&B.

Lyrics We are Family
We are family
I got all my sisters with me
We are family
Get up everybody and sing
We are family
I got all my sisters with me
We are family
Get up everybody and sing

Everyone can see we're together
As we walk on by
And, and we fly just like birds of a feather
I won't tell no lie
All, all of the people around us they say
Can they be that close
Just let me state for the record
We're giving love in a family dose

Living life is fun and we've just begun
To get our share of this world's delights
High, high hopes we have for the future
And our goal's in sight
We, no we don't get depressed
Here's what we call our golden rule
Have faith in you and the things you do
You won't go wrong, oh-no
This is our family Jewel

We are family
I got all my sisters with me
We are family
Get up everybody and sing
We are family


   The comments on this video indicate that Joni is on the left in Green in this video.