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Sledge was found unresponsive at her home in Phoenix on
Friday and the cause of death has not been determined, according
to a statement from the band's publicists.
The Philadelphia-born Joni Sledge, along with her sisters
Debbie, Kim and Kathy, formed the group Sister Sledge in 1971.
Aside from "We Are Family," which reached No. 2 on the Billboard
Hot 100 and became an international hit, the group also was
known for "He's the Greatest Dancer," "Lost in the Music" and a
cover of the Motown classic "My Guy."
Joni Sledge did not normally sing lead in the group, but she did
on one popular song, "Reach Your Peak."
Sister Sledge performed before Pope Francis in 2015 when he
visited Philadelphia.
"Yesterday, numbness fell upon our family," the Sledge Family
said in a statement. "We are saddened to inform you that our
dear sister, mother, aunt, niece and cousin, Joni passed away
yesterday."
(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
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