Editing Sister Sledge (section)

==Background==
Natives of Philadelphia, the sisters: Debra Edwina "Debbie" Sledge (born 1954), [[Joni Sledge|Joan Elise "Joni" Sledge]] (1956–2017), Kim Sledge (born 1957), and [[Kathy Sledge]] (born 1959) are the daughters of Broadway [[Tap dance|tap dancer]] Edwin Sledge (1923–1996) and actress Florez Sledge (née Williams; 1928–2007) The sisters were given vocal training by their grandmother Viola Williams, a former lyric soprano opera singer and protégée of civil rights leader [[Mary McLeod Bethune]]. Under Viola's guidance, they regularly sang at their family church, Williams Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal, until forming a band and performing at charity and political events throughout Philadelphia, aptly named "Mrs. Williams' Grandchildren". The sisters graduated from [[Olney High School]]: Debbie in 1972, Joni in 1974, Kim in 1975, and Kathy in 1977.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}} By the end of the decade, all four sisters graduated from [[Temple University]] in Philadelphia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Holding |url=http://sistersledge.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927145547/http://sistersledge.com/ |archive-date=27 September 2019 |url-status=dead |website=Sistersledge.com |access-date=September 27, 2019}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=July 2024}}