Sister Sledge singer Joni dies at 60

Joni Sledge, the singer best-known for the disco anthem 
We Are Family, has died aged 60.

Sledge, who formed Sister Sledge with her three siblings
 in 1971, was found unresponsive by a friend at her home 
in Phoenix, Arizona, her publicist said.

She had not been ill and the cause of death is unknown.

Sledge, who is survived by her adult son, last performed 
with the band in October.

Her death was announced on social media on Saturday
 - a week before the group were due to perform in Los Angeles.

"Yesterday, numbness fell upon our family," a statement released on Facebook read.

"We are saddened to inform you that our dear sister, mother,
aunt, niece and cousin, Joni passed away yesterday."

It added: "We miss her and hurt for her presence, her
 radiance, and the sincerity with which she loved and embraced life."

Aside from the Grammy-nominated We Are Family, the hit which sold more than a million copies after it was released
 in 1978, the group were also known for He's the Greatest Dancer, Lost in Music and a cover of the Motown classic My Guy.

They sang We Are Family for Pope Francis in 2015.

The Sledge sisters came from a family of performers, including an actress mother, a Broadway star for a father
 and an opera singer for a grandmother.

However, the four have not stayed together throughout 
their careers. Instead, the band became a trio after
 sister Kathy left the band in 1989.