Patti LaBelle

Artist Image: Patti LaBelle
Attribution
Image Credit: Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA (Patti Labelle in red from Fords Theater Washington D.C.), CC BY-SA 2.0

Biography

Patricia Louise Holte-Edwards (born May 24, 1944), better known under the stage name Patti LaBelle, is a Grammy Award-winning American singer, author, and actress who has spent over 50 years in the music industry. LaBelle spent 16 years as lead singer of Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles, who changed their name to Labelle in the early 1970s and released the iconic disco song "Lady Marmalade". LaBelle started her solo career shortly after the group disbanded in 1977 and crossed over to pop music with "On My Own", "If Only You Knew", "If You Asked Me To", "Stir It Up", and "New Attitude". She has also recorded R&B ballads such as "You Are My Friend" and "Love, Need and Want You". LaBelle possessed the vocal range of a soprano. She has received recognition of her works, being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Apollo Hall of Fame, the Songwriters' Hall of Fame as well as the World Music Awards presenting her with the prestigious Legend Award. LaBelle has sold over 50 million records worldwide.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1944
Number of Albums 37
Record Label
Website pattilabelle.com
Wikipedia Patti LaBelle on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Genres

Soul

Trivia

When was Patricia Louise Holte born?

Philadelphia, PA

...Born Patricia Louise Holte on October 4, 1944, in Philadelphia, PA ; daughter of Henry Holte; married Armstead Edwards, 1969 (separated 2000); children...
Who was Patti LaBelle's father?

Henry Holte

...cia Louise Holte on October 4, 1944, in Philadelphia, PA; daughter of Henry Holte ; married Armstead Edwards, 1969 (separated 2000); children: Stanley,...
What was LaBelle's biggest hit?

Lady Marmalade

... gospel to leading the wild funk group, LaBelle, whose biggest hit, Lady Marmalade , is told from the point of view of a prostitute. She even pursued a...
What was LaBelle's mother's name?

Patricia Louise Holte

...established herself as one of the great American pop divas. Born Patricia Louise Holte , LaBelle grew up singing in the Beulah Baptist Church Choir of ...
In what part of Philadelphia did she grow up singing?

southwest

...e Holte, LaBelle grew up singing in the Beulah Baptist Church Choir of southwest Philadelphia, a city that remained her home throughout the years of h...
How long were the singers together when they recorded their first song?

about a year

...Belle, in conjunction with her group's new name. The four singers were together only about a year when they got the chance to record their first song....
What was the group's new name?

BlueBelles

...ned, Nona Hen dryx and Sarah Dash, the quartet renamed themselves the BlueBelles . Patti took on her own stage name, LaBelle, in conjunction with her g...
Patti LaBelle has enjoyed one of the longest careers in what genre of music?

contemporary

..., R&B legend Patti LaBelle has enjoyed one of the longest careers in contemporary music. The singer began a solo career in 1977 that has been highligh...
When did Patti laBelle begin her solo career?

1977

...longest careers in contemporary music. The singer began a solo career in 1977 that has been highlighted by 13 Top Ten R&B singles, including the chart...
How many Top Ten hits has Patti been featured in?

13

...usic. The singer began a solo career in 1977 that has been highlighted by 13 Top Ten R&B singles, including the charttopping quiet storm classic If On...
When was the charttopping quiet storm classic If Only You Knew released?

1983

...ingles, including the charttopping quiet storm classic If Only You Knew ( 1983 ) and crossover hits such as New Attitude (1985) and On My Own (1986). Al...
What crossover hit was released in 1985?

New Attitude

...iet storm classic If Only You Knew (1983) and crossover hits such as New Attitude (1985) and On My Own (1986). Although she's known more for her singl...
What two albums have won Grammy Awards in the R&B field?

Burnin' (1991) and Live! One Night Only (1998)

...r her albums, two of her later fulllength projects, Burnin' (1991) and Live! One Night Only (1998) have won Grammy Awards in the R&B field. LaBelle si...
What is the name of LaBelle's 2006 album?

The Gospel According to Patti LaBelle

...en has recorded albums rooted in gospel and jazz, namely The Gospel According to Patti LaBelle (2006) and Bel Hommage (2017), while remaining active a...
Which two albums are rooted in gospel and jazz?

The Gospel According to Patti LaBelle (2006) and Bel Hommage (2017),

...albums rooted in gospel and jazz, namely The Gospel According to Patti LaBelle (2006) and Bel Hommage (2017), while remaining active as a performer an...
In what year did Patti join forces with Cindy Birdsong to form a group?

1960

...24, 1944, Patti LaBelle grew up singing in a local Baptist choir, and in 1960 teamed with friend Cindy Birdsong to form a group called the Ordettes. A...
What was the group renamed after Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash?

Blue Belles

...s of vocalists Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash, the group was renamed the Blue Belles . The remaining trio toured the socalled Chitlin' Circuit for the rem...
Who renamed the group LaBelle?

Vicki Wickham

...r the remainder of the decade before signing on with British manager Vicki Wickham in 1970. Wickham renamed the group simply LaBelle and pushed their ...
When did Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles begin?

early 1960s

...Patti began her career in the early 1960s as lead singer of the band Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. A decade later the group changed their name to ...
What was Patti's first band name?

Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles

...n her career in the early 1960s as lead singer of the band Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles . A decade later the group changed their name to Labelle an...
When did she become a solo artist?

1976

... and recorded the hit song Lady Marmalade. Patti became a solo artist in 1976 and her debut album was another success. During five decades she has sol...
What is the honorary degree that she received from Berkeley School of Music?

Doctor of Music

... of 30 years separating. February 2000 Received an honorary degree ( Doctor of Music ) from Berkeley School of Music. She and her husband had one biolog...
How long was LaBelle's career?

more than five decades

...In a career spanning more than five decades , she wrote highly influential music that had a distinctive blend of soul, pop, soft rock, funk, and R&B. O...
Who is often referred to as the Godmother of Soul and the Queen of Rock n Soul?

LaBelle

...ften referred to as the Godmother of Soul and the Queen of Rock n Soul, LaBelle rose to prominence as the lead vocalist of Patti LaBelle and the Blueb...
How many records has LaBelle sold?

more than 50 million

...chael McDonald, Mary J. Blige, and Aretha Franklin. She has sold more than 50 million records across the globe. Born Patricia Louise HolteEdwards into...
In what year was Patricia Louise HolteEdwards born?

1944

...uise HolteEdwards into a musical family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1944 , her father was a railroad worker and lounge singer. Although a shy chil...
What occupation did La Belle's father work for?

railroad worker

...ical family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1944, her father was a railroad worker and lounge singer. Although a shy child, LaBelle showed incredible...
At what age did LaBelle join the church choir?

ten

... showed incredible singing talent, joining the church choir at the age of ten . Her parents divorced when she was twelve. She grew up listening to gosp...
In what year did Patti LaBelle form the Blue Belles?

1962

...es and doowop music. Career and Musical Achievements: Inspired by the early 1960s girl group phenomenon, Patti LaBelle formed the Blue Belles in 1962 ....
What was LaBelle's careerdefining song?

You Are My Friend

...lly acclaimed debut album, which included the careerdefining song, You Are My Friend . LaBelle became a mainstream solo star in 1984 following the succ...
In what year did LaBelle become a mainstream solo star?

1984

...fining song, You Are My Friend. LaBelle became a mainstream solo star in 1984 following the success of the singles, If Only You Knew, New Attitude and...
Which two singles were popular with pop audiences and became radio staples?

If Only You Knew, New Attitude and Stir It Up

...o star in 1984 following the success of the singles, If Only You Knew, New Attitude and Stir It Up , with the latter two crossing over to pop audiences...
What was LaBelle's number one album?

Winner in You

...n two years later, in 1986, LaBelle scored with the numberone album, Winner in You and the numberone duet single, On My Own, with Michael McDonald. La...
What was the number one duet single with Michael McDonald?

On My Own

...with the numberone album, Winner in You and the numberone duet single, On My Own , with Michael McDonald. LaBelle won a 1992 Grammy for Best Female R&B...
In what year did she win a Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance?

1992

...e numberone duet single, On My Own, with Michael McDonald. LaBelle won a 1992 Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for her 1991 album, Burnin'...
How many solo albums did she release in the new millennium?

two

... with young R&B audiences throughout the decade. Following the release of two mildly received solo albums in the early new millennium, she reunited wi...
What was the name of the album that she reunited with her labelmates for?

Back to Now

... albums in the early new millennium, she reunited with her Labelle bandmates for the album, Back to Now , followed by a well received promotional tour....
When did Patti LaBelle begin her career as a part of the Ordettes?

1959

...t Love and New Attitude. She began her career as part of the Ordettes in 1959 , who became the Bluebelles in 1961. Her success as a solo artist started...
Where did the Bluebelles earn national fame?

The Apollo Theater

...les Going out on the road, the Bluebelles earned national fame at The Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York, where they became Apollo Sweethearts. The gr...
Down the Aisle is also known as what?

The Wedding Song

...e and Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and their ballad Down the Aisle ( The Wedding Song ) became a top 40 hit. Yet nothing compared to their early success....
What was the name of the ballad that became a top 40 hit?

Down the Aisle (The Wedding Song)

...alk Alone and Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and their ballad Down the Aisle (The Wedding Song) became a top 40 hit. Yet nothing compared to their early ...
When did Cindy Birdsong leave the Bluebelles?

1967

...ng) became a top 40 hit. Yet nothing compared to their early success. In 1967 , Cindy Birdsong left the group to join forces with Diana Ross and the Su...
Who joined the Supremes in 1967?

Cindy Birdsong

...a top 40 hit. Yet nothing compared to their early success. In 1967, Cindy Birdsong left the group to join forces with Diana Ross and the Supremes. Mea...
Where was Labelle raised?

West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

...had three sisters and a brother. She was born and raised in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , and she began singing in her church choir at Beulah Bapti...
What church did she sing at the age of 14?

Beulah Baptist Church

...phia, Pennsylvania, and she began singing in her church choir at Beulah Baptist Church at the age of 14. One of her school teachers told Labelle that ...
Who told Labelle she should sing?

One of her school teachers

...n her church choir at Beulah Baptist Church at the age of 14. One of her school teachers told Labelle that she should start a singing group, and she d...
When did Labelle form a fourmember girl group with her friend, Cindy Birdson?

1958

...hers told Labelle that she should start a singing group, and she did. In 1958 , she formed a fourmember girl group with her friend, Cindy Birdson, and ...
Who joined the group in 1959?

Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash

...dy Birdson, and they called themselves the Ordettes. In 1959, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash joined the group after two members left. Two years later the...
What record label did the ordettes audition for?

Blue Note Records

...fter two members left. Two years later the Ordettes auditioned for Blue Note Records . They changed their name to Patti Labelle and the Bluebelles in o...
What did Patti Labelle's name mean in French?

the beautiful one

...s rhythm. Then, Labelle changed her name to Patti Labelle, meaning the beautiful one in French. In 1962, the group had their first Top 40 song with th...
What was the name of the single that the group released in 1962?

I Sold My Heart to the Junkman

...1962, the group had their first Top 40 song with the single I Sold My Heart to the Junkman . They started performing at the Apollo Theatre in New York,...
Where was the Apollo Theatre located?

New York

...ith the single I Sold My Heart to the Junkman. They started performing at the Apollo Theatre in New York , where they captured their audiences' hearts....