Patti LaBelle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Patti LaBelle
LaBelle in 2004
Background information
Birth name	Patricia Louise Holte
Born	(1944-05-24) May 24, 1944 (age 81) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres	R&B soul pop gospel
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter actress
Years active	1960–present
Labels	Epic Philadelphia Int'l MCA Def Soul Classics Umbrella Bungalo Resolution

Patricia Louise Holte (born May 24, 1944), known professionally as Patti LaBelle, is an American R&B singer and actress. She is often called the "Godmother of Soul".

Patti LaBelle started her career in the early 1960s. She was the lead singer of the group Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. In the 1970s, the group changed its name to Labelle. They released the famous number-one song "Lady Marmalade" before breaking up in 1976.

In 1977, LaBelle began her solo career. Her first album, Patti LaBelle, included the popular song "You Are My Friend". She became a big solo star in 1984 with hits like "If Only You Knew", "New Attitude", and "Stir It Up". In 1986, her album Winner in You reached number one. It featured the duet "On My Own" with Michael McDonald.

Patti LaBelle won her first Grammy Award in 1992 for her album Burnin'. She won a second Grammy for her live album Live! One Night Only. Her albums Burnin', Gems (1994), and Flame (1997) kept her popular with young R&B fans. She later reunited with her Labelle bandmates for the album Back to Now.

Besides music, LaBelle has also acted in movies like A Soldier's Story and TV shows such as A Different World and American Horror Story: Freak Show. In 1992, she starred in her own TV show Out All Night. She also hosted a lifestyle show called Living It Up with Patti LaBelle. In 2015, at age 70, she competed on Dancing with the Stars.

LaBelle has also found success with her own brand of bedding, cookbooks, and food products. In 2015, her Patti's Sweet Potato Pie became super popular. A YouTube video praising the pie went viral, and Walmart sold millions of pies very quickly.

Throughout her long career, Patti LaBelle has sold over 50 million records worldwide. She has been honored with inductions into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the Apollo Theater Hall Of Fame. Rolling Stone magazine listed her as one of the 100 Greatest Singers. She is known for her powerful voice and emotional performances.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles

Patricia Louise Holte was born in Eastwick, Southwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 24, 1944. She was one of five children. Her father worked on the railroad and performed in clubs, and her mother was a domestic worker. Patti later wrote in her book, Don't Block the Blessings, that her parents had a challenging marriage.

She started singing in her church choir at age ten and performed her first solo at twelve. As she grew up, she also enjoyed listening to R&B and jazz music.

When she was 16, LaBelle won a talent show at her high school, John Bartram High School. This led her to form her first singing group, the Ordettes, in 1960. The group became popular locally. In 1962, new members Cindy Birdsong, Sarah Dash, and Nona Hendryx joined. They auditioned for record label owner Harold Robinson, who signed them after hearing LaBelle sing. Robinson gave Holte the name "LaBelle," which means "the beautiful" in French.

In 1963, the group, now called "Patti LaBelle and The Blue Belles," had their first hit song, "Down the Aisle". This song became a top 40 hit on both pop and R&B charts. They also had success with their versions of "You'll Never Walk Alone" in 1964 and "Danny Boy".

In 1965, the group signed with Atlantic Records. They released several singles, including "All or Nothing" and "Take Me for a Little While". In 1967, Cindy Birdsong left to join The Supremes. By 1970, the group was no longer with Atlantic Records.

In 1970, Vicki Wickham, a TV show producer from the UK, became their manager. She suggested the group change their name to simply Labelle and update their style. They aimed for a more natural look and a sound that mixed soul music with new ideas. In 1971, Labelle opened for the famous rock band the Who on some of their U.S. tour dates.

Labelle Group Success

LaBelle (center) with her Labelle bandmates Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash in a 1974 promotional photo

Labelle signed with Warner Bros. Records and released their first album in 1971. The album had a new sound, blending rock, funk, soul, and gospel. In 1972, they released Moon Shadow, which continued this new sound. In 1973, inspired by glam rock stars, their manager Vicki Wickham had the group wear shiny space suits and bright makeup.

After their third album didn't have a big hit, Labelle signed with Epic Records in 1974. They released their most successful album, Nightbirds. This album mixed soul, funk, glam, and rock music. The song "Lady Marmalade" became their biggest hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and selling over a million copies. The Nightbirds album also sold over a million copies and was later added to the Grammy Hall of Fame. In October 1974, Labelle made history as the first rock and roll vocal group to perform at the Metropolitan Opera House.

Labelle released two more albums, Phoenix in 1975 and Chameleon in 1976. While critics liked these albums, their songs didn't become big pop hits. By 1976, Patti, Nona, and Sarah started having disagreements about the group's music style. After a difficult show in December 1976, Patti suggested the group take a break.

Solo Career Highlights

Early Solo Success (1977–1984)

Patti LaBelle signed a solo contract with Epic Records in 1977. She released her first solo album that year. It included the popular ballad "You Are My Friend", which became a favorite at her live shows. She released three more albums with Epic until 1980.

After four albums with Epic, LaBelle signed with Philadelphia International Records. In 1982, she sang a duet with Grover Washington called "The Best Is Yet to Come". This song earned her first Grammy Award nomination. She also starred in the Broadway musical Your Arms Too Short to Box with God.

In 1983, LaBelle released her breakthrough album I'm in Love Again. This album featured her first top ten R&B songs, "Love, Need and Want You" and "If Only You Knew". "If Only You Knew" became her first number-one song as a solo artist in early 1984. Later that year, she had another hit with Bobby Womack called "Love Has Finally Come at Last". She also made her movie debut in A Soldier's Story.

Becoming a Crossover Star (1984–2009)

LaBelle promoting AIDS awareness in the 1980s

In 1984, LaBelle recorded "New Attitude" and "Stir It Up" for the movie Beverly Hills Cop. "New Attitude" became her first big crossover solo hit, reaching number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. It became one of her most famous songs. "Stir It Up" was also very popular.

In 1985, LaBelle performed on the TV special Motown Returns to Apollo and at the huge benefit concert Live Aid. These performances made her a pop star. She then signed with MCA Records.

In 1986, LaBelle released her best-selling solo album, Winner in You, which reached number one on the pop charts. The album included the international number-one hit "On My Own" and the ballad "Oh People". While Winner in You was her biggest solo success, she continued to release popular music. Her 1989 album Be Yourself featured the hit ballad "If You Asked Me To".

In 1991, she recorded a hit duet version of "Superwoman" with Gladys Knight and Dionne Warwick. That same year, LaBelle released the solo album Burnin'. This album featured collaborations with many artists and a reunion with her Labelle bandmates. Burnin' sold very well and led to LaBelle winning her first Grammy Award in 1992.

LaBelle's 1994 album, Gems, also sold well and included the hit "The Right Kinda Lover". On January 29, 1995, LaBelle performed at the Super Bowl XXIX halftime show. She released the album Flame in 1997, which included the dance hit "When You Talk About Love". LaBelle also released her best-selling book, Don't Block the Blessings, in 1996, and her first cookbook in 1997. In 1998, her live album Live! One Night Only earned her a second Grammy win in 1999.

In 2000, LaBelle released her last album with MCA, When a Woman Loves. She then signed with Def Soul Classics and released Timeless Journey in 2004. She also headlined VH1 Divas for the first time. In 2006, she released her first gospel album, The Gospel According to Patti LaBelle, which reached number one on Billboard's gospel chart. In 2008, LaBelle briefly reunited with Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash as Labelle for their album Back to Now.

Recent Career (2010–Present)

LaBelle singing at an Obama presidential campaign event in 2008

On September 14, 2010, LaBelle returned to Broadway to star in the musical Fela!. She played Fela's mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti. On May 23, 2011, LaBelle appeared on "Oprah's Farewell Spectacular" for The Oprah Winfrey Show, singing "Over the Rainbow" with Josh Groban. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards on June 26, 2011.

LaBelle and Aretha Franklin performed at the "Women of Soul: In Performance at the White House" concert hosted by President Barack Obama in 2014. In 2014, she also appeared in a guest role on the TV series American Horror Story: Freak Show.

In 2015, LaBelle competed on the 20th season of Dancing with the Stars. She finished in eighth place. She continues to tour the United States. In 2015, LaBelle made a guest appearance on Fox's TV series Empire. She also served as a "key advisor" for Christina Aguilera on the tenth season of The Voice.

LaBelle sings in 2024

She returned to the VH1 Divas stage in 2016 for a holiday concert. Her first jazz album, Bel Hommage, was released in 2017. In 2018, she began appearing in TV series like Daytime Divas, Greenleaf, and Star.

On July 2, 2019, LaBelle was honored in Philadelphia with her own street name, Patti LaBelle Way. In November 2019, she was revealed to be "Flower" on The Masked Singer. LaBelle continued her acting career with roles on The Neighborhood and The Wonder Years. In September 2020, LaBelle participated in the online music battle series Verzuz with her friend Gladys Knight.

In 2024, celebrating her 80th birthday, LaBelle announced a new album, 8065, to celebrate her 80 years of life and 65 years in music. She also announced a tour with the same name.

Helping Others

Patti LaBelle has supported many charities and foundations. She believes in promoting education, healthcare, housing, jobs, and equal rights for everyone. She has served on national boards and is a strong supporter of health causes, including diabetes, AIDS, Alzheimer's, and cancer.

In 1987, LaBelle became a spokesperson for the 'National Minority AIDS Council'. She encouraged people of color to seek treatment for AIDS. She has used her influence to raise awareness about the AIDS crisis and to support the LGBT community. She has performed at many pride events.

Personal Life

LaBelle left John Bartram High School a semester before graduating in 1962. Later, in her mid-thirties, she went back to school and earned her diploma.

Around 1966, LaBelle was engaged to Otis Williams, a member of The Temptations. The engagement ended because LaBelle worried he would make her move and stop her music career.

On July 23, 1969, LaBelle married her longtime friend, Armstead Edwards, who was a schoolteacher. After LaBelle started her solo career, Edwards became her manager until 2000. They separated that year and divorced in 2003. They have a son, Zuri Kye Edwards (born July 17, 1973), who is now her manager. Patti LaBelle is a grandmother to two girls and one boy through Zuri.

LaBelle's mother, Bertha, passed away from diabetes in 1978. Her father, Henry Holte Jr., passed away in 1989.

Sadly, all three of LaBelle's sisters passed away at a young age. Her eldest sister, Vivian, died of lung cancer in 1975. Seven years later, her sister Barbara passed away from colon cancer. In 1989, her youngest sister, Jacqueline "Jackie," passed away from brain cancer. Patti dedicated her 1991 album Burnin' and her performance of "Wind Beneath My Wings" to Jackie.

LaBelle has said that because her family members passed away young, she worried she wouldn't live to be 50. However, once she reached that age, she felt her life was just beginning. A year later, she was diagnosed with diabetes and became a spokesperson for organizations fighting the disease.

She has homes in Wynnewood, Los Angeles, and the Bahamas.

Pop Culture Influence

Patti LaBelle is seen as a major influence in pop culture. She has been called "the greatest gay icon of all time." In an interview, she said that her gay fans have been a big reason she is still performing today. The New York Times called LaBelle one of "America's Most Beloved Divas."

LaBelle is a main character in the popular online parody show Got 2B Real. In the 2010s, a video of her singing "This Christmas" in 1996 went viral during the holidays. People loved her reactions to technical problems during the performance.

In late 2015, James Wright, a video blogger, spoke excitedly on YouTube about her brand of sweet potato pies. The video quickly went viral, and for a time, Walmart sold one pie every second, selling out across the country. She has appeared in Walmart commercials and an Old Spice commercial.

Discography

Studio albums

• Patti LaBelle (1977)
• Tasty (1978)
• It's Alright with Me (1979)
• Released (1980)
• The Spirit's in It (1981)
• I'm in Love Again (1983)
• Patti (1985)
• Winner in You (1986)
• Be Yourself (1989)
• This Christmas (1990)
• Burnin' (1991)
• Gems (1994)
• Flame (1997)
• When a Woman Loves (2000)
• Timeless Journey (2004)
• Classic Moments (2005)
• The Gospel According to Patti LaBelle (2006)
• Miss Patti's Christmas (2007)
• Bel Hommage (2017)
• 8065 (scheduled for 2024)

Filmography

Film

Television

Documentary

Awards and Nominations

Honorary Doctorates

• Berklee College of Music (1996)
• Temple University (2010)

Emmy Awards

Grammy Awards

Image Awards

Lifetime Achievement Awards

Other Awards

See also

In Spanish: Patti LaBelle para niños

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart