Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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LaBELLE, Patti

(b Patricia Holt, 24 May '44, Philadelphia) Singer with a fine soul voice. Formed quartet Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles from earlier groups, with Nona Hendryx (b 18 Aug. '45), Sarah Dash (b 24 May '42; both from Trenton NJ) and Cindy Birdsong; hits incl. top 20 'I Sold My Heart To The Junkman' '62; became trio when Birdsong left to go to the Supremes; had album Dreamer '67 on Atlantic; managed by Vicki Wickham (who had prod. UK TV show Ready Steady Go on which they appeared), who changed their name to LaBelle, direction to more contemporary rock with Hendryx contributing more original songs. They backed Laura Nyro on Gonna Take A Miracle on Columbia; their own LPs incl. LaBelle and Moonshadow '71--2 on WB, Pressure Cookin' on RCA; Nightbirds '74 went top ten on Epic helped by no. 1 single 'Lady Marmalade'. Phoenix and Chameleon charted '75--6; LaBelle went solo for Patti LaBelle, Tasty, It's All Right With Me and Released on Epic '77--80; switched to Philadelphia International for The Spirit's In It '81; I'm In Love Again '84 was a top 40 LP in USA; Patti '85 on Columbia made no. 72. She was a major contributor to hit Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack '84 incl. dance hits '85 'Stir It Up', 'New Attitude' (latter a two-sided hit with instrumental 'Axel F' by Harold Faltermeyer). Her appearance at Live Aid '85 was a high point of the show; her pilot variety show was broadcast on NBC '85, She made Home Box Office special '86; singles 'On My Own' (duet with ex-Doobie Michael McDonald) and 'Oh People' on MCA charted, as well as LP The Winner In You '86, a no. 1 album at last, followed by Be Yourself '89, Burnin' '91, Live! at the Apollo '92, Gems '94. She also appeared on Frank Sinatra's last album Duets II '94, singing down a digital telephone line, sounding like a spare wheel under those appalling circumstances.