Patti LaBelle
2023 Women’s History Month
Patti LaBelle, Godmother of Soul, is a Philly born and raised R&B singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman.
LaBelle is known as her dramatic soprano, recognized for her vocal power, range, and emotive delivery.
She began her career in the early 1960s as lead singer and frontwoman of the vocal group Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles.
LaBelle began a successful solo career, starting with her critically acclaimed debut album, which included the career-defining song “You Are My Friend.”
In 1984, she became a mainstream solo star following the success of the singles “If Only You Knew,” “Love, Need and Want You,” “New Attitude,” and “Stir It Up.”
In 1986, LaBelle scored a number-one album, “Winner in You,” and its number-one duet single, “On My Own,” with Michael McDonald.
In 1989, “Be Yourself” spawned the standard “If You Asked Me To.”
In 1992, LaBelle won a Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for her 1991 album “Burnin.”
That same year, LaBelle starred in her TV sitcom “Out All Night.” Ten years later, LaBelle hosted her lifestyle TV show, “Living It Up with Patti LaBelle,” on TV One.
LaBelle earned a second Grammy win for the live album Live! One Night Only.
LaBelle has also experienced success as an actress with a role in the Oscar-nominated film “A Soldier’s Story” and TV shows such as “A Different World” and “American Horror Story: Freak Show.”
In 2015, LaBelle took part in the dance competition Dancing with the Stars at 70. In addition, LaBelle released her signature “Patti’s Sweet Potato Pie.”
The pie sold millions when a YouTube video praising the product went viral. As a result, over 72 hours, Walmart sold one pie every second.
She has sold more than 50 million records worldwide in a career that has spanned seven decades.
LaBelle was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame, and the Apollo Theater Hall of Fame. LaBelle was included in Rolling Stone on their list of 100 Greatest Singers.