LaBelle was born Patricia Louise Holt in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Henry Holte, a railroad worker. The fourth of five children, including three sisters and a brother, LaBelle began singing at the age of 14 in church. A shy girl, LaBelle had a voice of a torch diva. A school teacher advised her to start a singing group.

As Patsy Holte, LaBelle formed a four-member girl Read more...

In 1962, Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles scored their first Top 40 pop hit with the release of the doo-wop single, "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman." That same year, they began wowing audiences at New York's Apollo theater, later giving them the name "The Apollo Sweethearts." Throughout the '60s, Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles were one of the hottest touring acts on the chitlin' circuit while Read more...

In 1970, Patti and the Bluebelles moved to England where they met Janis Joplin's former promoter, Vicki Wickham. When they returned to America the following year, they had shortened their name to Labelle, and with this new name came a new attitude, vocal style, and wardrobe. Wearing casual clothing and African accessories, the repackaged Labelle sang about racism, sexism and politics. Consumers Read more...