Patti LaBelle is an American singer and actress. She fronted two groups, Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles, which received minor success on the pop charts in the 1960s, and Labelle, which received acclaim and a mainstream breakthrough in 1974 with their song "Lady Marmalade". She went on to have a solo recording career, earning another U.S. #1 single in 1986 with "On My Own", a duet with Michael McDonald. She has sold over 50 million records worldwide.She is renowned for her passionate stage performances, wide vocal range and distinctive high-octave belting. Her biography, Don't Block the Blessings, remained at the top of The New York Times best-seller list for several weeks. LaBelle has been called the Godmother of Soul, the High Priestess of Good Vibrations and the Queen Of Rock & Soul.
(February 2000) Husband and manager of 30 years separating.
Received star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Berkeley School of Music
Has five children; two of whom are adopted and the orphaned children of one of her sisters and her biological son.
Was given the name LaBelle (which in French translates to the beautiful) by a record exec whom originally thought she was too dark and unattractive to head the then all girl group The Blue Belles
Has two fragrances and a line of lipsticks and nail polishes
Owner of Chez LaBelle dinner theater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Known to give her devoted fans one of her fake eyelashes when performing in concert
Often takes off her shoes while performing
Authored Dont Block the Blessings: Revelations of a Lifetime and cookbook LaBelle Cuisine: Recipes to Sing About
Lost all three of her sisters to some form of cancer
Suffers from diabetes
Was once engaged to Otis Williams of the long-time R&B singing group, The Temptations.
Godmother of Cyndi Lauper s son, Declyn (B. Nov 19 1997)
Ranked #41 on VH1s Greatest Women of Rock N Roll
All three of her sisters died of the same form of cancer before their 44th birthdays.
She has 5 children. She has a son named Zuri (b. July 1973). She adopted her sister Jackies son and daughter after she died of cancer. She raised her neighbors two boys, Dodd and Stanley, after her neighbor died of pneumonia, although she and her husband were too old at the time to legally adopt them.
Godmother of Mariah Carey.
Close friend of Luther Vandross.
Was among the guests at Usher Raymond s 26th birthday party.
Oddly enough, when she and Michael McDonald first recorded the Burt Bacharach /Carole Bayer Sager song "On My Own", neither artist had even met. LaBelle recorded her part of the song in Philadelphia while McDonald completed his part in Los Angeles. Even after filming a video for the song, both singers had still not met. Not until after the song went to number one on the charts in June 1986 did the two artists finally meet when they performed
Together
For the first time on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" .
She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
Is a staunch liberal Democrat.
Release of her book, "Dont Block the Blessings: Revelations of a Lifetime" by Patti with Laura B. Randolph.
Release of her book, "LaBelle Cuisine: Recipes to Sing About" by Patti with Laura B. Randolph.
Release of her book, "Pattis Pearls: Lessons in Living Genuinely, Joyfully, Generously" by Patti with Laura Randolph Lancaster.
(November 2008) Release of her book, "Recipes for the Good Life" by Patti with Judith Choate and Karen Hunter.
Release of her book, "Patti LaBelles Lite Cuisine: Over 100 Dishes with To-Die-For Taste Made with To-Live-For Recipes" by Patti with Laura Randolph Lancaster.
Longtime friend of Kenny Gamble , and Leon Huff.
Friends with Sheryl Lee Ralph.
So if diva means giving your best, then yes, I guess I am a diva.
