Patti LaBelle Born: The Godmother of Soul

Patti LaBelle evolved from the leader of one of the first girl groups to perform in a dramatic, theatrical style into one of the most acclaimed vocalists in R&B history. Born Patricia Louise Holte on May 24, 1944, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she formed the Ordettes as a teenager, which became the Bluebelles and eventually Labelle. The group initially performed in the doo-wop and girl group traditions of the early 1960s, but their transformation in the early 1970s was radical. Under the influence of television producer Vicki Wickham and designer Larry LeGaspi, they reinvented themselves with silver spacesuits, platform boots, and feathered headdresses, becoming one of the first groups to merge funk, rock, and glam aesthetics. "Lady Marmalade," released in 1975, with its French-language chorus "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?," became one of the defining disco-era singles and the first number-one hit by a Black girl group on the Billboard Hot 100. The group disbanded in 1977, and LaBelle launched a solo career that showcased her extraordinary vocal range. She possesses a four-octave range capable of moving from a whisper to a full-throated belt within a single phrase, a technique that earned her the title "Godmother of Soul." Her live performances became legendary for their emotional intensity. Her solo hits included "New Attitude" and "On My Own," a duet with Michael McDonald. She won two Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Beyond music, she became a bestselling cookbook author and launched a successful line of sauces and desserts. She has performed continuously for over six decades.