Patti LaBelle Biography

Grammy award-winning soul diva Patti LaBelle has had a storied career spanning over 50 years. A music industry legend, Patti LaBelle has sold over 50 million records worldwide, and has been graced with awards and recognition ranging from induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Apollo Hall of Fame, and the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, to name a few. Career highlights include “Lady Marmalade,” “New Attitude,” and “On My Own” with Michael McDonald.

Beginning her tenure in the music business fronting the girl group Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles (later changing their name to Labelle), they released the single “I Sold My Heart to the Junkman” in 1962, followed by renditions of “Danny Boy” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” But it was the chart-topping “Lady Marmalade,” released in 1973, which garnered the group the most recognition.

Patti LaBelle’s solo career began with her debut album in 1977 and continued into the decades following, with releases such as Tasty, It’s Alright With Me, Released, and The Spirit’s In It, and singles such as “Joy To Have Your Love,” “Dan Swit Me” “You Are My Friend,” and “The Best Is Yet To Come” in 1982, earning LaBelle her first Top 20 R&B hit along with her first Grammy nomination.

During this time Patti LaBelle also performed in such productions as the Broadway revival of Your Arms Too Short to Box with God with Al Green and the PBS-produced play Working. Patti LaBelle’s next album, I’m In Love Again, produced hits “If Only You Knew” and “Love, Need and Want You,” and also had success with Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack hits “New Attitude” and “Stir It Up.” 1986’s “On My Own,” Pattie LaBelle’s smash hit duet with Michael McDonald, took its album Winner In You to No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Winner In You went platinum, becoming Patti LaBelle’s best selling album.

Patti LaBelle followed Winner In You with Be Yourself, featuring “If You Asked Me To,” the theme song for the James Bond film License to Kill. 1991’s release Burnin’ earned Patti LaBelle her first Grammy for Best Female R&B Performance. Follow-up albums included Gems, Flame, One Night Only!, which earned her a second Grammy, When A Woman Loves, Timeless Journey, Classic Moments, and later, her first gospel album, The Gospel According to Patti LaBelle, which peaked at No. 1 on Billboard’s gospel album chart. Miss Patti’s Christmas was released in 2007, and Back to Now was released with her group Labelle – their first new release in over thirty years – in 2008.

Patti LaBelle has focused in recent years on performing on Broadway and appearing on television – her song “Get With the Program” served as the theme song for the Oprah Winfrey Show for a time, and LaBelle appeared on Oprah’s Farewell Spectacular, Part 1, as well as an appearance on Bravo’s Top Chef –  and writing her autobiography, Don’t Block the Blessings, five cookbooks, and the book Patti’s Pearls.

Today, Patti LaBelle continues to perform and record. After completing an extensive 2015 tour, LaBelle appeared in competition on the television reality show, Dancing with the Stars. Two years later, in 2017, she released her latest studio album, Bel Hommage. Thus far in her career, Patti LaBelle Has sold more than fifty million records and been recognized with inductions into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame and the Grammy Hall of Fame. Rolling Stone lists LaBelle on its tally of the 100 Greatest Singers in music history.