Labelle

Labelle, Philadelphia-based “girl group” singers of the 1960s. membership: Patti Labelle (born Patricia Louise Holt) (b. Philadelphia, Pa., May 24, 1944); Nona Hendryx (b. Trenton, N.J., Aug. 18, 1945); Sarah Dash (b. Trenton, N.J., Aug. 18, 1943); Cindy Birdsong (b. Camden, N.J., Dec. 15, 1939).

Patti Labelle and the Bluebelles were formed by Labelle and Cindy Birdsong, who had sung previously with the Ordettes, and Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash, who had previously worked with the Del Carpis. They were credited with scoring a major hit in 1962 with “I Sold My Heart to the Junkman/’ although the song was actually recorded by the Starlets. The group had two other minor hits in 1964, then were reduced to a trio in 1967 when Birdsong left to join the Suprêmes. In 1971, as a black female vocal trio comprised of Patti Labelle, Nona Hendryx, and Sarah Dash, they were transformed into Labelle under the auspices of British television producer Vicki Wickham. Probably the first and perhaps the only major black female glitter-rock group, Labelle wore outlandish space-age costumes and projected a blatant, kinky sense of sexuality, developing a cult following among homosexuals. The first rock group to perform at N.Y.’s Metropolitan Opera House (in 1974), Labelle finally broke through in 1975 with the top hit “Lady Marmalade” a sexually charged and controversial single banned by many radio stations. With the group’s breakup in 1977, all three members launched solo careers, with Patti Labelle establishing herself as a powerful vocalist and engaging onstage personality in the 1980s. Among her pop hits of the 1980s were “New Attitude” “Oh, People,” and the top hit duet with Michael McDonald “On My Own.”

Discography

patti labelle and the bluebelles:On Stage (1964); Over the Rainbow (1966); Dreamer (1967); Greatest Hits (1971); Superpak (1976); Very Best (1976); Over the Rainbow: The Atlantic Years (1994); At the Apollo (1995). labelle: L. (1971); Moonshadow (1972); Pressure Cookin’ (1973); Nightbirds (1974); Phoenix (1975); Chameleon (1976). patti labelle:Patti Labelle (1977); Tasty (1978); It’s Alright with Me (1978); Released (1980); Best (1982); The Spirit’s In It (1981); I’m in Love Again (1984); Patti (1985); Winner in You (1986); Be Yourself (1989); Burniti’ (1991); Live! (1992); Gems (1994). nona hendryx:Nona Hendryx (1977); Nona (1983); The Art of Defense (1984); The Heat (1985); Female Trouble (1987); SkinDiver (1989). sarah dash:Sarah Dash (1978); Oo-La-La, Sarah Dash (1980); Close Enough (1981); You’re All I Need (1988).

—Brock Helander