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Labelle

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For other uses, seeLabelle (disambiguation).

Labelle
Labelle in 1975. L-R: Nona Hendryx, Patti LaBelle, Sarah Dash.
Labelle in 1975. L-R:Nona Hendryx,Patti LaBelle,Sarah Dash.
Background information
Also known asThe Ordettes
Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles
Patti LaBelle and Her Blue Belles
OriginPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres
Years active
  • 1971–1976
  • 2005–2009
Labels
Past members

Labellewas an Americanfunk rockband that originated out ofthe Blue Belles,agirl groupwho were a popularvocal groupof the 1960s and 1970s. The original group was formed after the disbanding of two rival girl groups in the area aroundPhiladelphia,inPennsylvania,andTrenton,inNew Jersey:the Ordettesandthe Del-Capris,forming as a new version of the former group, then later changing their name tothe Blue Belles(and furtherBluebelles). The founding members werePatti LaBelle(born Patricia Louise Holt),Cindy Birdsong,Nona Hendryx,andSarah Dash.

As theBluebelles,and laterPatti LaBelle and the Bluebelles,the group found success with ballads in thedoo-wopgenre: "Down the Aisle (The Wedding Song)","You'll Never Walk Alone",and"Over the Rainbow".After Birdsong departed to joinThe Supremesin 1967, the band, following the advice ofVicki Wickham,changed its look, musical direction, and style to re-form as theprogressive soulgroupLabellein 1971. Their recordings of that period became cult favorites for dealing with subjects not typically addressed by female black groups. Finally, after adaptingglam rockand wearing outlandish space-age and glam costumes, the band found success with the proto-discosmash hit "Lady Marmalade"in 1974, leading to the albumNightbirdsachievinggold success.They were the first contemporary pop group and first black pop band to perform at theMetropolitan Opera House.They were also the first black vocal group to appear on the cover ofRolling Stonemagazine.

Each of the band members later went on to begin solo careers after the end of a tour in 1976, going on to have significant solo success. Nona Hendryx followed an idiosyncratic muse into a solo career that often bordered on the avant-garde;[3]but reaching a new audience with the respected 2017 release "Shine", by Soul Clap, which was a widely played in clubs in the UK, US clubs and Ibiza while being picked and released by the famous record labelDefected Records.[4]Sarah Dash became a celebratedsession singer;and Patti LaBelle enjoyed a very successfulGrammy-winning career, with several top-20R&Bhits between 1982 and 1997, a number-onepophit with "On My Own",and lifetime-achievement awards from theApollo Theatre,World Music Awards,andBETAwards.

The group reunited for their first new album in 32 years,Back to Nowin 2008. They performed together regularly until the death of Dash on September 20, 2021, at the age of 76.[5]

History

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Origins

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In 1960, a sixteen-year-old teenager, Patricia "Patsy" Holte won her first talent contest in aPhiladelphiahigh school. Following this, she sought to form her own singing group the following year called the Ordettes.[6]Holte formed the group with singers Jean Brown, Yvonne Hogen and Johnnie Dawson. The group gained a local following. Dawson was eventually replaced bySundray Tucker.By 1961, Jean Brown and Yvonne Hogan had ditched the group to get married and Patti and Sundray carried on as soloists.

Later in 1961, Patti and Sundray's manager Bernard Montague contacted two singers from theTrenton, New Jerseysinging group the Del-Capris, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash.[6]Eventually Hendryx and Dash became official replacements for Brown and Hogan as the Ordettes. The group soon began working with musician Morris Bailey. Bailey and Montague's schedule led to Tucker leaving the group after which another singer,Cindy Birdsong,from Camden New Jersey, joined the group.[6]The grouping of Holte, Dash, Hendryx and Birdsong toured theChitlin' Circuit,gaining a following in the eastern U.S.

In 1962, Chicago-based groupThe Starletshad traveled to Philadelphia to do sessions for producerBobby Martinand record label owner Harold Robinson, president of Newtown Records. One of the sessions included a cover of the standard, "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman".At the time of the song's release, the group had a hit with the song" Better Tell Him No "and were unable to promote the song due to them being signed to another label. The song was credited under the name" The Blue Belles ". The Ordettes auditioned by singing the song. Before hearing the group, Robinson turned them down due to being unimpressed with Patti's looks but upon hearing her singing, he changed his mind and signed the group to Newtown.

When "I Sold My Heart" became popular, Robinson sent the Ordettes to promote it under the assumed name of the Blue Belles. After a televised performance atAmerican Bandstandfeaturing the Ordettes, the Starlets' manager sued Harold Robinson and Bobby Martin. Around the same time, Robinson was also sued for having another group use the name "Blue Belles". Following the aftermath of the ordeals, Robinson gave Patti Holte a new name, "Patti LaBelle", and the group's name was rechristened as Patti LaBelle and The Blue Belles.[6]

Sweethearts of the Apollo

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Following several releases such as "Academy Award" and "Tear After Tear", the group recorded their first national hit under their new name in 1963 with the release of the ballad, "Down the Aisle (The Wedding Song)", first released under Newtown, before it received national distribution fromKing Records.[6]As a result, the record reached the top 40 on both the pop and R&B charts, formally launching the group to national stardom. Frequent performances at theApollo Theaterhelped to give the group the nickname "Sweethearts of the Apollo". Newtown released two albums on the group before Harold Robinson sold Newtown in 1963.Cameo-Parkwaysoon signed them and re-released the Newtown single, "You'll Never Walk Alone",at the end of the year.[6]The record became another top-40 hit for the group in 1964 and became one of Patti LaBelle's first signature performances. They later recorded another charted hit with "Danny Boy".[6]In 1965, the group opened forthe Rolling Stonesduring a lengthy American tour. Shortly afterwards,Atlantic Recordssigned the act to the label, in hopes of bringing the group mainstream success. Their first Atlantic single, "All or Nothing", briefly made a dent on the pop charts in 1966. They had a notable entry as background singers ofWilson Pickett's first major hit, "634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.)".In 1966, Atlantic released the group's first studio album,Over the Rainbow,which included "All or Nothing" and the title track, later to be a standard for Patti.

Around this time, the group also began touring Europe, mainly in the UK, where they performed on the show,Ready, Steady, Go.[6]During club performances, the group was backed up musically by a pub band calledBluesology,whose pianist was a teenager namedReg Dwight,later known as Elton John. Following the UK tour, the group kept in touch with one of the show's producers,Vicki Wickham.[6]In early 1967, the group had another charted single with the song "Take Me for a Little While" and released their second Atlantic album,Dreamer.Around this time,Aretha Franklinhad signed with Atlantic Records, leading Atlantic to focus its efforts on her rather than on the Blue Belles. That same year, Cindy Birdsong abruptly left the group to joinThe Supremes,replacing original memberFlorence Ballard.[6]After completing a tour where Sundray Tucker briefly rejoined the group to fill in for Birdsong, the remaining members carried on as a trio.[6]

As grittier soul and heavy rock dominated much of Atlantic's time, the group was let go from their contract in 1970. Bernard Montague, who was managing groups such asThe Delfonics,also left them, leaving them seeking new managers. After nearly signing a contract with Herb Hamlett andFrankie Crocker,they eventually picked Vicki Wickham to work with them.[6]Wickham later creditedDusty Springfieldwith convincing her to hire the group to perform onReady, Steady, Goin London.

Reinvention

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Wickham advised the group to move to London and change their entire image and sound,[7]much to the chagrin of Patti LaBelle, who feared the group would alienate their older fans with a new laid back "earthier" look. Wickham also advised them to change their name to simply "Labelle".[6]Ditching the wigs and dresses, Labelle settled on Afros and jeans. They debuted this new look while backingThe Whoduring a stop in New York.[6]Following this, Labelle signed a contract with Track Records, The Who's label, which received distribution fromWarner Bros. Records.In 1971, the group released their first album, simply titledLabelle,quickly following it up with the 1972 albumMoon Shadow.The albums featured the group bringing in gospel soul renditions ofrockhits such as "Wild Horses"and"Won't Get Fooled Again".While not commercially successful, the albums were critically acclaimed and established the act as a progressive soul unit, recording more daring material such as" Morning Much Better "and" Touch Me All Over ".

In 1971, Labelle were invited to record backing vocals to a covers album being recorded byLaura Nyro.[6]The resulting album,Gonna Take a Miracle,led to the group reaching the charts for the first time[6]and establishing a rapport with Nyro, who later invited them to perform with her atCarnegie Hall.In 1973, they recorded an album forRCA RecordstitledPressure Cookin',featuring a wildly interpretive covers medley of the songs "Something in the Air"and"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised".It was around this time that Labelle changed up their act again. Under the advice of Larry LeGaspi, the group began performing in space suits, feathers, and studded costumes.

Success

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In 1974, Wickham had the group signed toEpic Recordswhere they recorded their breakthrough album,Nightbirds,in New Orleans with producerAllen Toussaint.[6]While Hendryx eventually wrote the majority of the album, Epic released theKenny NolanandBob Crewecomposition "Lady Marmalade"as a single in August 1974.[6]The song's rock-soul mixture helped the song to sell to listeners and by March 1975, the song had become the group's first number-one single, reaching the top of both theBillboard Hot 100and the R&B singles chart.[6]It also became an international hit.[6]The album also included the follow-up hit "What Can I Do for You?".

Nightbirdseventually sold more than one million copies and was certified gold. During the album's promotion, the group became the first rock group to perform at theMetropolitan Opera House.Wickham billed the October 6, 1974 performance "Wear Something Silver", to adapt to Labelle's own silver-colored space outfits, worn by Patti LaBelle. Building on their success, in the spring of 1975, Labelle became the first African-American vocal group to make the cover ofRolling Stone.Later in 1975, the group released a critically acclaimed follow-up,Phoenix.[6]That same year, the group contributed background vocals to several songs on Elton John's hit album,Rock of the Westies.In 1976, they released their third album for Epic,Chameleon,[6]which included the tracks "Get You Somebody New", "Isn't It a Shame" and "Who's Watching the Watcher".

Breakup

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Despite critical acclaim for their follow-ups to theNightbirdsalbum,PhoenixandChameleonfailed to repeat the success ofNightbirdsas the group struggled to have another hit.[6]By 1976, tensions had developed within the group, with the act's three members splintered on its sound and direction.[6]Patti LaBelle had wanted the group to record more soul, Nona Hendryx wanted the group to go further into funk rock, and Sarah Dash wanted to record songs in a more disco direction.

During a show inBaltimoreon December 3, 1976, Hendryx wandered off the stage and into the audience at the beginning of "(Can I Speak To You Before You Go To) Hollywood". Labelle's stage manager was able to steer Hendryx backstage, but Hendryx locked herself in her dressing room and beat her head against the wall until it began to bleed severely. She was removed from the theater in restraints.[8]

After the incident, LaBelle advised the group to disband, fearing for the other members' well-being and that the mounting tension could also put an end to their friendship. Hendryx and Dash agreed and the trio formally announced their split at the end of 1976 after fourteen years together.[6]

Solo careers and reunions

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Following her departure from the Blue Belles, Cindy Birdsong enjoyed success as member ofThe Supremes,singing on hits such as "Up the Ladder to the Roof","Stoned Love","Nathan Jones"and"Floy Joy".Birdsong left the group in 1972 to start a family, returned in 1973, then left again in 1976, and thereafter only recorded sporadically as a solo artist in the 80s, briefly joining TheFormer Ladies of the Supremesalongside former Supremes membersJean TerrellandScherrie Payne.

The Labelle song "(Can I Speak to You Before You Go To) Hollywood", fromPressure Cookin',was allegedly written by Hendryx as a response to Birdsong's departure, featuring each member of the group singing verses. Sarah Dash found some solo success after signing withDon Kirshner's label, with the disco single "Sinner Man". Dash eventually sang backup for the Rolling Stones and sang forKeith Richards' spinoff groupX-pensive Winos.The more experimental Nona Hendryx has recorded in various genres includinghard rock,hip-hop,houseandnew age,and charting with the singles, "Keep It Confidential" and "Why Should I Cry?" Patti LaBelle became an international solo superstar following Labelle's breakup, recording crossover hits such as "New Attitude","Stir It Up"and"On My Own",resulting in Grammy wins and a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame.

In 1991, Patti LaBelle reunited with Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash on the track, "Release Yourself", from LaBelle's Grammy-winning album,Burnin.[9]The trio reunited onstage at the Apollo Theater in 1991 to perform the song on LaBelle's second concert performance video while promoting the release ofBurnin'.In addition to "Release Yourself", Hendryx and LaBelle composed the gospel-flavored ballad "When You've Been Blessed (Feels Like Heaven)".In 1995, the trio reunited again for the dance single,"Turn it Out",for the soundtrack to the film,To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar.The song became their first charted hit in nineteen years peaking at number-one on the Billboard dance singles chart. Four years later, the original Blue Belles (includingCindy Birdsong) reunited to receive an award from the R&B Foundation for Lifetime Achievement. In 2006, the trio of LaBelle, Dash and Hendrix briefly came together to record a Hendryx-written track called "Dear Rosa" for the soundtrack to a film calledPreaching to the Choir.[10]In 2008, Labelle announced their reunion and released their first studio album in 32 years, the critically acclaimedBack to Now.

That year, the trio went back on tour together which carried through the spring of 2009.[11]In an interview with theToronto Star,[10]Patti LaBelle explained why she, Dash and Hendryx waited over 32 years to record a full-length album: "You don't want to half-step something this important....it was about finding the right time and place. We were never ones to do anything on anyone else's time anyway; we were always unconventional. I still have my glitter boots to prove it."

The group performed a triumphant show at the Apollo Theatre in New York City on December 19, 2008.[12][13]They continued to perform with each other sporadically; Dash sang with Patti LaBelle at a LaBelle concert two days before her death on September 20, 2021.[14]

Legacy and influence

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Years after their breakup in 1976, Labelle's influence has been reflected by groups such asEn Vogue,Destiny's ChildandThe Pussycat Dolls,who recorded the Labelle hit, "Far As We Felt Like Goin'" from thePhoenixalbum. Their biggest hit, "Lady Marmalade" continues to be covered, with its successful covers being renditions byAll Saintsand theGrammy-winning number-one hit collaboration between singersChristina Aguilera,PinkandMýaand rapperLil' Kimin 2001 (recorded for theMoulin Rouge!soundtrack.) The song was also covered by Madchester-era indie group The Happy Mondays, who spliced it with "Kinky Afro". The group's 1960s hit, "You'll Never Walk Alone", was covered bySam Harris(who also covered their rendition of "Over the Rainbow" ),[15][16]and sampled byKanye Westin an early version of his song, "Homecoming" (which sampled the group's "walk on" intro) while their 1970s hit, "Isn't It a Shame" was sampled byNellyon his song, "My Place".Their 1973 song," Goin' On a Holiday ", was also sampled in several hip-hop songs (sampling the group's vocal bridge," goin', goin', goin', goin'...on... ").

The group has been called pioneers of thediscomovement for the proto-disco singles "Lady Marmalade"and" Messin' With My Mind ". In turn," Lady Marmalade "has been also called one of the first mainstream disco hits (Jones and Kantonen, 1999). In 2003," Lady Marmalade "was inducted to theGrammy Hall of Fame.In 2009, their songs "It Took a Long Time" and "System" were featured inLee Daniels' filmPrecious.

Lineups

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  • 1Holte changed her name toPatti LaBellein 1962 after Harold Robinson was sued by a manager of a group, also called the Blue Belles, therefore becomingPatti LaBelle and Her Blue Belles.

Discography

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Main article:Labelle discography

As The Blue Belles (aka Patti La Belle and Her Blue Belles; Patti LaBelle and The Bluebelles):

  • You'll Never Walk Alone/Decatur Street7 "single (Parkway Records P-896, 1962)
  • Tear After Tear/Go On (This is Goodbye)7 "single (Newtown Records NT-5007, 1962)
  • Danny Boy/I Believe7 "single (Parkway Records P-935, 1962)
  • Decatur Street/Academy Award7 "single (Newtown Records NT-5019, 1963)
  • Sweethearts of the Apollo(Newtown Records, 1963)
  • Sleigh Bells, Jingle Bells and Blue Belles(Newtown, 1963)
  • On Stage(Cameo-Parkway, 1964)
  • Over the Rainbow(Atlantic, 1966)
  • Dreamer(Atlantic, 1967)

As Labelle:

With Laura Nyro

See also

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References

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  1. ^Huey, Steve."Labelle Biography".AllMusic.RetrievedAugust 12,2023.
  2. ^Armonaitis, Dan (October 5, 2016)."Patti LaBelle to perform Saturday at Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium".GoUpstate.RetrievedAugust 12,2023.The group morphed into the eponymously-named LaBelle in 1971, reinventing itself as a progressive soul unit and eventually helping push funk and disco into the mainstream with "Lady Marmalade."
  3. ^"Labelle | View the Music Artists Biography Online | VH1.com".Archived fromthe originalon April 13, 2010.RetrievedDecember 12,2018.
  4. ^"Soul Clap Feat. Nona Hendryx – Shine (This Is It)",Discogs.
  5. ^Pareles, Jon (September 21, 2021)."Sarah Dash, the 'Glue' of the Vocal Trio Labelle, Is Dead at 76".The New York Times.RetrievedOctober 31,2021.
  6. ^abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyColin Larkin,ed. (1993).The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music(First ed.).Guinness Publishing.p. 155.ISBN0-85112-733-9.
  7. ^Fitzharris, Dustin (April 21, 2009)."Belles of the Ball".Bay Windows - New England's largest GLBT newspaper.Archived fromthe originalon April 21, 2009.RetrievedOctober 7,2018– via Archive.today.
  8. ^LaBelle, Patti; Lancaster, Laura Randolph.Don't Block the Blessings: Revelations of a Lifetime(Kindle Location 2529). New York: Riverhead Books. Kindle Edition.
  9. ^"Labelle Biography".Rolling Stone.Archived fromthe originalon March 21, 2015.RetrievedSeptember 25,2017.
  10. ^abIannacci, Elio (October 21, 2008)."LaBelle gets back to now with release of new disc".The Star.Toronto.RetrievedMarch 27,2010.
  11. ^Diguglielmo, Joey (October 31, 2008)."Labelle ladies reunite - New CD the 'Lady Marmalade' group's first since '76".Washington Blade.Archived fromthe originalon April 21, 2009.RetrievedDecember 12,2018.
  12. ^Als, Hilton (December 22, 2008)."Three Sisters".The New Yorker.RetrievedDecember 22,2008.
  13. ^Pareles, Jon (December 21, 2008)."Lady of the Power Voice Reunited With Her Sisters".The New York Times.RetrievedDecember 22,2008.
  14. ^Mitchell, Gail (September 20, 2021)."Labelle's Sarah Dash Dies at 76".Billboard.RetrievedSeptember 22,2021.
  15. ^"You'Ll Never Walk Alone And Take My Hand, Precious Lord Sung By Sam Harris".YouTube.July 28, 2009. Archived fromthe originalon April 22, 2013.RetrievedJune 4,2014.
  16. ^"Sam Harris-Somewhere Over The Rainbow".YouTube.June 25, 2008.Archivedfrom the original on December 11, 2021.RetrievedJune 4,2014.

Other sources

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  • Jones, Alan and Kantonen, Jussi (1999)Saturday Night Forever: The Story of Disco.Chicago, Illinois: A Cappella Books.ISBN1-55652-411-0.
  • LaBelle, Patti, with Laura B. Randolph (1996).Don't Block the Blessings: Revelations of a Lifetime.New York, NY: Riverhead Books.ISBN1-57322-039-6.
  • VH1.com,"Labelle", by Steve Huey, Allmusic (accessed on June 29, 2008)
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