The Start of Patti LaBelle
Patricia Louise Holt was a reserved girl with the voice of a superstar. In 1958 The Ordettes were started by Patti. She left high school and hopped on tour singing every kind of venue from local nightclubs to truck stops. After two years, the Ordettes auditioned for Blue Note Records. The president of the company agreed to sign them if they changed their name to Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles, which they did. Their first Top 40 pop hit was in 1962, “I Sold My Heart to the Junkman”. All through the 60’s they were one of the hottest touring acts in the eastern and southern United States where it was okay for African-Americans to perform.
more Their other hits in 1964 included “Danny Boy” and “Down the Aisle”. In 1965 Atlantic Records grabbed the group and recorded the signature cover of “Over the Rainbow”. In 1976, Patti went solo after the band had moved to England (known there as simply “LaBelle”) and one of the singers had to leave the group. Since then she has recorded 22 albums with nearly all of them being certified gold. She continues to tour.
less
