The Musical Beauty of Patti Labelle

Patti Labelle is one of the cornerstones of American R&B music. Hailing from West-Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, Labelle’s ticket to fame is not just her voice alone but also her soulful songs which she writes herself.

Prior to making a career for herself as a solo artist, she used to be the main vocals behind these groups—Labelle and Patti Labelle and the Bluebelles. Patti Labelle’s ticket is her strong stage presence brought about by her powerful vocals and her distinctive way of high-octave belting.

Aside from conquering the music world, Patti has another ticket under her belt. She also wrote a cookbook which remains bestselling up to this day.

Patti Labelle was a shy girl who used to sing in church when she 14 years old. A teacher who happened to take note of her winning ticket to music advised her to front a singing group. Eventually Patty heeded the advice and went on to form her first group named the Ordettes. The group succeeded and brought their ticket in rendering songs to local nightclubs and other public places under the management of Bernard Montague.

It was after two years that the group decided to ticket into the world of album recording. It was then that the girls tried auditioning under Blue Note Records. The president initially wouldn’t want to give the group a chance since he heard that Patti fronts them and the latter was not really a typical beauty as singers of that time were stereotyped to be. However, the president’s mind changed upon hearing Patti sing. The group was immediately signed up but with two important conditions.

The first was that the Ordettes’ group name would be changed to Bluebelles and Patsy Holte (which was Patti Labelle’s original name) and the second was that Holte will be changed to Labelle which is a French word meaning “beautiful”. Thus the name “Patti Labelle” came to be.

However, the group finally signed under Atlantic Records in 1966. IT was also during this move that Patti got her ticket for her signature song—“Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Her songs over the years still remained with a touch of gospel and she also became well-known for her dramatic climaxes as she throws off the mic stand upon belting the last few high notes.

Up until recent times, Labelle’s extraordinary ticket into the world of R&B music remains recognized. In 2007, she was paid tribute by the World Music Awards.