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LaBelle was an American disco group, melding dance music with funk and glam rock, resulting in such memorable songs as " Lady Marmalade ". The group was led by Patti LaBelle, who later had a successful solo career. Nona Hendryx, Sarah Dash and Cindy Birdsong rounded out the group, with Hendryx especially notable as a prolific songwriter.Patricia Louise Holt (soon to be known as Patti LaBelle) and Cindy Birdsong first formed a group called the Ordettes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1962, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash joined after leaving a group called the Del Capris . Patricia Holt then changed her name to Patricia LaBelle to match the group's official name, the BlueBelles. The first single was " I Sold My Heart to the Junkman " (released as the Blue-Belles). Some controversy exists over if the group actually performed on the track; some believe that the song was performed entirely or partially by the Starlets . The song was a hit, as was their 1963 follow-up, "Down the Aisle", and "You'll Never Walk Alone" ( 1964; Rodgers & Hammerstein) and " Danny Boy " (a traditional Irish folk song). The BlueBelles signed with Atlantic Records in 1965, releasing " Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "Groovy Kind of Love" (later a hit for the MindbendersThe Mindbenders (originally Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders was a 1960s British Invasion band founded by Wayne Fontana (born Glyn Ellis 28 October, 1945 in Manchester. Fontana founded the band with Bob Lang, Rick Rothwell, and Eric Stewart in 1963. and Phil CollinsPhilip David Charles Collins (born January 30, 1951), better known as Phil Collins is a British rock/ pop musician, known mainly for singing and playing the drums. He was born in London, England. Collins' ambitions to wield the sticks started early when h) with only mild success.
In 1967Events January January 4 British motorboat racer Donald Campbell dies while attempting a water speed record in Coniston Lake. January 4 Algerian revolutionary Mohammed Khider is shot in Madrid. January 6 Vietnam War: USMC and ARVN troops launch " Operatio, the group became a trio after Cindy Birdsong left to join the SupremesFlorence Ballard, Mary Wilson and Diana Ross The Supremes were a wildly successful Motown all girl singing group that was active from 1959 until 1977. Originally known as The Primettes from 1959 to 1961, and later, from 1967 to 1970, known as Diana Ross &, replacing Florence BallardFlorence Ballard ( June 30, 1943 February 22, 1976) was an American singer from Detroit, Michigan, was the founder and original lead singer of The Primettes, an all-girl singing group spin-off of The Primes (later known as The Temptations). The Primettes. Three years later, the group lost their contract and hired Vicki Wickham , a British TV producer, to remake their image. She changed the name to LaBelle and pushed the group to a more contemporary sound, incorporated glam influences, particularly in the spectacular spacey stage costumes that included large amounts of glitter, feathers and other acoutrements. LaBelle opened for the WhoThe Who is a British rock band. They were noted for the dynamism of their live performances and for their thoughtful music, including Tommy one of the first rock operas. While not a heavy metal band themselves, their distorted guitars, epic songwriting, a and assisted with Laura NyroLaura Nyro (originally Nigro) ( October 18, 1947 April 8, 1997) was an American singer and songwriter born in New York City. She was best known, and had the most commercial success, as a songwriter rather than a performer. Her most well-known songs includ's Gonna Take a Miracle in 19711971 is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). Events January January 1 British divorce Reform Act comes into force January 2 66 die in stairway crush at Rangers v Celtic football match, Glasgow, Scotland. See Ibrox disaster. Janua. LaBelle released LaBelle in 19711971 is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). Events January January 1 British divorce Reform Act comes into force January 2 66 die in stairway crush at Rangers v Celtic football match, Glasgow, Scotland. See Ibrox disaster. Janua on Warner Brothers Records; it included covers of the Rolling Stones, Kenny Rogers, Carole King and Laura Nyro, while the following album, Moonshadow ( 1972) included covers of Cat Stevens and the Who, as well as an increasing amount of Hendryx material. After the albums flopped, Hendryx wrote most of their third album, Pressure Cooking ( 1973), released on RCA Records.
After Pressure Cooker, LaBelle signed with Epic Records and recorded an album, Nightbirds , with Allen Toussaint, a famous record producer. "Lady Marmalade", a sexy, funky disco song (with an come-hither French chorus, " Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?") about a New Orleans prostitute became a massive hit in 1975 and one of the first mainstream disco hits (Jones and Kantonen, 1999). The success of the single also pushed the album to the top of the charts.
LaBelle never regained their former momentum after Nightbirds and "Lady Marmalade", in spite of several hits and some critically acclaimed albums like Phoenix ( 1975) and Chameleon ( 1976). When the group split up in 1976, Hendryx and LaBelle managed successful solo careers, while Sarah Dash released several failed albums and ending up working as a backup singer for bands like the Rolling Stones.
