Patti Labelle has survived the ages as an artist by constantly changing her style, singing and performing to keep up with the times. In fact she even changed her name from Patricia Holte to Patti Labelle just to get a real shot in show business.

The president of Blue Note Records was about to pass on Patti’s group, the Ordettes, even before hearing them perform because he saw their lack of Eurocentric looks as a problem. After listening to the group sing, especially impressed by Patti’s vice, he signed on the condition that they change their name.

The Ordettes became the Patti Labelle and the Bluebelles. Labelle, the record producer explained the music executive, meant beautiful in French. With that swift change in name, Patti Labelle and her Bluebelles would take the R&B charts by storm, and released their first gold album a few years later in 1966. The single “Lady Marmalade” would become a classic single that would survive the years, as would Patti Labelle.

The group was forced to reinvent themselves after a member of the Bluebelles, Cindy Birdsong, left. The group took the name Labelle and reinvigorated their act with music with hints of gospel, funk, disco, soul, and glam rock. Their stage show became infused with wild hair and tighter costumes and their lyrics became topical, with issue in sexism, racism, and politics entering the fold. The new group, Labelle, took a while to establish themselves but with lyrics coming from group member Nona Hendryx, the edgy trio made themselves known.

Unfortunately, the pressure was too much for Hendryx to bear, and in 1976 she suffered a nervous breakdown, ending the history of the group together. Patti Labelle, armed with her tremendous voice and unworldly range, began a solo career that would last the remaining decades. She even produced her largest hit as a professional musician by herself, Winner in You, in 1986.

The number one album was her last to reach such heights, but she continued on with songs and albums that kept her atop the R&B world. Her concerts and tours have been big tickets sellers for years and her return to the stage in 2008 is sure to create even more buzz. Patti Labelle will tour both with Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash in the reunion of Labelle and by herself. Patti Labelle tickets will be a rare find, but The Seats will have an excellent selection for all the shows at tremendous prices that make them affordable for everyone.