Patti LaBelle

Patricia Louise Holt (born May 24, 1944 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), better known professionally as Patti LaBelle, is a highly revered, Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, author, businesswoman and actress. LaBelle has fronted two moderately successful groups, Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles and LaBelle, before rising to superstardom as a solo artist in the late 1970s. She is best known for her strong soprano vocals and her signature high-octave vocal belting. LaBelle has been largely compared to Aretha Franklin during the 1970s, but her distinguishing vocal range remains unique and recognizable, and she is widely regarded as one of the greatest vocalists of all-time by such industry publications and media outlets as Jet Magazine, BET and VH1. LaBelle has recorded 16 solo studio albums since her solo debut in 1977. LaBelle has also reportedly sold more than 50 million albums. Her biography, Don't Block the Blessings, remained at the top of the New York Times best seller list for several weeks. In addition, she is also a bestselling cookbook author - on Twitter as @LaBelleFoods. She has received recognition of her works in music, being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Apollo Hall of Fame, the Songwriters' Hall of Fame as well as the World Music Awards presenting her with the prestigious Legend Award. In 2012 and 2013, LaBelle embarked on the 50th Anniversary Tour, celebrating her years in the music business. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.