Patti LaBelle is a legendary American singer, actress and a businesswoman regarded largely as the “Godmother of Soul”. Her long standing career of over five decades has earned her so many accolades and duly deserves the legendary status.
She initially started out as the lead singer of the vocal group “Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles” which was later changed in 1970 and later went solo from 1976.
The subsequent paragraphs has more key facts about Patti LaBelle.
Patti LaBelle Biography
Patricia Louise Holte is a legendary American singer and actress known widely by the stage name Patti LaBelle and is often times referred to as the “Godmother of Soul”. She was born on May 24, 1944 to Bertha and Henry Holte, a railroad worker and club performer.
She started singing right from childhood and joined the Beulah Baptist church choir at the age of ten and by the time she was sixteen, LaBelle had contested and won a talent competition in high school at John Batman High school. This then spurred her on to form a singing group with her mates from school in 1960.
LaBelle was the front woman of the group which gave her a lot of exposure. The group was later signed by Harold Robinson after the owner heard her sing “I Sold My Heart to the Junkman”. She was given the name LaBelle by Robinson which means “the beautiful” in French and the group became known as “Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles”.
She went solo in 1977 after she decided that they go their separate ways after a heated incident in December 1976. LaBelle recorded and released her debut album as a solo artiste in 1976 which had disco hits like “Joy to have your love” and “Dan Swit Me”, etc.
She has since gone on to release over fifteen studio albums which includes Bel Hommage (2017), Miss Patti’s Christmas (2007), Patti (1985), Released (1980), etc.
On June 26, 2011, LaBelle was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards.
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How Old Is Patti LaBelle?
The legendary Patti LaBelle is 78 years old as of 2022. She was born on May 24, 1944 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Patti LaBelle Parents
LaBelle was born to Henry Holte and Bertha Holte. Her father, Henry Holte was a railroad worker and a club performer whereas her mother was a domestic servant.
Her parents however divorced when she was twelve years old and in a memoir, (Don’t Block the Blessings) she wrote later on in her life, she said her parents marriage was an abusive one.
Patti LaBelle Siblings
She is the youngest child of her father’s three children and fourth child of her mothers five children. Unfortunately, all her siblings have died.
Their names are Thomas Hogan Jr (1930 to 2013), Vivian Hogan (1932 to 1975), Barbara (1942 to 1982) and Jacqueline (1945 to 1989)
Patti LaBelle Husband
LaBelle got married to her longtime friend, Armstead Edwards on July 23, 1969. They remained Madrid for over three decades until they divorced in 2003.
Armstead Edwards was her manager from 1977 when she went solo until 2000 after their separation. They had three sons together.
Patti LaBelle Children
The singer had three sons with her ex-husband. Their names are Zuri Kye Edwards, her eldest son who is also her manager, Dodd Stocker-Edwards and Stanley Stocker-Edwards.
How Many Grammy Awards Does Patti LaBelle Have?
LaBelle has received over 10 Grammy nominations throughout her career and has managed to win two plus being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003.
Patti LaBelle Net Worth
The legendary singer has an estimated net worth of about $60 million or more as of 2022. For the kind of career she has had, it’s only normal that she is worth that much.
LaBelle has a beautiful home in Philadelphia plus condos in Los Angeles and in Eleuthera, the Bahamas.
She was honored in Philadelphia, the city in which she was born and still lives on July 2, 2019 with her own street name “Patti LaBelle Way”. The street is between Locust and Spruce Street.