Patricia Louise Holte (born May 24, 1944), best known by her stage name of
Patti LaBelle, is an American
R&B and
soul singer-songwriter and
actress. She fronted two groups, Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles, which received minor success on the pop charts in the 1960s, and
Labelle, which received acclaim and a mainstream breakthrough in 1974 with their song "
Lady Marmalade". She went on to have a solo recording career, earning another U.S. #1 single in 1986 with "
On My Own," a duet with
Michael McDonald.
She is renowned for her passionate stage performances, wide vocal range and distinctive high-octave belting. Her biography,
Don't Block the Blessings, remained at the top of the
The New York Times best-seller list for several weeks.
