Soul singer Patti LaBelle (1944–) was born Patricia Holt on this day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She began her music journey in the Baptist church choir as a teen, where her voice first lit the room with promise.

“The only people to get even with are those who have helped you,” she once said. With friend Cindy Birdsong, LaBelle formed the Ordettes in 1960. A year later, joined by vocalists Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash, they became Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles, scoring their first hit in 1962 with I Sold My Heart to the Junkman.

She stepped boldly into solo stardom with the 1970s disco anthem Lady Marmalade. Two more unforgettable songs, New Attitude and Stir It Up, followed from the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack, showing the world that Patti was a force of energy and grace.

“Many a false step is made by standing still,” she said, and her life is a testimony to motion, growth, and staying true to her passion.

Diagnosed with diabetes, LaBelle became an advocate for healthy eating and a spokesperson for the American Diabetes Association. She also authored bestsellers like LaBelle Cuisine and Patti’s Pearls, offering soulful wisdom and recipes with equal love.

“Know God, know peace; no God, no peace,” she wrote, embodying a life led by faith, rhythm, and resilience.

Even after decades of performances, she is living proof that passion doesn’t retire. She said, “I still have so much more to do, so many other things to try. I’m always excited about what else there is for me to do.”