LaBelle

In 1992, Patti received her first Grammy award for her album "Burnin." She also is the author of three books, one including her autobiography and two cookbooks. 1998's "Live: One Night Only" earned Patti her second Grammy award. Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000. In 1986, her album "The Winner In You" went platinum. The film Why Do Fools Fall in Love is a fictionalized version of his story, told from the point of view of three of his ex-wives jousting over royalties from the title song, which was released in a cover version by Diana Ross in the 1980s and became a hit all over again. She made her way to the top of the charts with the hits "New Attitude" which was featured on the soundtrack to Beverly Hills Cop, the love ballad "If Only You Knew" and a duet with Michael McDonald "On My Own". Lymon died of a drug overdose in 1968. During the 1980s and 1990s, Patti LaBelle proved herself to be a legend in the making. Federal Court ruled that Herman Santiago, an original member of the group, was the author of the song.

When the group split up in 1976, Hendryx and LaBelle managed successful solo careers, while Sarah Dash released several failed albums and ending up working as a backup singer for bands like the Rolling Stones. In December 1992, the U.S. LaBelle never regained their former momentum after Nightbirds and "Lady Marmalade", in spite of several hits and some critically acclaimed albums like Phoenix (1975) and Chameleon (1976). Lymon was credited as songwriter on "Why Do Fools Fall in Love", but his authorship was disputed. The success of the single also pushed the album to the top of the charts. Neither Lymon's solo career nor the group's attempts to carry on were successful. "Lady Marmalade", a sexy, funky disco song (with an come-hither French chorus, "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?") about a New Orleans prostitute became a massive hit in 1975 and one of the first mainstream disco hits (Jones and Kantonen, 1999). After several hits, Lymon's manager attempted to turn him into a solo artist, leaving his old friends in the group behind.

After Pressure Cooker, LaBelle signed with Epic Records and recorded an album, Nightbirds, with Allen Toussaint, a famous record producer. A Top 40 success at age 13, Lymon was perhaps the first black teen idol. After the albums flopped, Hendryx wrote most of their third album, Pressure Cooking (1973), released on RCA Records. The group released their debut single, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love", to considerable success. LaBelle released LaBelle in 1971 on Warner Brothers Records; it included covers of the Rolling Stones, Kenny Rogers, Carole King and Laura Nyro, while the following album, Moonshadow (1972) included covers of Cat Stevens and the Who, as well as an increasing amount of Hendryx material. Frankie Lymon (September 30, 1942 - February 27, 1968) was the leader of a doo wop group called The Teenagers. LaBelle opened for the Who and assisted with Laura Nyro's Gonna Take a Miracle in 1971.

She changed the name to LaBelle and pushed the group to a more contemporary sound, incorporated glam influences, particularly in the spectacular spacey stage costumes that included large amounts of glitter, feathers and other acoutrements. Three years later, the group lost their contract and hired Vicki Wickham, a British TV producer, to remake their image. In 1967, the group became a trio after Cindy Birdsong left to join the Supremes, replacing Florence Ballard. The BlueBelles signed with Atlantic Records in 1965, releasing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "Groovy Kind of Love" (later a hit for the Mindbenders and Phil Collins) with only mild success.

The song was a hit, as was their 1963 follow-up, "Down the Aisle", and "You'll Never Walk Alone" (1964; Rodgers & Hammerstein) and "Danny Boy" (a traditional Irish folk song). Some controversy exists over if the group actually performed on the track; some believe that the song was performed entirely or partially by the Starlets. The first single was "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman" (released as the Blue-Belles). Patricia Holt then changed her name to Patricia LaBelle to match the group's official name, the BlueBelles.

In 1962, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash joined after leaving a group called the Del Capris. Patricia Louise Holt (soon to be known as Patti LaBelle) and Cindy Birdsong first formed a group called the Ordettes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Nona Hendryx, Sarah Dash and Cindy Birdsong rounded out the group, with Hendryx especially notable as a prolific songwriter. The group was led by Patti LaBelle (born May 24, 1944), who later had a successful solo career.

LaBelle was an American disco group, melding dance music with funk and glam rock, resulting in such memorable songs as "Lady Marmalade". ISBN 1556524110. Chicago, Illinois: A Cappella Books. Jones, Alan and Kantonen, Jussi (1999) Saturday Night Forever: The Story of Disco.