Artist bio: Patti LaBelle

Birth name: Patricia Holte.
Born: May 24, 1944 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Patti, whose nickname was 'Patsy' before she became famous, grew up as one of four sisters in a two-parent household in Philadelphia. She first began singing in church as a girl and when she was in her mid-teens, she helped form a four-member girl group called the Ordettes. The Ordettes were first signed to a label deal in 1961, and at the same time, the group's name was changed to the Bluebelles. Two years later, it was modified to Patti LaBelle and Her Bluebelles.

The Bluebelles had a string of minor hits in the early 1960s, In 1965, the group's name was shortened to simply Labelle, which is the French word for beautiful. Labelle - which featured singers Nona Hendrix and Sarah Dash along with Patti - was a popular act from the late 1960s to mid-1970s and is best known for the 1974 song "Lady Marmalade." Due to various internal conflicts, the group broke up in early 1977 and Patti released her self-titled debut solo album the same year.

It wasn't until her sixth solo album in 1983 that Patti's solo career really took off. This was the start of a string of hit songs her her, including "If You Only Knew," "Love, Need and Want You" and "New Attitude." In 1991, she won her first Gammy - Best R&B Female Vocal Performance - for her album Burnin'. She also branched out into acting in the late 1980s and early 1990s and was featured on two NBC sitcoms, "A Different World" (as Dwayne Wayne's mother) and "Out All Night."

The year 2000 was one of big chane for Patti; she began divorce proceedings with her husband Armstead, who had been her manager for 30 years. She also left her longtime label, MCA, but continued to released albums throughout the decade. In 2008 she, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash reformed Labelle and released the group's first album in 32 years, Back to Now. As of 2011, Patti still records music and occasionally performs live.

2007: Miss Patti's Christmas.
2006: The Gospel According to Patti LaBelle (Gospel music)
2005: Classic Moments
2004: Timeless Journey
2000: When a Woman Loves
1997: Flame
1994: Gems
1991: Burnin'
1989: Be Yourself
1986: Winner in You
1985: Patti
1983: I'm in Love Again
1981: The Spirit's in It
1980: Released
1979: It's Alright with Me
1978: Tasty
1977: Patti LaBelle