Patricia Louise Holt-Edwards (born May 24, 1944) better known under the stage name
Patti LaBelle, is an American singer, author, and actress. LaBelle began her career in the early
1960s as lead singer and front woman of the vocal group,
Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. Following the group's name change to Labelle in the
early 1970s, she released the iconic
disco song "
Lady Marmalade" and the group later became the first
African-American vocal group to land the cover of
Rolling Stone magazine. After the group split in
1976, LaBelle began a successful solo career, starting with her critically acclaimed
debut album, which included the career-defining song, "
You Are My Friend". LaBelle became a mainstream solo star in
1984 following the success of the singles, "
If Only You Knew", "
New Attitude" and "
Stir It Up", with the latter two crossing over to pop audiences becoming radio staples.