Patricia Louise Holte-Edwards, better known under the stage name Patti LaBelle, is an American singer, author, and actress who has spent over 50 years in the music industry. LaBelle spent 16 years as lead singer of Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles, who changed their name to Labelle in the early 1970s and released the iconic disco song "Lady Marmalade". Labelle are also noted for being the first African American group to play at the prestigious Metropolitan Opera House and the first African American vocal group to land the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. Her solo career began shortly after the group disbanded in 1977 with the release of her self-titled and critically acclaimed debut album. In 1982 she achieved her first #1 RnB hit with If Only You Knew, while in 1984 crossed over to pop music with singles such as "New Attitude" and "Stir It Up", both becoming pop radio staples. Her success with the number single "On My Own", a duest with Michael Mcdonald which was taken from her platinum selling album Winner in You as well as 1989's "If You Asked Me To". With the release of her 10th album Burnin' in 1991 Patti Labelle earned her first Grammy. 

May 24th, 1944 in Philadelphia (Age 79) as Patricia Louise Holte-Edwards