Sing, Lovely Lady LaBelle

In the early ’60s, a music executive told young Patsy Holte that she was “too plain, too dark and unattractive” to join his label. But after he heard her sing, he renamed her Patti LaBelle (ironically, “the beautiful” in French), and the rest is R&B/Soul history. And a triumph for...

By Raina McLeod

October 8, 2009

Audio By Carbonatix

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In the early ’60s, a music executive told young Patsy Holte that she was “too plain, too dark and unattractive” to join his label. But after he heard her sing, he renamed her Patti LaBelle (ironically, “the beautiful” in French), and the rest is R&B/Soul history. And a triumph for fascinating hair. Because while everyone knows that Miss Patti can sing her ass off, her daring coiffes are just as legendary. She rocked a fortune cookie-esque ’do at a 1985 Live Aid performance, metallic silver hair pieces during her glam rock phase in the ’70s, and these days you can catch her rocking one of a dozen wigs from her eponymous line. Tonight at the Hard Rock Live (One Seminole Way, Hollywood), Miss Patti’s hair will certainly play second fiddle to her amazing pipes as she performs hits like “If Only You Knew,” “On My Own,” and of course “Lady Marmalade.”

You’ll want to be in your seat by 8 p.m. to catch the very first note LaBelle lets out. Tickets start at $50 and are available at the Hard Rock Live box office and ticketmaster.com.
Thu., Oct. 8, 8 p.m., 2009

Raina McLeod

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