MUSIC MAKERS, THE: PATTI LABELLE: GOSPEL INTO SOUL (RADIO)
Summary
One in this series of programs, featuring interviews with musicians and selections from their recorded work. This edition, hosted by actress and comedienne Whoopi Goldberg, profiles the career of soul and gospel queen Patti LaBelle, through interviews with LaBelle, her family, and many of her musical colleagues. The following topics are discussed in interview segments, interspersed with recordings: the way LaBelle's career has followed the tradition of singing legends Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, and Billie Holiday; LaBelle's early years in Philadelphia as a lonely and shy child; her interest in music due to her brother's listening habits; early musical influences and her ability to express herself in the church choir; the way she modeled early songs after choir performances; the showmanship that gospel singers include in their live acts; the choir members who joined her to create a female singing group known as the Blue Belles; pressure from money-hungry record producers to sell their first single; the group's performances at high-profile rhythm and blues revue concerts; the use of personal tragedies in her life to establish a bond with the anonymous faces in the audience; the steady success of the Blue Belles and their evolution into a trio of lead vocalists that featured Sarah Dash and Nona Hendryx; their popularity in Britain due to the fact the underground club circuit embraced black R&B music; and the group's change of name to LaBelle. Discussion of the next phase of Patti LaBelle's career includes the following topics: LaBelle's help in shaping the future of black female soul groups; the height of the group's popularity following a hit single and legendary live performances; their acceptance of the gay community when others did not; their 1974 appearance at New York's Metropolitan Opera House, making them the first black group to ever perform there; attempts to bridge gaps between gay and straight, and black and white communities; the breakup of the group, despite their successful run on the music charts; her decision to start a solo singing career; the commercial failure of LaBelle's first couple of solo albums; her appearance on Broadway and her live performances; and the continuing struggle for equal treatment of women in the music business, regardless of race. Musical selections include the following: "From a Distance"; "Somebody Loves You Baby"; "My Funny Valentine" by Gloria Lynne; "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman"; "The Wind Beneath My Wings"; "Down the Aisle"; "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"; "Danny Boy"; "Wild Horses"; "Moonshadow"; "Lady Marmalade"; "Isn't It a Shame"; "You Are My Friend"; "The Best Is Yet to Come"; and "On My Own" with Michael McDonald. No commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: Syndicated
- DATE: November 30, 1995
- RUNNING TIME: 1:57:13
- COLOR/B&W: N/A
- CATALOG ID: R:15627
- GENRE: Radio - Music; Radio - Talk/Interviews
- SUBJECT HEADING: Blacks - Music; Gospel music; Music, popular (songs, etc.); African-American Collection - Music
- SERIES RUN: Syndicated - Radio series, 1996
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Steve Rowland … Producer
- Larry Abrams … Co-Producer, Writer
- Cornel West … Announcer
- Whoopi Goldberg … Host
- Billie Holiday
- Patti LaBelle
- Gloria Lynne
- Michael McDonald
- Ma Rainey