On Tuesday, legendary singer Patti Labelle was honored with a street sign in her hometown, Philadelphia.
The brand new Patti Labelle Way is located on the block of Broad Street between Locust and Spruce Street. The Mayor of Philadelphia, Jim Kenney, officiated the ceremony.
Labelle took to the stage and performed the opening verse of her hit song, “Love, Need and Want You.”
She then spoke to the crowd and provided an inspiring message. She stated, “If you have a dream in life, don’t ever think that anything is too big or that you’re not worthy. If you’re living, don’t wake up that day and say nothing happened. Work that day, honey, like it’s the last day of your life. Because you can get it all!”
The music icon began her career in the city with her group, Patti Labelle and the Bluebelles. They would later adopt the name Labelle, and go on to record the timeless hit, “Lady Marmalade.” The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003.
After LaBelle disbanded in 1976, she embarked onto a successful solo career. Peaking in 1984, the singer spawned mainstream hits such as “If Only You Knew” and “New Attitude.”
Labelle has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, has been inducted into the Apollo Theater Hall of Fame, and was included in Rolling Stone’s list of 100 Greatest Singers.
Aside from her prolific singing career, she is known for her roles in popular television shows such as Dwayne Wayne’s mother in “A Different World,” and Dora in “American Horror Story: Freakshow.”
Nia Primus
