May 24 - BlackFacts.com Black History Minute

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Patti LaBelle was born.

She is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman.

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 1970s, they released the iconic disco song "Lady Marmalade".

The band later became the first African-American vocal group to land the cover of Rolling Stone magazine and they became the first pop group to play at the Metropolitan Opera House. LaBelle is referred to as the "Godmother of Soul".

In a career that has spanned over seven different decades, she has sold more than 50 million records worldwide. LaBelle has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the Apollo Theater Hall of Fame.

Her success has extended as an actress with a notable role in the Oscar nominated film, A Soldier's Story, and in TV shows such as A Different World and American Horror Story: Freak Show.

He sang her iconic version of "Over The Rainbow" for President Barack Obama live at the White House in March 2014.

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