February 23, 2022
Patti LaBelle recently unleashed her signature blend of soulful R&B, pop and gospel music on NPR's Tiny Desk concert series.
In her first appearance on the show, LaBelle sang four of her most popular songs. She began with the 1986 single "Something Special (Is Gonna Happen Tonight)," which sets the tone for the remainder of her performance. The performance was part of the station's celebration of Black History Month.
LaBelle was born in the Eastwick section of Southwest Philly in 1944, and has a music career that spans six decades. She has had a significant influence on music and culture, which she is now more than cognizant of. But she dismisses the "diva" label which has often been ascribed to her.
"I'm a round-the-way girl from Philly," LaBelle told the New York Times in 2020. "I'm not a diva."
LaBelle follows her opening performance with "Love, Need and Want You," from her 1983 album, "I'm In Love Again." She is accompanied by a 13-person band and background vocalists on a vibrant set in the corner of a concert hall in Austin, Texas.
Her 1983 song, "If Only You Knew," spent four weeks on the U.S. R&B charts and reached No. 46 on the Billboard Hot 200, marking the performer's first pop hit.
The Philly native ends her "at-home" concert performance with "Lady Marmalade," one of the most popular songs from her group Labelle. In 2001, the song was made popular again through a cover featuring Christina Aguilera, Pink, Lil' Kim, and Mya, which was released alongside the movie "Moulin Rouge."
The Tiny Desk concert was released Wednesday morning, and fans immediately flocked to Twitter to discuss LaBelle's performance.
Good morning and happy patti labelle tiny desk day to all those who celebrate it 🙌🏻
— Erik Reinbergs, PhD (@ereinbergs) February 23, 2022
Patti Labelle's Tiny Desk gave me all the family reunion vibes I needed to start my day. https://t.co/u7KEcLzEm7
— Michael Jones (@bymichaeljones) February 23, 2022
Patti LaBelle on Tiny Desk. No one has ever had the audacity to sing the notes she's singing right now on this show. Phenomenal
— Skip Intro (@kitso_t) February 23, 2022
Other performers in the Tiny Desk Black History Month series include Shirley Caesar, El Debarge, Too $hort, and Catherine Russel.
"For this year's celebration of Black History Month, we delve deeper into the true history of music and culture," said Bobby Carter, a producer at NPR. "Each of our five Tiny Desk home concerts is by an artist who has helped define Black music as we know it today."
Patti LaBelle's full NPR Tiny Desk home concert is available below.
