Throwback: Happy 81st Birthday, Patti LaBelle!

We’ve somehow made it to May y’all. 5 months in to a brutal slog of a calendar year. I’m exhausted and fed up. And I’m sure most of y’all out there feel the same. The terrible thing is that my sense is that things are going to get a lot worse. We’re in hell. 

But there’s music, art, small pleasures, and every day joys. We’ll cling to that as much as possible. 

• The legendary godfather of soul, the Soul Brother #1, James Brown was born 92 years ago on May 3
• Frankie Valli celebrates his 91st birthday on May 3
• The late and supremely great soul artist Sharon Jones was born on this day 69 years ago on May 4
• The legendary jazz bassist Ron Carter celebrated his 88th birthday on May 4
• Motley Crüe co-founder Mick Mars celebrated his 74th birthday on May 4
• Tammy Wynette, one of the most beloved singer/songwriters in country was born 83 years ago on May 5
• Echo & The Bunnymen‘s Ian McCullouch celebrated his 66th birthday on May 5
• The Talking Heads’ and Tom Tom Club’s Chris Frantz celebrates his 74th birthday today.
• Van Halen co-founder, drummer — and most important Eddie’s brother, Alex Van Halen celebrated his 72nd birthday on May 8 
• Earth, Wind and Fire‘s Philip Bailey celebrated his 74th birthday on May 8
• Depeche Mode frontman Dave Gahan celebrated his 63rd birthday on May 9
• U2‘s Bono celebrated his 65th! — yes, 65th!! — birthday on May 10 
• The Afghan Whigs,’ The Gutter Twins‘ and The Twilight Singers‘  
• Greg Dulli, one of the most criminally underrated rock singer/songwriters celebrates his 60th — yes, y’all 60th! — birthday on May 11 
• One of the British Invasion’s most soulful and distinctive vocalists, The Animals and War frontman Eric Burdon celebrated his 84th birthday on May 11
• Burt Bacharach was born 97 years ago on May 12
• Steve Winwood celebrated his 77th birthday on May 12
• The legendary Stevie Wonder celebrated his 75th birthday on May 13 
• EPMD’s PMD celebrated his 56th birthday on May 13
• Jack Bruce, one of the greatest bassists in rock history was born 82 years ago on May 14
• Talking Heads frontman David Byrne celebrated his 73rd birthday on May 14
• Hip hop pioneer Melle Mel celebrated his 64th birthday on May 15
• Nirvana‘s Krist Novoselic celebrated his 60th — yes, 60th! — on May 16
• The iconic and pioneering Janet Jackson celebrated her 59th birthday on May 16
• Taj Mahal, one of the greatest living bluesman and multi-instrumentalist around, celebrated his 82nd birthday on May 17
• Nine Inch Nails creative mastermind Trent Reznor celebrated his 60th birthday on May 17
• DEVO co-founder, frontman and primary songwriter Mark Mothersbaugh celebrated his 75th birthday on May 18
• Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock‘s Rob Base celebrated his 58th birthday on May 18
• The Ramones‘ Joey Ramone was born 74 years ago on May 19
• The incomparable and legendary Grace Jones celebrates her 77th on May 19
• The Who‘s Pete Townshend celebrated his 80th — yes, y’all, 80th! — birthday on May 19
• Busta Rhymes, one of the most inventive, energetic, charismatic and imitable emcees ever celebrates his 53rd birthday on May 20 
• Mobb Deep‘s Havoc celebrated his 52nd birthday on May 21
• The Notorious B.I.G. was born 53 years ago on May 21
• The legendary Ronald Isley celebrated his 84th birthday on May 21
• Sun Ra was born 111 years ago on May 22
• Radiohead’s Philip Selway celebrated his 58th birthday on May 23
• Heavy D was born 58 years ago today
• The iconic and incomparable Bob Dylan celebrates his 84th birthday today

Adding to a rather auspicious day. Patti LaBelle, arguably one of the most unique, powerhouse vocalists to ever do it, celebrates her 81st birthday today. 

LaBelle started her career in the early 60s as the frontwoman of Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. Following the group’s name chance to Labelle in the 70s, they released their #1 hit “Lady Marmalade,” a song that has since been covered a number of times, including famously a version featuring Christina Aguilera, Mya, Pink and Lil’ Kim, which was recorded for the Moulin Rouge soundtrack — and also was a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks. 

After Labelle split up in 1976, LaBelle started a wildly successful and influential solo career with her critically applauded debut album. Since then she’s received 13 Grammynominations with two Grammy Award wins — in 1994 for Best R&B Vocal Performance for Burnin’ and in 1999 for Best Traditional R&B Performance for Live! One Night Only. (Only two Grammys? What the fuck is wrong with these people? Jesus Christ, y’all! How is that possible? Seriously, how?)

Over a more than seven decade career, LaBelle has sold over 50 million records globally. She’s been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame, and the Apollo Theater Hall of Fame. Her influence on pop and R&B is towering — and it shouldn’t be surprising.

Happy birthday, Ms. LaBelle! May there be many, many, many more!