The Tragic Real-Life Story Of Patti LaBelle

Patti LaBelle was born Patricia Louise Holt on May 24, 1944, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Henry Holt, a railroad worker and nightclub singer, and Bertha Holt. Despite living in relative economic comfort, LaBelle's life and childhood were far from comfortable. At the age of 12, according to her autobiography, "Don't Block the Blessings,"her parents separated

Patti LaBelle was born Patricia Louise Holt on May 24, 1944, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Henry Holt, a railroad worker and nightclub singer, and Bertha Holt. Despite living in relative economic comfort, LaBelle's life and childhood were far from comfortable. At the age of 12, according to her autobiography, "Don't Block the Blessings," her parents separated after her mother suffered years of abuse. Despite this, LaBelle kept in close contact with her father until his passing.

In a documentary about the singer, LaBelle, who was referred to as "Patsy" growing up, was described as "timid and quiet." LaBelle herself did not expect to be a singer, as she discussed in the documentary: "I thought I was going to be a housewife. I was very shy and introverted, and whatever I had inside did not come out very much then." Following her parents' divorce, LaBelle would have to overcome another emotional scar after she was assaulted by a family friend, an event she would not speak of for a long time.

LaBelle said that her church became both a safe place and somewhere to mature musically. According to Black Past, in high school, LaBelle, her older sister, and three friends formed a singing group, though they broke up after one show because of fighting between the sisters. Throughout high school, LaBelle would continue to sing in a group named the Ordettes.

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