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So Labelle is not an alias for Patti Labelle? And Labelle is also not a alias for "Patti Labelle and the Bluebells"?
Patti Labelle and the Bluebelles and Labelle are groups - that I think can be aligned under one name. Patti Labelle is a solo artist.
Here is the history:
--Patti Labelle & the Bluebelles formed in 1962 from 4 women: Patti Labelle, Cindy Birdsong, Nona Hendryx, and Sarah Dash. Patti Labelle was the lead singer, most certainly - but Nona wrote songs
--in 1967, Cindy Birdsong left to replace Florence Ballard in the Supremes, leaving Patti Labelle & The Bluebelles as a trio.
--by 1970, the group, having not had much recent success, renamed themselves Labelle and changed musical directions, although keeping the same three original members. At this point though, Nona Hendryx began writing many more of the songs. Although Patti continued to be lead vocalist, all three often had their turns at the mike. The group was known for its harmonies, not just Patti.
--by 1977, the trio disbanded, each member embarking on a solo career. Of the three members, Patti's career has been most successful, but all three members have continued to have solo careers - I've input works for Nona Hendryx and for Sarah Dash individually.
I believe that it would be accurate to link the Bluebelles era with the Labelle era - despite musical differences and name differences, it is essentially the same group minus one member.
But it is inaccurate to link Patti's solo career with the group. Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash were certainly "members of" Labelle - but they are not members of Patti Labelle.
Much the same way that we list Debbie Harry as an individual artist and not as an alias for Blondie - or that we separate Diana Ross from Diana Ross & The Supremes, I think they should be separated.
I suppose the question would then be: which of the two group names should take precedence? they were Bluebelles longer and first...but by far their biggest hit (Lady Marmalade) and more records total came while they were Labelle - and that is the most recent memory...I guess I would go with Labelle, but there is a case to be made for both directions...
Can you tell I've studied/been a fan of this group for a couple decades? :-)
So I suppose the follwing makes no sense now:
Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles
Joint performances of The Bluebelles, Labelle
Instead "Patty Labelle and the Bluebells" should be an alias of "Labelle", right?
yes, that's probably what i would do. really was the same group with one person subtracted for 'labelle'.