Patti LaBelle

In the South, there were some black hotels, you know, that we would find, but we were not allowed to dwell in those, the white hotels. So we spent a lot of time in the station wagon and we realized that for us, that was all there was. And so you take it or you leave it. You fight it or you settle. So we had to settle because we couldn't change the laws.

In the South, there were some black hotels, you know, that we would find, but we were not allowed to dwell in those, the white hotels. So we spent a lot of time in the station wagon and we realized that for us, that was all there was. And so you take it or you leave it. You fight it or you settle. So we had to settle because we couldn't change the laws.

And it didn't take anything away from us as far as our performance. We still worked. But you really have to know that there was a big, big, big difference in white acts and black acts. And what it did for us was just grew us up.

And it didn't take anything away from us as far as our performance. We still worked. But you really have to know that there was a big, big, big difference in white acts and black acts. And what it did for us was just grew us up.

It did. Really quickly. It grew us up. So when we did our thing, we did it with knowing that there was going to be a lot of rejection. And you live with it or you fight it. It made us stronger. That's what I'm saying. Every lesson wasn't a negative ending. Yes. Every lesson that we dealt with grew us up. Yeah.

It did. Really quickly. It grew us up. So when we did our thing, we did it with knowing that there was going to be a lot of rejection. And you live with it or you fight it. It made us stronger. That's what I'm saying. Every lesson wasn't a negative ending. Yes. Every lesson that we dealt with grew us up. Yeah.

You know, so the way you're treated is the way you're going to live with and the way you're going to expect. And then when it changes, that's like a big old rose. Oh, it wasn't so bad that night. But, you know, that wasn't often. So we did that and we did it knowing what we're going to go into. Yeah. We knew it wasn't going to be great all the time.

You know, so the way you're treated is the way you're going to live with and the way you're going to expect. And then when it changes, that's like a big old rose. Oh, it wasn't so bad that night. But, you know, that wasn't often. So we did that and we did it knowing what we're going to go into. Yeah. We knew it wasn't going to be great all the time.

We created this love for each other, I mean, that we weren't going to get from most people traveling. So we just grew to hold on to each other and to make each other laugh and play jokes on each other and Just have fun.

We created this love for each other, I mean, that we weren't going to get from most people traveling. So we just grew to hold on to each other and to make each other laugh and play jokes on each other and Just have fun.

You know, because what we had to do to get there wasn't always great.

You know, because what we had to do to get there wasn't always great.

Of course, I share with all of them what we went through at the beginning of our careers, LaBelle, Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles, the things that we went through in the South, the things that we took for granted would come for us and it never did.

Of course, I share with all of them what we went through at the beginning of our careers, LaBelle, Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles, the things that we went through in the South, the things that we took for granted would come for us and it never did.

But you tell all these, like I talk to them, Fantasia, Jennifer, Mariah, like you said, all my little girls, and they will call me every now and then for information, for just some kind of, something that I've gone through that they might be going through. Interesting. And so I'm like a godmother. Yeah. Godmother. Yeah.

But you tell all these, like I talk to them, Fantasia, Jennifer, Mariah, like you said, all my little girls, and they will call me every now and then for information, for just some kind of, something that I've gone through that they might be going through. Interesting. And so I'm like a godmother. Yeah. Godmother. Yeah.

And Elton John, yeah. It's Luther was our first fan club president, but he would come to the Apollo Theater with clothes for us. So I said, oh, who is this man with all these gowns? He had like four gowns. They were pink and gray, beautiful gowns. And so, of course, he had all of our sizes and everything. And so I said, well, what else do you do other than bring clothes? He said, I sing.

And Elton John, yeah. It's Luther was our first fan club president, but he would come to the Apollo Theater with clothes for us. So I said, oh, who is this man with all these gowns? He had like four gowns. They were pink and gray, beautiful gowns. And so, of course, he had all of our sizes and everything. And so I said, well, what else do you do other than bring clothes? He said, I sing.

I said, oh, really? And so I said, sing. And he sang. I said, honey, you shouldn't be peddling these clothes. You should have a microphone. and go out and make yourself a living with your voice. And then we became good friends, and he became our first fan club president.

I said, oh, really? And so I said, sing. And he sang. I said, honey, you shouldn't be peddling these clothes. You should have a microphone. and go out and make yourself a living with your voice. And then we became good friends, and he became our first fan club president.