Original Air Date: November 3rd, 2013
Oprah and music icon Patti LaBelle meet at the famed Apollo Theater for a conversation about Patti's extraordinary 50 years in show business. Patti reflects on a lifetime of music memories and what it means to be a living legend. She also reveals how she is combatting her Type 2 diabetes and the hardest life lesson she had to learn.
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This is an unofficial transcript meant for reference. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
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welcome to super soul, conversations the podcast. I believe that
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Can you believe where we are? I mean this is my second home really ass, the apollo theatre,
I'm sixty nine years. Young I've been in show business for fifty years. Five, oh you have five years and business call show. Yes,
I did so many shows here at the apollo. The
I can remember how many and I think that I was there
the team when I started performing at the apollo and all the great memories all of the great bands. Thank god they were because if not, they were boo, you off, and all that crazy stuff.
apollo theatre is an american music landmark,
the long list of legend who first starting out here, I leaped its gerald James brown, smoky robinson, gladys night, stevie, wonder,
I know norwegian, Michael Jackson, and so many more, but every performer,
whose and apollo audience is not afraid to a future star right off. That stage are never got bode here. What are you talking to
men are ever arrowheads. Why would you cause? You were always have the voice? I've been blessed yeah, you know, with
a decent voice and someone with first play the apollo theatre honeycomb, who worked here at the time
came back for our dressing and said you, girls were so great. Would you honor us with the second son?
body, was ever asked to do more than one except like the screams. They were due on two and three temptations, but not hoy, petty labelle, nibbler wells. We said, of course, so our first song was all or nothing and then we added you'll. Never will
alone, sarah, that beautiful I've always known that in between and Cindy
had another in between, and I was all over the place and you know me
it was wonderful where you tagging issues off back then no no known started the regular issues.
Now I was seventeen, then every issue I had. I want to steal my fiebiger somebody might take.
no girl, I never took the pumps of back then back then that happened ten years ago. Maybe it just became like more than ten years ago, because I saw you really yeah margin labor at twenty yeah, maybe twenty cause. I saw you and I remember, seeing you in philadelphia,
nike, maybe eight and you had the shoes off the mike down almost rolling on your on the floor. It was a part of the show.
the last song. Next to the last song, I will kick them off and roll on the floor and throw
mike over and continued
Do it I dunno what made me do it, but when I did, I felt as though I was getting the exercise when I was rolling on the floor and having fun just I used to
lie on the floor upside down, singing lover man, you still doing it. You got that right
like. I said I ve been here from fifty years in this business and
x in our young and there's. No stopping me.
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larry aspired cast, listen to wiser than me out April, eleventh wherever you get your pod cast. Did you ever have that thing, though, that so many lives
gin dairy stars have like when you start approaching fifty year, you start approaching. Sixty did you ever have that fear of aging now had the fear
diabetes manoeuvre. They opposite. You have the fear of dying because my sister's all die before they term forty four, so I the fear of not making not making it.
Fifty wow. I want to do that was a milestone. Patty Labelle was
born patricia. Louise hold in nineteen forty four in philadelphia, the city she still calls home patty grew up with
resistors, who all passed away from different types of cancer before they were forty four years old,
Nineteen, seventy eight her mother Bertha died from complications with diabetes. Patty was diagnosed with
same disease after collapsing on at a concert in nineteen. Ninety four, where we talk about this in one of your twenty two visits, the Oprah show without
jenny toward a full time into wonderful times, but we talked about what.
and you have members of your family who die at a young age that, as you are approaching, that age, you think you're going to be the next one
that same disease, cancer, cancer, last sister jack
he died of cancer, who I adopted her two kids billion stacy and I wouldn't want to perform in the night of her funeral. I did that
to you. If you ask me to, and when you see the tears and my eyes therefrom, I just bury my sister that day
So what you see in a video or tears of jackie, and so I always thought I would die of cancer early, I'm so blessed
have type two diabetes for sixteen years and I am doing well now about
diabetes, I'm doing so much better because before us Adele castille fried chicken and ate it. I now fry four friends
and I watched them, enjoy it. No more potato salad
other pays out within solid was: did we will salad and a salad and all real mayo done finish the aid cheese macaroni with laughter and shrimp finnish? I'm eating no food, I mean
no sugar ray. I'm lost about eight pounds in the last two weeks. So tell me what happened
that you got your ass about a doctor talked to me seriously talked to me like a real girl. Labelle means nothing. If I'm not here, and he said you are one lady thank god. He said who can stay here for a long long time. If you do the right thing, so you think I'm not living my life at like
its platinum now. That's really good! So were you in denial about it, though we had scarcely registers nile, but yes, I've heard people even say. Well, it's just a little sugar,
I think you are having it are you having it can be such a powerful force for other people who not don't recognize, look at me and say: oh patty can do it well. I can do a better, I'm doing it so well now, but it's like I'm not afraid I was afraid to tell Zuri with doktor said to me and he said,
well. I know you're going to tell me the truth. It hurts if you say to your son, that I'm almost not going to make it for some stupid reason that I can control. Oh I'm so good, and so so much better. You know I was as I was preparing to.
You today. As one of the producer said, you know, petty labelle was the original gaga and I'd never thought of it. That way before and near look at this, when you look at
yeah, oh before the madonna's before the gun
look at the large look and look at those bodies, wicked world get girls. Worker girls were, let me say, look at that. Look at the boy. I'm scared me look at the whole dry. Oh my god
you look a known and Sarah look acerra, lay eggs and you know she was the first to where those silver breastplates ziad ash. Before what am I gonna, I'm trying to say somebody better recognised what that feel like when you're in the heat of it I mean win label gusher, Dagmar says sis were became,
I was on everybody's lips in the whole world seem to be singing it, and not even you at the time
You knew where you were singing. We recorded the sum knowing that it was a head, never knowing what bully vocal share for walks as we met. We knew what had
hope and that it would sell a lot of workers honey when they
I was about two months ago. Your record is like a wave later here and it's all about hookers. They do
since a sell themselves on the streets, and we didn't know- and so I said, I'm not taken
That is what you gonna yet and every show
since in over? If we don't saying that song, the people will get angry, but you have so much fun up there on the girl is undoubtedly one. The most people could possibly imagine fun.
As its it's. When you go to pay, the belgian is like seeing you and then the audience is also a part of the performance and you're you're one of them.
celebrities, who always had real affection. You take the flowers of the people, give you actually collect the flowers and take them on the plate in Europe too many for the planet given to them
miss shelters and to our senior within but I'll. Take like about six months is on the point. Do you remember the first time
you saying as a girl when you were miss patsy, Louise holt and I read it was on for mrs chapman and you're all in the choir you acquire where I was afraid to be anything. It was like about twenty choir members I wanted to.
Be hidden in and the mental or on the end. I didn't care, never to sing lead
If you heard my voice, she said patty, no patsy you're going to come out and you're going to sing. I said no, I'm not. She said yes
or so she had assembled, could sing really wishes it. Let's do this, do it with my son, who sounds like luther, and so we
this do it, god specializes and I,
echelon? Is god
fashion as
and he will do- will do
what ever don't get me gospel you one do I don't know. Words are remix all the
god specializes and we had,
the audience and how a lawyer
www halloo year anyway, loved? I love the feed ban, so that's when I first realize I could do seller wow, so I read some place at you call a singing your blood supply that you need to sing,
I have to say I was singing on the way here in the car sons. Come are like. I said I remix all the time because out on the lyrics to sign
so have you been on and forgotten your only what I will say that anyone is saying, and now I love you,
I need you highly yeah, but I know that one, but there are many times when I forget the lyrics and I'm not ashamed to say that you are cause. I forgot that so and I keep going you know, what's fun, I'm human very much so, and I am not going to say that I you don't go to virginia mess up. I messed up.
Why are you still in the audience they're still there, so I got time to make it up good time to regular, yes, yeah, but it's your blood supply it is. It keeps me going music is my life, that's what I do not for living before a life is for my life. I don't sing to make money. I sing because
son. I really love it. I ll sing on the street right down one hundred twenty fifth street for free any time. That's how you know. I often to young people that that tell you know when something is your passion and your purpose when you do it for free, I do at least to do it. Yes, and thank god it can still do it. Yes, I am I'm happy and I'm the last sitting. Does it still feel good to be recognised?
I made sure people notice me when I go out because when they stop notice to you it's over and I have a lot of people to come up to me. Can we take this photo? Can you talk to them?
on the phone I surrounded fungus out. I want no germs baby
hey hello, mother, that that's where you draw the line. Speaking on your instrument, yes, and I don't even have a cell phone, you know I'm not going to talk to somebody else. I read that you don't have a cell phone around tweet twitter, email, facebook look book, none no kind of book; no, nothing! I have a landline phone in my home. You have that number, that's the only phone! I have that's the only phone I want do you feel like you're removed from the world heck. No, you don't! Why should I if my phone rang everyday, like everybody else around me, I will lose my mind.
Well yeah. I don't I don't play that. You don't play that. I mean on play that no, no, no cell phones pay to suggest louis from radioactive live in uncensored. Catch me talking with my friends about my latest obsessions relationship issues and bodily ailments with that kind of drama that seems to follow me. You never know. What's going to happen, you can listen.
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location information centre to change. When you see people really enraptured by your voice. Like your singing, you are my friend and you
That note- and you see the way your voice affects other people. What is that? It's a town,
I would think it would. I am so happy is like it's a turn on its a turn on I mean
I'm seeing someone's expression. Sometimes you're like this, about them either
and then they stand up us all. I got you because your daughter when you came so whenever I can make someone like that, it's a turn on us.
stand the number and, as such, on its my pleasure does, did did see. People react to anything. I say.
Even when I sing softly, they don't expect that
So that's another using softly. Are you always holding yourself back now known? Sometimes you is. I like. I know one somebody is going to be with me. You know. Sometimes I hold back singing with someone else, because I never want to try to upstage anyone. That's not my
in lie for decades ruler, swirled, patty and diana ROS we're in a major feud, especially after
birdsong left the bluebells joined. The Supreme was a famous rift between you and miss ross.
I don't know. Why does that? Because of
and save singing.
Is that a true or whether it is like? We were at the apollo to get ok as item?
in view of what is now, let me tell you the truth and when we finally got back together was at the legends ball,
at your how, in my house
in three years it will be the supreme or fabulous and they are the best and
we were patty labelle and the bluebells, and we were performing here. Onstage,
We were these goal, a beautiful suits and the supreme came all right after us, we had two sons out about three or four
same goal a may. They went to war worth so wherever we wouldn't bother and both the same freakin outfit. So it was always and in another thing
are things that dinah might said about me and she probably didn't. You know how people keep stuff going on, and I said I'm not going to let that be until
one day, something really late or my my heart, and I said maybe she doesn't really like me and I guess we, what years without seeing each other talking on the phone or anything
the reason for that was when I went to your house
and dinah was there for the legends ball. Yes, we said at the luncheon at the same table to his, I said: no,
These years, people starting surround us making me think that the cost.
Tombs and all that so be it. The cindy birdsong so be it, but I never wanted a roof with her because I love her town she's, one of the best out there, and so when we exchange phone numbers and started
to each other. After the legend small. I had no idea how it was not you
no, I never really do. I would not have set you at the same table had I I'm glad you did. I do
Thus it was maria mare,
a jay
then diana and I looked up and so on. You look beautiful and she said. Oh, you do too and we're buddies
wow the thing is it all ended? Well, but yeah there was a big mess about people. Thinking that she didn't like me, and I didn't like her, I love her wow. Can I have swig award takes takes the water
Ok in nineteen, sixty nine, when patty was twenty five. She married arms did edwards four years later
they had a son Zuri in two thousand. After nearly thirty.
Two years of marriage, they divorced. So let's talk about, I think, was about two thousand something you came on the show and all of a sudden you were single, and we talk briefly about this.
and you had a problem with it. I had an attitude. Did I have an attitude girl you about to cut him down? I wish I you
I don't remember I really don't I've were you were my buddy buddy and you didn't want to see me divorce dumping
And you were saying: well, I'm gonna. Do us a no? No, no he's fine and you say: ok,
if your lung accepted events like a ball was fine, then you were fine with the horse. We were married for thirty two years, yet
I have one beautiful sons ory whose forty, yes, I don't know,
I should have said his age, but I did and we live timid,
from each other. Now that we're divorced
you stay Missouri did you stay in?
aid some years because of zaire, but I'm sitting never done anything awful to me right. I just couldn't get along with anybody for thirty two street year.
it's just that. I was a which sometimes not easy to get along with really imagine this. He lives two minutes away from me when he said
I make sure it is the right medicine alone driver can drive so
Zira you never learned to drive. Never smelt, never learned smoke, never learn our swam, never learn how to drive. Never did
never learned never want to, but I now
sure, he's ok and he comes around and make sure I'm ok when I have to have him
We someplace something that as everyone who is friendly, oh yes, very friendly yeah did you spin, I read: were you said that you spent many years pretending that things were ok when they really wow heck? Here
yeah yeah girl like how many years I don't know, but I pretended a lot
and you know I'm an actress to solving india. I was asked
You know many years, an arms straight for man and I'm a wall job and I didn't want to be married anymore, and nor did he
so. As mutual. Do you think you'd ever get married again? United was a teen, his wedding, I it was pure
those pull her green under
these languages is on top of samples, yellow dispute of fuel. Congratulations: tina darling, but patties not gonna, go there ever again, ever ever, never
I want at sixty nine so when you have three sisters who die before the age of forty four, yes, mother, dive, diabetes after being amputated her leg and my father have also alzheimer's yeah yeah and I think about how did that fear of dying affect you. I was petrified. I thought that I was going to lie the planet before my time and, as I said,
I'm here, I'm sixty nine and I'm still I'm still working, I'm still living, I'm still happy
take care of my knees and my nephew jackie's, two kids billy lives with me. You together
neighbours, children, yes, the two brothers who we adopted.
Was an area with five children. Five children and sorry said it was ok,
says, or do you mind if I bring other kids in the house now mom it ate it
My didn't mind, sharing me with others square he's such a not hold on
and now he's your manager. How does it s awful
if only you know best manager, business man that I've ever met, but when you're managing your mother-
Unlike his mother, his daughter his every day is quiet. Yes, but first of all I'm his mother and then I'm his. How do you all separate that we fight you? Do we just bought last?
about something crazy, but Zuri is my love, love my life and the best manager. I've ever had
We have this new company with my
lady marmalade.
How's is all sources, so he's busy go and then I'm busy s and crazy questions,
but he's so wonderful, he's classy
You raised a good son. Yes, yes, and I'm I'm his mother and what you see is what you get it I wanted it.
q, how much did so much loss in your from your family members passing away sisters, mother father? How did that impact your faith? I think it made it stronger, really yeah, because I knew that because they're gone I have to have
we face and heavy belief and knowing that I'm still here- and I can't depressed myself about that-
any more than I did when it happened. I can't stress myself anymore: the leaving
I can do- is make my life better and to be here for ever.
forever for a long long time making my friends happy mice
waldron mie mie mie mie
makes you happy now ass. I guess
flowers and walk him alone. Should shit too and walking my poor can swam, but I walk for the it makes me happy now,
And there was a time in my life, so you just get in the pool and walk mass woman. I don't even have a bathing suit.
woke him in a t, shirt and my my pants okay, my short pants, okay and I'm in there who's going to see me. Okay, it's your poo nobody's there I walked the
we'll dog? I claim my house, although I have helped
you clean your how I'm on the floor getting spot. I can't stand a dirty house. Some of cleaning fanatic
I had the legends ball and honoured you and others. You know great african american women who it impacts,
I've as legends, do you see yourself as one as a legend? Do you do you read
nice yourself. As I really do you do
Have you any accepted it? What girl I accepted it up put.
Putting light around it bright light around
because to be a living legend, you can't beat that.
Unlike like I living levy, yeah
earlier, I was saying that you were an original general are an original, innovative,
yeah yeah la belle. We were ahead of our time.
Did things. We sang songs, political songs, so
cole songs. The lad girls are known,
girls were singing the stuff that known a rope non annex as one of the best rioters. Ever since
one of the best and still does voice
hendricks, cindy birds on an end patty, we were singers. Innovators set what you call it
ass innovators, and sometimes
he feels that when you say certain things like that, just like tat yourself, one that wherever yeah but
can't do it at sixty nine. I got a pat
yeah back is a bad, and so we did,
all of those wonderful things and
still known as the first group to do certain things and it seems, like you know, watching you on stage, there's a moment,
will you just sort of you hit a zone out there. I yeah, I do
you hit a zone, not even a fly girl, but he never.
While I do any song the same way twice, never
Oh, the rainbow has been done a billion times. Can
change it. Every time I sing it when I did broadway. That was the first time I was discipline. When I did fella arms, he showed the bonds,
guy and to arrive at this, and I am saying every second second second everybody's,
willing to follow your leaving. You better, be rightness, perry, no freestyle on them, remixes up in this
use.
that was. I was ever you. I've never done that before and my shows here, I'm very not structure the play. I had to do everything on
yeah every second for everybody. Listen! If you're going to take your shoes off and throw down the microphone you might throw off the next guy can do that. The only thing that happens spontaneous when I was.
On broadway fella, my two broke in, so we couldn't find
You couldn't find a to show, I told all the dances Heavens, if you, if you dance, and if you see a too
swear to god this happen. I said it's my tooth. Nobody could find my deep, I said to failure
as a baby boy. If you see my two, it's just want and I had to say without the two thousand frequently, but nobody can see my mouth, the dancers didn't find it
did, I have beautiful t. Yes, our legs, why are you and I wanted to have them really q, all the time
girl they were dancing around. I say just have a zipper everyday in so much too
the things that I love about me, who are all bunny, crazy things. It happens and I'm not afraid to tell people who. So let me ask you this: can you finish these following sentences? I hope so. Ok, I believe in miracles. Music to me is mine.
I plot my life says so corny, because I had a song called music is my light, but that's how I finish that one go ahead: inner peace is inner peace
knowing that people will or will not accept EU that's interface. For me, I cannot be accepted by everybody,
The thing that lass is love, love well, ass for
one door closes does one always always open now, maybe a window
not always another door, a window something, but you have to hold on to your belief in life that it's not gonna, be dark like this. With that door closed
for the rest of my life, if another door doesn't open, let's let that window crack.
and you can see the light ass, that's helmsman! For me, I've been shut,
now run down talked about doll. Doubt that
ever. Stop me from being the true me this here and will be here. I can never not be happy about my luck,
All the things that I've been in and out of them through.
I'm so strong that offer idle
no need to worry anymore about anything. Nothing to prove have nothing to do nothing
how do you know who you're real friends? I can
tested that gosh? Yes, yes,
and I know who they are. I know
I know why the cage, but things I know my real people- you, I know you're very good- for it to meet the opec-
for years. You ve done so many wonderful things for me because you like me, I care, I know you care so much and what people say housekeeper I submit
one day yourself. I know how she is with me to me for me. I I'm so proud to be able to have this conversation with you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You still looking fantastic. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,
I'm over winfrey and you ve been listening to supersede conversations the podcast you can follow.
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Transcript generated on 2023-04-27.