Iconic singer Patti LaBelle returned to the stage in New York City at BRIC Celebrates Brooklyn! in Prospect Park on June 26. The progressive soul pioneer was joined by Lady Wray and MORENBPLEASE at the Lena Horne Bandshell for a special fundraiser that benefited BRIC Arts Media, which champions access to artistic resources in Brooklyn and has hosted the titular festival for nearly five decades. “It’s like I’m at home when I perform in the New York area, especially Brooklyn,” LaBelle, a Philadelphia native, said in an exclusive phone interview with the AmNews. “Patti is with her children and we’re all having fun!”
LaBelle is well known for fronting her namesake group that produced the #1 hit “Lady Marmalade,” off the band’s iconic 1974 release, “Night Birds,” before launching a successful solo career with songs like “If You Only Knew,” and “New Attitude.” “They never know what to expect from me, because I am a very spontaneous performer,” LaBelle teased ahead of the show. She wants audiences to leave Prospect Park with a sense of “peace, enjoyment, laughter, and joy — because we need joy today with everything going on,” said LaBelle.
LaBelle, who already has a large and diverse body of work, has no plans to settle down. “I’m recording for an R&B album that I haven’t had in 20 years,” LaBelle told the AmNews. “That’s being worked on as we speak. So, before the year is up, hopefully you’ll have a new Patti LaBelle project.”
