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Labelle
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===Solo careers and reunions=== Following her departure from the Blue Belles, Cindy Birdsong enjoyed success as member of [[The Supremes]], singing on hits such as "[[Up the Ladder to the Roof]]", "[[Stoned Love]]", "[[Nathan Jones (song)|Nathan Jones]]" and "[[Floy Joy (song)|Floy Joy]]". Birdsong left the group in 1972 to start a family, returned in 1973, then left again in 1976, and thereafter only recorded sporadically as a solo artist in the 80s, briefly joining The [[Former Ladies of the Supremes]] alongside former Supremes members [[Jean Terrell]] and [[Scherrie Payne]]. The Labelle song "(Can I Speak to You Before You Go To) Hollywood", from ''Pressure Cookin''', was allegedly written by Hendryx as a response to Birdsong's departure, featuring each member of the group singing verses. Sarah Dash found some solo success after signing with [[Don Kirshner]]'s label, with the disco single "Sinner Man". Dash eventually sang backup for the Rolling Stones and sang for [[Keith Richards]]' spinoff group [[X-pensive Winos]]. The more experimental Nona Hendryx has recorded in various genres including [[hard rock]], [[hip hop music|hip-hop]], [[house (music)|house]] and [[New-age music|new age]], and charting with the singles, "Keep It Confidential" and "Why Should I Cry?" Patti LaBelle became an international solo superstar following Labelle's breakup, recording crossover hits such as "[[New Attitude (song)|New Attitude]]", "[[Stir It Up (Patti LaBelle song)|Stir It Up]]" and "[[On My Own (Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald song)|On My Own]]", resulting in Grammy wins and a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]. In 1991, Patti LaBelle reunited with Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash on the track, "Release Yourself", from LaBelle's Grammy-winning album, ''[[Burnin' (Patti LaBelle album)|Burnin]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/labelle/biography|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321002017/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/labelle/biography|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 21, 2015|title=Labelle Biography|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=September 25, 2017}}</ref> The trio reunited onstage at the Apollo Theater in 1991 to perform the song on LaBelle's second concert performance video while promoting the release of ''Burnin'''. In addition to "Release Yourself", Hendryx and LaBelle composed the gospel-flavored ballad "[[When You've Been Blessed (Feels Like Heaven)]]". In 1995, the trio reunited again for the dance single, "[[Turn it Out]]", for the soundtrack to the film, ''[[To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar]].'' The song became their first charted hit in nineteen years peaking at number-one on the Billboard dance singles chart. Four years later, the original Blue Belles (including [[Cindy Birdsong]]) reunited to receive an award from the R&B Foundation for Lifetime Achievement. In 2006, the trio of LaBelle, Dash and Hendrix briefly came together to record a Hendryx-written track called "Dear Rosa" for the soundtrack to a film called ''Preaching to the Choir.''<ref name="LaBelle gets back to now with release of new disc">{{cite news| url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/520899 |language=en| newspaper=The Star | location=Toronto | title=LaBelle gets back to now with release of new disc | first=Elio | last=Iannacci | date=October 21, 2008 | access-date=March 27, 2010}}</ref> In 2008, Labelle announced their reunion and released their first studio album in 32 years, the critically acclaimed ''[[Back to Now]]''. That year, the trio went back on tour together which carried through the spring of 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://washblade.com/2008/10-31/arts/music/13508.cfm |title=Labelle ladies reunite - New CD the 'Lady Marmalade' group's first since '76|website=Washington Blade|date= October 31, 2008 |first=Joey|last=Diguglielmo|access-date=December 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421183524/http://washblade.com/2008/10-31/arts/music/13508.cfm |archive-date=April 21, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In an interview with the ''[[Toronto Star]]'',<ref name="LaBelle gets back to now with release of new disc" /> Patti LaBelle explained why she, Dash and Hendryx waited over 32 years to record a full-length album: "You don't want to half-step something this important....it was about finding the right time and place. We were never ones to do anything on anyone else's time anyway; we were always unconventional. I still have my glitter boots to prove it." The group performed a triumphant show at the Apollo Theatre in New York City on December 19, 2008.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Als, Hilton|title=Three Sisters|url=http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/notebook/2008/12/22/081222gonb_GOAT_notebook_als|date=December 22, 2008|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|access-date=December 22, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Pareles, Jon|title=Lady of the Power Voice Reunited With Her Sisters|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/22/arts/music/22labe.html|date=December 21, 2008|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 22, 2008}}</ref> They continued to perform with each other sporadically; Dash sang with Patti LaBelle at a LaBelle concert two days before her death on September 20, 2021.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Labelle's Sarah Dash Dies at 76 |first=Gail|last=Mitchell|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/obituary/9633057/sarah-dash-dead-labelle-singer/ |magazine=Billboard |date=September 20, 2021|access-date=22 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
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