Patti LaBelle Sheds Tears of Joy at Albany State Commencement

By Brianca Holloman
Black College Wire

Albany State Student Voice "Trust yourself and when you see those snakes, cut them," singer Patti LaBelle said at the Albany State University ceremonies.

At Albany State University's commencement ceremonies, Patti LaBelle received her sixth degree, along with a musical tribute.

LaBelle was so moved that she decided to sing a verse of a gospel song, "Walk Around Heaven."

"I was in tears watching the wonderful, bright children walk across that stage," LaBelle said. "These kids have such minds."

LaBelle said it was also emotional giving her niece, Mary Inez Smith, her master's degree in business administration.

"I used to call her a little Patti LaBelle," she said.

In her speech, LaBelle told students to always believe in themselves and trust their hearts.

"Really believe in yourself and don't believe the hype. Trust yourself and when you see those snakes, cut them," she said.

Everette J. Freeman, Albany State president, said he wanted to honor LaBelle for all that she stands for, not only because she's a singer.

"It was a privilege to give her that doctorate, not because she's a star, but because she's an author, she's a humanitarian and she's a Renaissance woman," Freeman said of the Dec. 9 ceremony. "That's why I wanted to give it to her; she's all of those things."

LaBelle said that at 62, she is still not all that many think she is.

"I'm still stumbling and falling over things and people that promise me things and don't come through," she said. "That was my mistake for trusting certain people in this business and thinking they had my back."

LaBelle has overcome great obstacles.

As with other African American families, diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer disease are prevalent in hers. In 1995, LaBelle was diagnosed with diabetes.

She lost three sisters to cancer and a brother, her father and her mother to various health-related problems, but these tragedies only strengthened LaBelle's desire to be healthy and live for as long as she could.

"I was afraid I would not make it to age 50," LaBelle said.

After the deaths in her family, LaBelle found herself a mother of six — her son, three children from one of her sisters and two adopted children.

She said seeing artists she knew personally, such as Luther Vandross and Gerald Levert, die of health-related issues only strengthened her passion for getting information to the public on how to stay healthy.

"I have diabetes, diabetes don't have me," LaBelle said.

She said she takes seven pills a day and exercises regularly.

"I do what it takes to stay alive. I'm cooking differently and the food is better that way. Before I wrote the cookbook, I had to change my diet and, yeah, it was hard," LaBelle said.

She has written two cookbooks, "LaBelle Cuisine" and "Patti LaBelle's Lite Cuisine."

LaBelle said she considers Albany, Ga., a second home. Her father, Henry Holt, was born in Albany and moved to Philadelphia, where he met her mother.

The entertainer born Patricia Louise Holt was raised in Philadelphia. She was the youngest of five children, having three sisters and a brother.

She began singing at age 14. "I started singing in church choir. I never left gospel," LaBelle said.

With her friend Cindy Birdsong, she formed a four-member girl group called the Ordettes. Two years passed and the girls, without two of the original members, were signed to Blue Note Records. The president of the company at the time, dubbed Patricia Patti LaBelle. The last name means "beautiful" in French.

The group eventually signed with Atlantic Records.

In 1966, Birdsong left the group — now Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles — to join the Supremes. But for 16 years, the group continued its success. As the avant-garde group LaBelle, it scored with "Lady Marmalade." In 1976, the group disbanded. In 1977, LaBelle released a self-titled album on Epic Records. Although the first few years of her solo career were tough, LaBelle went on to have years of success with such chart-topping hits as "If Only You Knew," "Love, Need & Want You," "New Attitude" and "If You Asked Me To."

In 1991, she received her first Grammy for best R&B female vocal performance for her album "Burnin'." In 1998, she won her second Grammy for the album "Live One Night Only."

LaBelle released her last album in 2000, "When A Woman Loves," after a divorce from her husband and manager, Armstead Edwards.

Currently, LaBelle is promoting "The Gospel According to Patti LaBelle," an album released Nov. 21 that includes "Walk Around Heaven."

"The tour is wonderful, playing to church folk," LaBelle said. "We need to open our hearts and our minds to all, because all people need help in some way."

Some major LaBelle fans and Albany State employees were thrilled to meet the star.

Timothy Knowles, vice president of student affairs, said he grew up listening to her.

"Patti, Patti, Patti has been my girl for a long time," Knowles said. "I'm 62 years old also, so when she was singing at 25, I was jumping around, dancing to her music."

Knowles said he has all of her albums, cassette tapes, 8-tracks and now CDs.

"Patti, Patti, Patti is all right with me," he said.

John Culbreath, Albany State's former dean for the College of Education and soon-to-be chair of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, called LaBelle out of this world.

"She's just a superstar with both feet on the ground and she's willing to reach out and help somebody as she passes along," he said.

LaBelle said she had a wonderful time in Albany and at commencement.

"It was wonderful to see." It was "all so diverse. I love it," LaBelle said.

As for advice to students, LaBelle said, "Tell them to keep on believing in themselves, to keep God first and to trust their mind, heart and spirit."

Brianca Holloman, a student at Albany State University, writes for the Student Voice.

Posted Dec. 20, 2006