There’s a new attitude at MPAC in Morristown, NJ this Friday, April 17, 2026 evening as music fans await a live concert appearance by the legendary soul singer, Patti LaBelle.
Patti LaBelle was born on May 24, 1944 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the age of 10, Patti joined a church choir at the Beulah Baptist Church and performed her first solo when she was 12. While growing up, she also spent time listening to and enjoying R&B and jazz music.
When Patti was 15, she won a talent competition at her high school. This success led her to form her first singing group, The Ordettes. In addition to Patti, in 1962, The Ordettes included three other members — Cindy Birdsong, Sarah Dash, and Nona Hendryx.
After changing the group’s name to Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles, the quartet achieved success on the Billboard charts with songs like 1963’s “Down the Aisle (The Wedding Song)” and 1964’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
In 1967, Cindy Birdsong left The Bluebelles to join The Supremes. In the early ‘70s, the remaining members changed their name to LaBelle and released their iconic disco hit, “Lady Marmalade.” LaBelle made pop history in 1974 by becoming the first rock vocal group to perform at New York City’s Metropolitan Opera House.
After the trio split up in 1976, Patti LaBelle began her own successful solo career and became a mainstream star in 1984 following the success of singles including “New Attitude.”
Over the course of her five-decade career, Patti has sold more than 50 million records. She’s been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. In 2005, the World Music Awards recognized her contributions to music by presenting her with their Legend Award. Referred to as the “Godmother of Soul,” Patti LaBelle is also included in Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.
Inside the MPAC auditorium, the lights dim and a nine-piece band including a three-piece horn section takes the stage, along with four backup singers. After a film about Patti LaBelle plays on the screen behind the musicians, the backup vocalists sing, “This feels like heaven,” and the crowd cheers as Patti LaBelle, 81, makes her entrance in a stylized green pantsuit.
Opening with “When You’ve Been Blessed (Feels Like Heaven),” LaBelle sings in her soul-stirring voice, “In a world of superheroes/In a world of weak and strong/In a sea of have and have nots/I’ve survived the raging storm,” deftly backed by the ensemble on this gospel-influenced R&B ballad.
The crowd cheers and LaBelle responds, “Thank you, Morristown NJ! I’m so happy to be here tonight, and my background singers and my band are happy to be here, too.” After a fan calls out, “We love you, Patti!” LaBelle responds by singing with feeling, “I love you/I love you/Honey, I love you/I do.” Launching into her R&B ballad “Love, Need, and Want You,” LaBelle vocalizes around the melody as her background singers cry out on the song’s “Love and need and want you, baby” refrain, accompanied by the full orchestral sound of the ensemble.
A fan yells out, “You look amazing!” and LaBelle responds, “You look good, too!” as she steps into her 1989 ballad, “If You Asked Me To.” On this performance, LaBelle sings up, down, and around in her signature powerhouse style, dancing as the band vamps on the coda.
On “Right Kinda Lover,” LaBelle and Co. wail, “He’s the right kinda lover/I’ll never need another,” before LaBelle gives a flower to an audience member in the front row at the conclusion of this infectious R&B/pop tune.
LaBelle announces, “Here’s something I recorded with Michael McDonald,” as she skips into the duo’s R&B ballad, “On My Own,” where backup singer Aaron Marcellus joins Patti singing, “On my own/This wasn’t how it was supposed to end/On my own/ I wish that we could do it all again,” on this 1986 chart-topper.
All four of LaBelle’s backup singers are featured on the 1975 LaBelle trio single, “What Can I Do For You.”
Four-part harmonies ring out on the tune’s “What can I do for you/What can you do for me” coda as Patti dances and vocally improvises on this upbeat soul number prior to giving away another flower to a fan downstage.
Moving on to an electrifying rendition of “New Attitude,” the crowd sings along with LaBelle and Co. on the 1984 dance-pop hit’s upbeat “I’m feelin’ good from my head to my shoes/Know where I’m goin’ and I know what to do” refrain.
LaBelle recognizes her band members and musical director, Stan Lewis, before announcing, “I will be 82 on May 24th, and every day I’m grateful.” The crowd cheers as Lewis’ tinkling piano introduces LaBelle’s vocal on the soulful R&B power ballad, “Somebody Loves You Baby (You Know Who It Is).”
On the funky “When You Talk About Love,” LaBelle sings with soul under flashing lights before the members of her horn section solo downstage, marching in time to the rhythm as they play. The backup singers invite audience members to their feet as Patti introduces trombone player, Jeff Bradshaw, and then exits the stage.
Segueing into The Gap Band’s “Yearning for your Love,” Bradshaw renders a trombone solo and announces, “We’re gonna be the New Jersey Mass Choir!” as he gets the audience to move side to side singing the song’s “You keep running in and out of my life.”
Bradshaw introduces backup vocalist, Lady Stout, who has the crowd singing along with her on a soulful rendition of 1972 Staples Singers gospel/pop tune, “I’ll Take You There.”
Stout exclaims, “Make some noise for Miss Patti LaBelle!” as LaBelle returns to the stage to perform her 1984 #1 R&B hit, “If You Only Knew.” Dancing to the audience’s delight on this rhythmic ballad, music lovers join in with Miss Patti as she sings with feeling, “If only you knew/How much I do/Do love you.”
The crowd hoots and hollers and LaBelle acknowledges, “I’ve been in this business for 65 years and every morning I say, ‘Thank you,’” as she and the band launch into Kirk Franklin’s “Something About the Name Jesus.” As Aaron Marcellus sings lead, Patti vocally improvises around him while the crowd sways, sings, and claps along with the duo on this soulful gospel number.
“Give my band and my singers a big hand!” says LaBelle before she performs an emotional interpretation of the classic Wizard of Oz ballad, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” which elicits animated cheers and applause from the crowd.
“Thank you for spending your hard-earned money for a Patti LaBelle show!” exclaims LaBelle before introducing backup singer, Debra Henry, who delivers a soulful rendition of “Hold On (Change is Coming),” after which Patti presents her with a flower.
As celebrities who have passed away — including Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Prince, and Luther Vandross — appear on the screen behind her, LaBelle gives a dramatic performance of “You Are My Friend,” bringing audience members to their feet cheering.
Concertgoers stand, clap, and sing as Patti and friends perform LaBelle’s 1974 #1 hit, “Lady Marmalade.” After Patti sings a verse and chorus of the well-known R&B/soul number, she invites five men to come onstage to sing and strut their stuff, much to the crowd’s delight.
Fans cheer as the band and backup singers segue into Donna Summer’s “Bad Girls” and Patti LaBelle waves goodnight and exits the stage to excited cheers and applause.
As concertgoers make their way out of the auditorium, several share their thoughts on tonight’s performance by Patti LaBelle. Comments Danilo from Mount Olive, “I really liked this show — it was a lot of fun! My mom and dad introduced me to Patti LaBelle’s music, and with over 60 years of experience on stage, she did really well — a lot better than I could ever do!”
Crystal from Morristown declares, “At 81 years young, I thought Patti was absolutely fantastic! Her singing was phenomenal and she performed such great songs as ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow,’ which was my favorite.” Crystal’s mom, Betty, agrees, adding, “I enjoyed the show very much! Miss Patti sounded so good and her band was very good, too. They really put on a show tonight!”
Remarks Denise from Elizabeth, “Patti LaBelle was so good this evening! At 81, she’s still terrific and her voice is still golden. I enjoyed her performance so much!” Joan from Bound Brook concurs, noting, “It was a really good show, and I especially liked the ending when the men came up on stage and sang ‘Lady Marmalade.’ I had a really good time!”
Reveals Chauncy from Irvington, “Patti was wonderful, fabulous, and amazing! She did great songs, and her band was fantastic, too.” Adds Victoria from Westwood, “Patti’s voice was absolutely fantastic and her band and background singers were excellent, too! It was a beautiful night.”
Lastly, Bruce from Parsippany, remarks, “One of the great things about going to concerts is that sometimes you get to see new artists and sometimes you get to see legends like Patti. Her command of the stage is mesmerizing. Patti LaBelle will remain an icon forever and will always be a defining force in music history!”
To learn more about Patti LaBelle, please go to pattilabelle.com. To find out about upcoming events at MPAC — including the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis on May 3, The Doo Wop Project on May 9, and The Punch Brothers on May 14 — please go to mayoarts.org.
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