Patti LaBelle Covers Kristine W – Tim Gaskin

The two-time Grammy-winning legend Patti LaBelle, who revolutionized the R&B genre with her four-octave voice, played to thousands at the San Francisco Black + White Ball. Before taking to the stage LaBelle spoke exclusively to Gloss magazine about her new album which includes a duet of “Land of the Living” with disco singer Kristine W and being a survivor in the music industry and in life.

Within a 10-year period LaBelle, a diabetic, lost her mother, three sisters and best friend to diabetes and cancer. So when she goes on stage she carries the message to live each day like it’s your last. She adds, “And while you’re living realize that there are other people who are less fortunate, and if you only look after yourself God’s gonna get you.”

LaBelle, who first made a splash as the lead singer in the group Patti and the Bluebells, says her life has always been about survival and it’s always been hard. “Oh God, it’s not easy! But everything that I did that was hard, I would do it all again. It’s all the hard things that you do in life that makes you appreciate the good.” She says.

By phone I caught up with Kristine W who says she and LaBelle are soul sisters. “It’s like we’ve known each other forever. She promotes love and togetherness like me... or maybe I am like her.”

The two met at a leukemia fundraiser called Angel Ball where LaBelle confessed to Kristine that it was her album “Land of the Living” that got her through difficult periods of her life. “Whenever I felt down I played that song.” confides LaBelle.

Kristine says LaBelle understands illness and it’s what they have in common. “I laid in bed with Leukemia for a year and she has been battling diabetes all her life.”

LaBelle agrees. “I’m a survivor, my father, my mother, my sisters, they’re all gone. Kristine had a bunch a people who were going through treatment with her and they’re all gone. She’s still here, she’s strong, and I’m strong.”

Although Kristine who has been in remission for three years, she still struggles with her blood platelets and with low energy. She stresses, “I got whacked. The chemo really whacked me good!”

LaBelle, a mother of four, counts her fans and the love of her family for being alive today. She says they keep her going and keep her strong. “At sixty one the only thing that can hold me back is me myself.”

To many she is best known for her 1985 chart-topper “New Attitude.” Which she says is about staying optimistic. “Everybody wants to get a new attitude, everybody wants to get a new something. A new attitude, a new way of dressing, a new nose, a new body, a new way of wearing your hair… it’s just so positive.”

“Patti and I know how important it is to be uplifting for people.” Says Kristine and adds, “That is what we are here to do. We’re musical messengers somehow and we are obligated to give something positive to the people.”

LaBelle is also the spokeswoman for a scholarship given in her name, the National Minority AIDS Council's "Live Long, Sugar" campaign. From the start of the pandemic she has been a tireless fundraiser. She reveals, “When AIDS first happened I started lending my name, lending my time and my shows to raise money to find out whatever we can do to cure this or kill it. So I’ve been doing something all of my AIDS life. As far as AIDS has been on the universe, I’ve been doing something, over twenty years and let’s keep doing whatever we can to save our sisters and our brothers.”

Patti LaBelle’s album Classic Moments also includes duets with Elton John, Everette Harp, and Mary J. Blige and is in stores now.