The founding members were Patti LaBelle (born Patricia Louise Holt), Cindy Birdsong, Nona Hendryx, and Sarah Dash.

After Birdsong departed to join The Supremes in 1967, the band, following the advice of Vicki Wickham, changed its look, musical direction, and style to re-form as the progressive soul group Labelle in 1971.

Their recordings of that period became cult favorites for dealing with subjects not typically addressed by female black groups.

Nona Hendryx followed an idiosyncratic muse into a solo career that often bordered on the avant-garde;[3] but reaching a new audience with the respected 2017 release "Shine", by Soul Clap, which was a widely played in clubs in the UK, US clubs and Ibiza while being picked and released by the famous record label Defected Records.

By 1961, Jean Brown and Yvonne Hogan had ditched the group to get married and Patti and Sundray carried on as soloists.

Later in 1961, Patti and Sundray's manager Bernard Montague contacted two singers from the Trenton, New Jersey singing group the Del-Capris, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash.

After a televised performance at American Bandstand featuring the Ordettes, the Starlets' manager sued Harold Robinson and Bobby Martin.

[6] During club performances, the group was backed up musically by a pub band called Bluesology, whose pianist was a teenager named Reg Dwight, later known as Elton John.

That same year, Cindy Birdsong abruptly left the group to join The Supremes, replacing original member Florence Ballard.

[6] After completing a tour where Sundray Tucker briefly rejoined the group to fill in for Birdsong, the remaining members carried on as a trio.

[6] Wickham later credited Dusty Springfield with convincing her to hire the group to perform on Ready, Steady, Go in London.

The albums featured the group bringing in gospel soul renditions of rock hits such as "Wild Horses" and "Won't Get Fooled Again".

While not commercially successful, the albums were critically acclaimed and established the act as a progressive soul unit, recording more daring material such as "Morning Much Better" and "Touch Me All Over".

[6] The resulting album, Gonna Take a Miracle, led to the group reaching the charts for the first time[6] and establishing a rapport with Nyro, who later invited them to perform with her at Carnegie Hall.

Under the advice of Larry LeGaspi, the group began performing in space suits, feathers, and studded costumes.

[6] While Hendryx eventually wrote the majority of the album, Epic released the Kenny Nolan and Bob Crewe composition "Lady Marmalade" as a single in August 1974.

[6] That same year, the group contributed background vocals to several songs on Elton John's hit album, Rock of the Westies.

[8] After the incident, LaBelle advised the group to disband, fearing for the other members' well-being and that the mounting tension could also put an end to their friendship.

[6] 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" and "Floy Joy".

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".

The more experimental Nona Hendryx has recorded in various genres including hard rock, hip-hop, house and new age, and charting with the singles, "Keep It Confidential" and "Why Should I Cry?"

Four years later, the original Blue Belles (including Cindy Birdsong) reunited to receive an award from the R&B Foundation for Lifetime Achievement.

[11] In an interview with the Toronto Star,[10] 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.