A leading member of the 1960’s soul group Patti LaBelle & the Blue Belles, Sarah Dash is “a woman steeped in music who has lived through everchanging trends and times in the world of entertainment and remains as vital and vibrant as ever.” (www.sarahdash.net)
In addition to releasing four solo albums during her career, she has recorded music with Doctor York and Keith Richards (whom she has toured the United States with twice and continues to perform with to this day).
Born as the seventh child out of 13, Dash entered the world on August 18th, 1945 in Trenton, New Jersey. Her mother was a nurse, and her father a “Church of Christ Father” of the state of New Jersey (and was also a bishop). Dash began her career as a musician by singing gospel music, however, as a pre-teen she later turned to music that was more secular when she formed a duo (the Del Capris) with her friend Nona Hendryx. Soon after, Cindy Birdsong and Patricia Holte would join the group and the quartet would become known as Patti Labelle & the Blue Belles.
Patti Labelle & the Blue Belles were an instant success, their first single titled “I sold My Heart to the Junkman” was a chart topper. This success led the Rolling Stones to select their group to open for them on their first American tour. Soon after, Cindy Birdsong left the group for personal reasons. The three remaining women decided to spend time in England in order to reshape their image and musical direction. Upon returning to the United States their revised group named “LaBelle”, would go on to surpass the success of the original with their Top Ten single “Lady Marmalade”.
“Though they separated in the late ’70s to pursue solo careers, the members of LaBelle reunited to record a single, “Turn It Out”, for the Steven Spielberg-produced film To Wong Foo: Thanks for Everything! in 1995. The tune quickly zoomed to the top position on the Billboard dance charts.” Dash was later signed as a solo artist by the Kirschner record label, and in 1978 she would release her debut solo album containing the hit-single “Sinner Man.” -allmusic.com
As her career continued to move forward, Dash decided to work as a session vocalist and would appear on the Marshal Tucker Band’s 1981 album, Tuckerized. It was around this time that she also began a professional relationship with Keith Richards and would appear on his album Talk Is Cheap in 1988. In 1991 she would again work with Richards on his album Live at the Hollywood Palladium as well as his 1992 album Main Offender.
Since the mid-1990’s Dash’s focus has been to aid in the raising of money for homeless single women with children. She raises money in order to help these mothers and their children gain access to clothing, books, toys, excursions and food.
