Patti LaBelle is one of contemporary music's living Soul and R & B legends. She has recorded over 30 albums in various incarnations--in the '60s she was the leader of Patti LaBelle & The Bluebells; in the '70's she sang with LaBelle. Since 1977, she has performed a soloist.

Encouraged by the joy she received singing with her local Beulah Baptist church, young Patti dreamed of forming her own singing group. Today, Patti La Belle maintains a rigorous tour schedule which she fits in between appearances in television shows, movies and talk shows.

Patti has received many honors for her music including two Grammy Awards and two American Music Awards. Patti is also the author of two best-selling books - autobio-graphy Don't Block The Blessings and the 1999 cookbook, LaBelle Cuisine: Recipes to Sing About.

Patti LaBelle has enthusiastically agreed to partner with WHYY in performing as a special guest artist with her friend, Denyce Graves in the production of Denyce Graves: Breaking The Rules.

Take 6 is a jazzy, Nashville-based a cappella group that celebrates the Seventh Day Adventist faith and beliefs. Take 6 was first formed by Claude McKnight (brother of Brian McKnight) in 1980 at Oakwood College in

Huntsville, Ala., as the Gentlemen's Estate Quartet, a four-man a cappella group.

By 1987 the quartet had become a sextet comprising McKnight, Mark Kibble, Mervyn Warren, Cedric Dent, David Thomas and Alvin Chea. A low-profile showcase performance at a Nashville Christian bookstore led to a deal with Warner Bros. and Reunion Records. Their 1988 self-titled debut -- a mix of originals, covers, and reworked Spirituals -- was a surprise smash, earning two Grammy awards.

Celebrating Music

1. Write a fan letter to one of our artists.
2. Bring into school a recording of the music of one of our artist to share with your class.
3. See if you can sing one of the songs from the recording.