Effective period / Period of releases: 1962

Members: Patti LaBelle, Sarah Dash, Cindy Birdsong

US female group from Philadelphia, PA, originally named "The Ordettes" and quickly renamed Patti LaBelle And The Bluebells.
Note: the 2nd version of "I Sold My Heart To The Junkman" (originally by The Basin Street Boys from 1946) was actually recorded by The Starlets (2). After getting caught lip-synching on American Bandstand, Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles were sued by The Starlets; each member received $5,000 in damages. Patti LaBelle And The Bluebells then re-recorded a 3rd version:
-2nd version: the lead singer (over the backing vocals) starts the song by "oh yeah" twice.
-3rd version: the lead singer (behind the backing vocals) starts the song by "oh yeah, uh uh".
Peak (3) Records released the original recordings ("I Sold My Heart To The Junkman" / "I've Got To Let Him Know") in '64 under the "wrong" name "The Blue Belles". Rainbow Records (23) did the same with two other recordings the same year; see The Original Bluebelles.