The Heartbreaking Death Of Singer Sarah Dash

Legendary singer Sarah Dash has died at the age of 76. Dash — along with Patti LaBelle and Nona Hendryx — made up the all-female singing group Labelle, best known for their 1974 hit "Lady Marmalade," which was later remade by Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya, and Pink for the 2001 film "Moulin Rouge" (via Rolling Stone).

Born in New Jersey, Dash was the seventh of 13 children and grew up singing in her father's church. She met Hendryx in school and the two formed the Del Capris. Cindy Birdsong and Patricia "Patti LaBelle" Holte joined later and they changed their name to the Blue Bells. After Birdsong left to join Diana Ross & the Supremes, the trio eventually settled on the name Labelle. In 1976, the group disbanded, and Dash was initially left without a record label. "I was the last of the three of us to be signed as a solo artist. Epic kept Nona and they kept Patti, but the label didn't see any potential in me," Dash told Sac Cultural Hub. 

She was eventually signed to Kirschner and released several albums as a solo act while also working as a session singer for the Rolling Stones and the Marshall Tucker Band (via All Music). Dash also toured colleges as a motivational speaker. "...I'm not on everybody's [TV or radio] show, but I'm doing work that makes me feel good," she explained. "I feel so honored that people still remember me and have an interest in what I do, and that people want to hear my music, and hopefully be encouraged."