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WATCH: Nona Hendryx Performs "Transformation", Labelle Medley

In case today's dime-a-dozen "divas" aren't hitting your music fix: The fabulous Ms. Nona Hendryx performed at Damrosch Park in New York City's Lincoln Center. Noan performed a brilliant acoustic set including  "Transformation" and a Labelle medley. Nona still has it and performed near Albany the week before.

Hendryx is best known as one-third of the iconic group Labelle. In 2008, Hendryx, Sarah Dash and Patti LaBelle reunited for Back to Now, the first new studio album in more than 30 years from the group. The ladies performed at the OUT 100 Awards that year and brought down the house. In related news: Patti LaBelle will join the cast of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Fela! in September.

Too bad she didn't perform "Do What You Wanna Do." Now THAT would be ferosh. Watch the fabulous Miss Nona Hendryx WHEN YOU JUMP ...

Labelle at the "Out 100"

Photos by Rae Votta

Go behind the scenes and backstage with Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendry and Sarah Dash as the legendary Labelle performs at the 2008 Out 100 Awards. Darian Aaron uploads some video of the performance and notes there were a few technical problems with the sound system—"And Ms.Patti wasn't shy about addressing this onstage"—but says the evening and performance was "fabulous."

Patti Labelle tells Out.com the group never made a "conscious effort" to pursue a heavily gay audience. "Our conscious effort was to pursue a great sound and a great look. And it just so happened that gay people followed, and thank God they did. They’ve been in our lives, in my life, forever. .. . The only plan we did consciously make was to look outrageous so that people would come to our shows [and say,] 'Oh, look at those crazy ladies.' But once they’re there, they’ll see we have something to say."

On Stage: Labelle Performs [Out.com]
Back to Labelle [Out.com]

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First Listen: "Roll Out" New Single From Labelle [R20]

First Look and Listen: "Roll Out" New Single From Labelle

They're back. Take a look and take a listen.

The reunion of Nona Hendryx, Patti LaBelle and Sarah Dash has been decades in the making. Here is your first look at the cover art for Back to Now, the first new studio album from Labelle in more than 30 years.

Get into the lead single Roll Out. (Quicktime and Windows Media) The midtempo track is a little more R&Bish than some of Labelle's best known work but the signature voices, bassline and crescendo ... it's all there. The track was produced by and features Wyclef Jean. Lenny Kravtz and the incomprable Gamble & Huff produce other tracks on the new album.

The Back to Now cover art is signature Labelle. The pioneering 60s and 70s rock-soul-funk trio was best known for their glamazon costumes and meteoric concert staging—the ladies sometimes used heliocopters to make stage entrances—and their international hit Lady Marmalade. (No discussion allowed of the "remake" from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack.) That wasn't our favorite Labelle track. Does anyone remember Messin' With My Mind? The bassline on that song is killer and Patti and Nona are screaming into the stratosphere.

Back to Now drops October 21. Look forward to some Rod 2.0 exclusives such as CD giveaways and an (crossing our fingers) interviews with the ladies.