NEW YORK – Singer Sarah Dash, who co-founded the all-female group Labelle — best known for the raucous 1974 hit “Lady Marmalade” — has passed away. She was 76 years old.

Patti Labelle and Nona Hendryx completed the trio.

They announced the death of Ms. Dash on Monday, September 20, 2021 on social media. No cause of death has been disclosed.

“We spoke a musical language, music says it best. Singing brought us together, ”wrote Ms. Hendryx.

“Sarah Dash was an incredibly talented, beautiful and loving soul who has blessed my life and the lives of so many others in more ways than I can tell,” Ms. Labelle wrote. “Rest in power my dear sister. “

Ms. Dash originally started in The Ordettes, before evolving into The Bluebells, then Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. In the early 1970s, they shortened it to Labelle, changed their outfits, and turned to funk, with all three members singing in the lead and in the background.

They did gospel-soul covers of rock songs, and their original tunes included the ballad “Can I talk to you before I go to Hollywood?” “Morning Much Better” and “Touch Me All Over”.

But the band’s best-known song was “Lady Marmalade,” a song about New Orleans sex workers from their 1974 album.

“The night owls.” “Lady Marmalade” reached number one on the Billboard singles Hot 100 and Hot Soul (now Hot R & B / Hip-Hop Songs). He was elected to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003 and appeared in both Baz Luhrmann’s hyperactive 2001 film “Moulin Rouge” and the Broadway musical based on the film.

Labelle dissolved in 1976.