Patti LaBelle

The Philly songbird's resilience isn't surprising since she's savored one of the longest lived careers in contemporary music spanning from girl-group pop to space-age funk to heavenly ballads. Despite her appreciation for today's younger artists, Patti concedes that her goal has never been to emulate younger artists. "Youth has nothing to do with it because I’m not trying to stay young because I’m still trying to love me no matter what my age. I just want to show the world that at 60 you can still record like you're 20." Still, Patti adheres to a few cardinal rules of her own when it comes to her musical philosophy: "Foremost, the song must always be age-appropriate," she says. "Then I listen to the beat because I have to be moved emotionally. I often find myself being moved by melody and sometimes it's the modulation that moves me. Finally, the lyrics have to be something that I want to say." And rightfully so, Patti's soulful timbre and earth-quaking crescendos have resonated with millions worldwide. Def Soul Classics President Jheryl Busby, a heralded label executive, former artist manager and entrepreneur, with a penchant for perennial talent, has been an avid fan and supporter of Patti's and can attest to her cross-generational appeal.