Nona Hendryx was one third of the outrageous, post-modern funk group LaBelle (which had re-invented itself from Patty LaBelle & the Bluebells in the 1960s), and scored big in 1974 with Allen Toussaint classic, "Lady Marmalade." The group, however, which helped usher in the era of disco, fell flat with their 1976 release, Phoenix, having grown tired of lavish costuming and theatrics-heavy stage shows.
By early 1977, LaBelle was over and each decided to pursue distinctly different musical directions. Patty LaBelle embraced R&B dance and pop music and had a platinum level solo career with hits like "New Attitude," Sarah Dash did a weak disco LP and eventually became a back up singer for the Rolling Stones, and Nona Hendryx… well… she pretty much went to another musical world.
Unfortunately, although she spearheaded the neo-funk/punk movement and would work with artists such as Talking Heads and George Clinton, Hendryx was never able to get her solo career off the ground to any substantial degree. She did, however, become an in-demand backup session vocalist, and in early 2009 she reunited with Sarah Dash and Patty Labelle, for a Labelle tour of the U.S.