After 50 years in the music industry, Sarah Dash, founding member of the iconic group LaBelle, continues to make an impact on everyone she comes in contact with. Off stage, Dash is a motivational speaker, a member of committees for the Grammys and, of course, working on her craft. Her one-woman show, Sarah Dash: One Woman is currently being revamped to begin a new run in intimate theaters around the world. She is getting ready to hit the stage at Below 54 this May. On March 20, Dash will make an appearance at the AARP’s Legacy: Journey of YOU art exhibit. Rolling out caught up with Dash to talk about her upcoming appearance and how she plans to live the next fifty years to the fullest.
What can we expect from your appearance at the Legacy: Journey of YOU exhibit?
My focus will be on the art and I would like to share the insight that I have learned, regarding how you come into the business, how you maintain in the business, how you transition from the age of 20 to 50 and how you’re viewed. I’m hopeful that I can share some wisdom and talk about who I admire today who are young and why.
Who do you admire?
I like the fact that we have people who are not only artists and those in production who are owners of their time and their careers. In my time, when Labelle regrouped we became a production company, we owned our own publishing. We owned and shared the rights to the songs written by group members. That was the best way to live in terms of business. To see more people doing that is a benefit.
How has the first half of your life shaped the second half?
The first half is struggle, and working to achieve the space where I am today. In the second part of your life you get to do things that make you happy. I take more time to be creative. A portion of my day goes to music. I have time now to write. Old age is a luxury. Some people [disregard it]. You better hope that you could walk with the gift of wisdom that anyone who has reached a certain place in their life has. I have not retired. I don’t know what that means.
by Simone Waugh
