Darlene Love
(2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee)
“Darlene Love’s thunderbolt voice is as embedded in the history of Rock-and-Roll as Eric Clapton’s guitar or Bob Dylan’s lyrics.” *New York Times.
The press has also said “Darlene Love and Tina Turner are two of the hardest-working women in show business.” Loved and respected by her peers: “Darlene is one of the most talented artists I’ve ever known.” *Cher.
“Darlene Love remains, even after all these years, one of the greatest voices in all of pop music. The thrill of listening to her live has not diminished one iota, and whenever I get the chance to hear her work, I run! A great interpreter, flawless intonation, she is as musical as it gets. I love, Love!” *Bette Midler.
From her first number one recording,”He’s A Rebel”, through her string of label hits with legendary producer Phil Spector, including “Da Doo Ron Ron”, “He’s Sure The Boy I’m Gonna Marry”, and “Christmas Baby Please Come Home” to the countless songs she sang backup on for artists like Sam Cooke, Elvis Presley, Dionne Warwick, Cher, Luther Vandross and Aretha Franklin, Darlene Love is still blazing a trail of success in the music industry and has been nominated to the Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame. Her albums include AGE OF MIRACLES, recorded live in New York City and her first gospel album, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE released by Harmony records.
Over the course of her career Darlene has been hailed as the greatest singer in pop music. She has proven herself a talented actress as well, on stage and screen, starring as Danny Glover’s wife in all of the LETHAL WEAPON films and lighting-up Broadway in such musicals as GREASE and the Tony-award nominated LEADER OF THE PACK. Darlene also starred for three years on Broadway as ‘Motormouth Maybelle’ in the Tony Award winning musical HAIRSPRAY.
Darlene Love was just a high school sophomore in Los Angeles when she was discovered out of a gospel choir, and asked to join a burgeoning girl group called The Blossoms, who began recording for Phil Specter. Soon thereafter, other artists like Sam Cooke were attracted to her powerful sound, and sought Darlene on their recordings. With The Blossoms and Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans, Darlene sang lead vocals on some of the greatest music hits of the 60’s. The Blossoms landed a weekly spot on the landmark television series SHINDIG, and through the 60’s and 70’s, Darlene continued to perform with and back-up such diverse artists as The Beach Boys, The Mamas & The Papas, Tom Jones, The Righteous Brothers and Sonny & Cher.
Darlene then put background singing to the side in order to pursue a solo career and when she did, even greater things began to happen. She has received great national press exposure, including a feature in PEOPLE magazine, a CNN television documentary on her life, and bookings on numerous national television programs, including TODAY, Rosie O’Donnell, Maury Povich, Politically Incorrect, Donny & Marie and the Oprah Winfrey show as her yearly stint on the David Letterman show which she has done 20 years strong.
Darlene’s first studio Christmas album, “It’s Christmas, Of Course” was released December 2007 to national critical praise. In 2010 Darlene began a tour of Australia starring as ‘Miss Sherman’ in “Fame: The Musical”. Darlene has also released a CD and DVD of her live concert ”The Concert of Love” produced and released by Reel Good Productions.
After three nominations, 2011 marked Darlene being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Bette Midler was chosen to induct Darlene at the ceremony, which will took place in New York on March 14th. Also in 2011, Darlene again played ‘Motormouth Maybelle’ in an all star production of HAIRSPRAY and the world famous Hollywood Bowl.
