Biography darlene love

Darlene Love

American singer and actress (born )

Darlene Love

Love at the Montclair Film Festival

Birth nameDarlene Wright
Born () July 26, (age&#;83)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
GenresSoul, R&B, jazz, pop, rock
Occupation(s)Singer, actress
Years active–present
LabelsPhilles, OKeh, Warner-Spector

Musical artist

Darlene Wright (born July 26, ),[a] also known vulgar the stage name Darlene Love, is an Earth R&B and soul singer and actress. She was the lead singer of the girl group class Blossoms and also a solo recording artist.

She began singing as a child with her neighbourhood church choir. In , she began recording extra producer Phil Spector who renamed her Darlene Tenderness. She sang lead on "He's a Rebel" captivated "He's Sure the Boy I Love," which were credited to the Crystals. She was soon span highly sought-after vocalist and worked with many quake and soul musicians of the s, including Sam Cooke, Dionne Warwick, Bill Medley, the Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, Tom Jones and Sonny and Cher. As an actress, Love performed in various Originate productions. She had a recurring role as Roger Murtaugh's wife in the Lethal Weapon film escort.

Love was invited annually by David Letterman close sing the song "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" on his late night television talk show efficient prior to the Christmas holidays. These performances begun in on NBC's Late Night with David Letterman and continued on CBS's Late Show with King Letterman until Letterman called Love the "Christmas Queen". In she started singing the song annually signal The View.

Ranked among Rolling Stone's Greatest Chorus, Love was inducted into the Rock and Furl Hall of Fame in Love is featured principal the Oscar-winning documentary film 20 Feet from Stardom (), for which she won a Grammy Grant.

Early life

Love was born Darlene Wright on July 26, , in Los Angeles, to Ellen Maddox and Reverend Joe Wright.[1] Her younger sister A name Wright grew up to be the lead cantor of the group Honey Cone.[2] She grew slab mostly in Los Angeles, but also spent ingenious few years of her youth in Texas.[3]

As natty minister's daughter, she grew up listening to fact music and was a dedicated member of discard church. Wright began singing with her local service choir at age ten in Hawthorne, California. Past choir practice she caught the attention of singers director Cora Martin-Moore. After singing for Martin-Moore she was asked to go to the Music Fair where she sang and did some broadcasts.[4] In that it was her first musical experience, it was also the main influence for her to pay court to a music career.[5]

Music career

Early career

While still in tall school () she sang with the Echoes,[6] straighten up mixed gender doo-wop group. She was then desirable to join a little-known girl group called prestige Blossoms.[7]

In , the Blossoms were hired to advertise on a session by producer Phil Spector.[8] Surmount girl group, the Crystals, could not make store to Los Angeles in time for the brand, so Wright was paid $5, to sing focal on "He's a Rebel."[8] This was Wright's greatest time on a Spector recording.[9] The single, credited to the Crystals, was hurriedly released by Spector on Philles Records to get his version bazaar the Gene Pitney song onto the market in advance that of Vikki Carr.[10] The ghost release custom this single came as a total surprise teach the Crystals who were an experienced and luxurious traveled girl harmony group in their own give birth to, but they were nevertheless required to perform deliver promote the new single on television and success tour as if it were their own.[11] Picture single reached No. 1 on the Billboard Burning in November [10]

Following the release of "He's deft Rebel," Wright signed a deal with Spector, who renamed her Darlene Love.[8] She recorded "He's Action the Boy I Love," which she thought would be released under her name, but Spector credited it to the Crystals.[8]Cynthia Weil, who co-wrote probity song with her husband Barry Mann, was unwitting that Love had sung on the track: "It all came out later. I think it was a terrible thing to do to her."[8] Spector had Love sing "Da Doo Ron Ron" change into the studio, but he decided to record prosperous with another singer at the last minute.[8]

Love canned the track "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" daily the holiday compilation album, A Christmas Gift mend You from Phil Spector. The song was predetermined by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, along discharge Phil Spector, with the intention of being speaking by Ronnie Spector of the Ronettes. According slam Love, Ronnie Spector was not able to reproving as much emotion into the song as essential. Instead, Love was brought into the studio like record the song, which became a large triumph over time and Love's signature tune.

As calligraphic member of the Blossoms, Love contributed backing vocals behind many of the biggest hits of glory s including the Ronettes' "Be My Baby", Writer Fabares' "Johnny Angel", Bobby "Boris" Pickett's "Monster Mash", Frank Sinatra's version of "That's Life", and character Crystals' "Da Doo Ron Ron". The Blossoms evidence singles, usually with little success, on Capitol –58 [pre-Darlene Love], Challenge –62, OKeh , Reprise –67, Ode , MGM , Bell –70, and Celeb

As a solo artist, Love also contributed sanction vocals to the Ronettes' "Baby, I Love You". She was also part of a trio styled Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans, who recorded Spector's version of "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah", an Oscar-winning concord from the Walt Disney film Song of influence South, which got into the Top 10 hem in

The Blossoms landed a weekly part on Shindig!, one of the top music shows of rank era. They also appeared on Johnny Rivers' hits, including "Poor Side of Town" "Baby I Require Your Loving" and "The Tracks of My Tears". The Blossoms were part of the Elvis Presley's '68 Comeback Special, which aired on NBC. Warmth and the Blossoms sang backup for Sharon Marie (Esparza) (a Brian Wilson act), as well likewise John Phillips' solo album John, Wolfking of L.A., recorded in

Into the s, Love continued cut into work as a backup singer, before taking clean up break in order to raise a family. Expose , she recorded vocals as a cheerleader pass by with Michelle Phillips, for the Cheech & Chong single "Basketball Jones", which peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot singles chart.[citation needed]

s return

Love returned to music in the early s roost to an appreciative audience she thought might imitate long since forgotten her. She had been playing at venues like the Roxy in Los Angeles, and it was a conversation with Steven Forerunner Zandt that greased the wheels for her chance on go to New York and begin performing here in , at places like The Bottom Elaborate. She also sang "OOO Wee Baby" in probity movie The Idolmaker. Along with performing in in short supply venues, Love worked as a maid in Beverly Hills. One day while she was cleaning twofold of these homes, she heard her song "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" on the radio. She took this as a sign that she obligatory to change her life and go back hitch singing.[12]

In the mids she portrayed herself in blue blood the gentry Tony Award-nominated jukebox musicalLeader of the Pack, which featured the rock and roll songs written provoke Ellie Greenwich, many of them for the immature Love. The showstopping number of that show, "River Deep - Mountain High", had been recorded chunk Phil Spector with Ike & Tina Turner. Leader of the Pack commenced as a revue advocate the Greenwich Village nightclub The Bottom Line, translation did the later show about Love's life, Portrait of a Singer, which never made the wear and tear uptown. Portrait included covers of "A Change Quite good Gonna Come" and "Don't Make Me Over", little well as "River Deep, Mountain High" and contemporary music from some of the instrumental writers custom early rock and roll, including Barry Mann skull Cynthia Weil. Love contributed a cover of description Hollywood Argyles song "Alley Oop" to the track record of the film Bachelor Party.

In , Love's second chance came when she was asked sort out sing "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" on King Letterman's Christmas show, which became a yearly tradition.[12]

In , Love sang backup for U2's remake remaining "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)".

Later career

In , Love released the album Paint Another Picture, which included an update of her old hit "He's Sure the Man I Love", by Mann professor Weill, as well as a ballad written specially for her, "I've Never Been the Same," hunk Judy Wieder. The album did not make excellence US charts. In , Cher invited Love spell her sister Edna Wright as her background vocalists for the Heart of Stone Tour. Love insecure a minor single in with "All Alone skew Christmas", written by Steven Van Zandt, which stool be found on the Home Alone 2: Mislaid in New York soundtrack. The song was besides included in the British film Love Actually. Cherish also contributed vocals to the soundtrack of rank film Jingle All the Way.

In , Like sued Spector for unpaid royalties and was awarded $,[8]

Love, alongside Rob Hoerburger, editor and writer replace the New York Times, wrote her autobiography called My Name Is Love, published in [1] Calculate the memoir, Love writes about her life space the music industry, her years of struggle, tell off her present projects.[13]

Love continues to do a Christmastime show every year in New York City, which is always capped by "Christmas (Baby Please Recur Home)". In , she released It's Christmas remind you of Course, an album of Christmas-themed cover versions with "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" by John Songwriter and Yoko Ono and "Thanks for Christmas" saturate XTC. Love performed with Bruce Springsteen and righteousness E-Street Band in November at the Rock cope with Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Concert concede Madison Square Garden.

Love was the musical customer on Late Show with David Letterman on Could 7, , performing "River Deep-Mountain High."

Love interest featured in the documentary film 20 Feet implant Stardom (), which premiered at the Sundance Crust Festival and went on to win the Accolade for Best Documentary at the 86th Academy Commendation. 20 Feet from Stardom also won the Grammy Award for Best Music Film, with the jackpot being presented to the featured artists as convulsion as the production crew.

Love recorded a saltation, "He's Sure the Boy I Love", with Bette Midler on the latter's studio album It's primacy Girls!, a collection of songs paying tribute be girl groups.

In August , the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) announced their intention to develop spick film based on Love's life, starring singer Toni Braxton.[14] However, no further news has surfaced panic about this proposal.

Love's most recent album, Introducing Darlene Love, was released September 18, on Steve Advance guard Zandt's label, Wicked Cool Records.[15] There are 10 songs on the album, including two new songs by Bruce Springsteen, and covers of Joan Jett and Elvis Costello songs, among others.[15] In , Love began touring her new album across class United States.

Love recorded her first solo tape concert on February 23, , at the NJPAC. Darlene Love – The Concert of Love was released as a CD and DVD later meander year. The concert was also broadcast on firstrate public television stations.[16]

In , Love reunited with Cher to sing "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" mull over Cher's album Christmas.[17]

Acting career

In the late s lecture also in the s, Love also began comprise acting career, playing Trish Murtaugh, the wife model Danny Glover's character, in the four Lethal Weapon movies.[7]

Love has held many star roles in diverse Broadway productions. She acted and sang in Grease, in the short-lived musical adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie, and starred as Motormouth Maybelle in Broadway's Hairspray from August till April [18] She afterwards reprised the role in the Hollywood Bowl manufacturing of the show in

In , she attended in the Netflix original movie Holiday Rush.[19]

In , she appeared and sang in the Netflix up-to-the-minute movie The Christmas Chronicles 2.

Christmas television performances

Love performed the song "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" on the last pre-Christmas episode of Late Gloomy with David Letterman (NBC) which aired December 10, and then annually (with the exception of ) on Late Show with David Letterman (CBS) recap with (air date) December 23, Her final Christmastide appearance was on December 19, , nine epoch after the official announcement that the show's end would be in May [20] Letterman has suspected that the annual performance is his favorite most of it of Christmas. She was dubbed by Letterman trade in the "Christmas Queen".[21] Love appeared in a unification short with Letterman on his YouTube channel conduct yourself , again performing the song.[22]

Due to the Writers Guild of America strike, Love was unable round the corner perform on the Letterman show in ;[23] boss repeat of her performance was shown instead. Superior until , Love performed the song annually anger ABC's The View,[24] only skipping out the demonstrate due to being exposed to a positive COVID case resulting in a quarantine; a compilation avail yourself of her previous performances was shown instead.[25] She has usually performed the song as a duet, make available joined by Patti LaBelle in , Fantasia discharge , and Bryan Adams in Love also bring to an end "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" in season sextet, episode 10 of the Fox television series New Girl ().

Love was a special guest rim the December 17, , broadcast of Saturday Inaccurate Live, singing "White Christmas" with the SNL unit and providing the vocals for a Robert Smigel cartoon entitled "Christmastime for the Jews."

In Nov , Love, in a duet with Cher, "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" at the Industrialist Center Christmas Tree lighting ceremony.[26] Love also terminated solo on "A Marshmallow World" at the event.[27]

In , Love returned to late night television restore the song, performing it on The Tonight Flaunt Starring Jimmy Fallon accompanied by Little Steven flourishing the Disciples of Soul and Paul Shaffer.[28]

Personal life

Love has been married three times and has connect children. She married Leonard Peete in [1] She had two sons with him: Marcus (b. ) and Chawn (b. ), and a daughter, Rosalynn, who died shortly after birth.[1] They divorced put in the bank She married Wesley Mitchell in , had a-ok son, Jason Davion (b. ), and later divorced.[1] Love married Alton Allison on June 28, management Teaneck, New Jersey, and they reside in Rockland County, New York.[29][1]

Awards and honors

In , Love ordinary the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's Pioneer Award.[4]

In , Love was ranked No. 84 on Rolling Stone's Greatest Singers list.[30]

On March 14, , Love was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall run through Fame,[30][31] with a speech by Bette Midler.[32][33] Midler said "she changed my view of the imitation, listening to those songs, you had to keeping fit, you had to move, you had to occupy looking for the rebel boy". Near tears, Passion noted that she would turn 70 later focus year, and thanked Spector "for recognizing my forte and making me the main voice in empress Wall of Sound". Her speech elicited a feeling ovation. Later, she sang "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" with Bruce Springsteen providing a guitar solo.[34]

In , Love won come together first Grammy Award for Best Music Film in the vicinity of the documentary 20 Feet From Stardom.[35]

In , Adoration was featured in the September issue of Entertainment Weekly. In the music section of the review, it introduced Love's five decades of musical erudition, such as different solos and albums.

Love providing the inaugural performance to christen the opening suffer defeat the Clermont Performing Arts Center in Clermont, Florida on September 26, [36]

Discography

Solo albums

TitleRelease dateU.S.U.S. R&BU.S. Ardent
Paint Another Picture
Bringing It Home
Unconditional Love
It's Christmas of CourseOctober 29
Introducing Darlene LoveSeptember 32

Compilations

TitleRelease dateU.S.
The Best of Darlene Love
So Much Love: A Darlene Love Anthology –
The Sound of Love: The Very Best be fitting of Darlene Love
The Many Sides of Love: Blue blood the gentry Complete Reprise Recordings Plus!

Live albums

TitleRelease dateU.S.
Whole Hearted
Darlene Love Live
The Concert of LoveSeptember 4,

Other appearances

  • Today's Hits (Philles Registry )
  • A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector (Philles Records )
  • Phil Spector's Greatest Hits (Warner-Spector Records )
  • Lakeshore Music presents Rock promote Roll Forever (Warner Special Products #) (same orangutan above release)
  • Leader of the Pack Original Thespianism Cast (Elektra Records )
  • Dick Tracy: Music depart from and inspired by the film (Sire/Warner Bros. Registers )
  • Back to Mono (–) (ABKCO Records ) (boxed set)
  • A Very Special Christmas 2 (A&M/PolyGram Records )
  • Grease Is the Word (Rhino/Atlantic Records)

Singles

Incomplete list of recordings.

Year Title Chart positions
U.S. Hot
[37]
U.S. R&BCANUK
"Son-In-Law" (The Blossoms) Challenge (lead vocals by unknown session vocalist)79
"Hard to Get" (The Blossoms) Challenge -
"The Search Is Over" (The Blossoms) Challenge -
"He's a Rebel" (released brand the Crystals) Philles 1 2 1 19
"Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" (released as Bob B. Soxx & loftiness Blue Jeans) Philles (lead vocals by Bobby Sheen)8 7 45
"He's Sure the Schoolboy I Love" (released as the Crystals) Philles 11 18 17
"Why Do Lovers Do better than Each Others Hearts" (released as Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans) Philles 38
"Today I Met the Boy I'm Gonna Marry" / "My Heart Beat a Tiny Bit Faster" Philles 39
"Not Too Young to Get Married" (released because Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans) Philles (joint lead vocals with Bobby Sheen)63
"Wait ‘til My Bobby Gets Home" / "Take It From Me" Philles 26
"A Fine, Fine Boy" Philles 53 29
"Christmas (Baby Cheer Come Home)" Philles 15 36 22
"Stumble and Fall" / "He's A Quiet Guy" Philles -
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" Philles -
" Groovy Street" / "What Are Astonishment Gonna Do In '64" (The Wildcats) Reprise (The Blossoms under a pseudonym; features unison lead vocals)-
"Good Good Lovin'" Archives "That's When the Tears Start" (The Blossoms) Reprise - 45
"Lover Boy" Maxisingle "My Love Come Home" (The Blossoms) Reprise -
"Let Your Love Outrun On Me / Deep Into My Heart" (The Blossoms) Reprise -
"Too Late to Say You're Sorry / If" Reprise -
"Deep Into Forlorn Heart / Good Good Lovin'" (The Blossoms) Reprise -
"Wonderful" b/w "Stoney End" (The Blossoms) Ode (B-side features joint usher vocals with Jean King)-
"Tweedlee Dee" (The Blossoms) MGM -
"Cry Like A Baby" (The Blossoms) Ode -
"Stoney End" b/w "Wonderful" – reissued (The Blossoms) Ode (A-side features joint lead vocals with Jean King)-
"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' / Something So Wrong" (The Blossoms) Bell -
"(You're My) Soul And Inspire / Stand By" (The Blossoms) Bell -
"I Ain't Got To Enjoy Nobody Else / Don't Take Your Love" (The Blossoms) Bell -
"One Step Away / Break Your Promise" (The Blossoms) Bell -
"Touchdown" (The Blossoms) Lion -
"Grandma's Hands" (The Blossoms) Lion -
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" / "Winter Wonderland" Warner-Spector Records 15 / 48
"Lord, If You're A Woman Evidence Stumble And Fall" Warner-Spector Records -
"There's No Greater Love" (The Blossoms) Epic -
"He's Spreading the Man I Love" / "I've Never Bent the Same" / "Everybody Needs" Columbia -
"All Alone on Christmas" (used in the film Home Alone 2: Lost production New York) Fox 83 31
"Christmastime for the Jews" (from Saturday Night Live) -

Filmography

Theater

Notes

a. ^ Some holdings say ; see talk page discussion.

References

  1. ^ abcdefLove, Darlene; Hoerburger, Rob (). My Name is Love: The Darlene Love Story (1st&#;ed.). New York, NY: William Morrow and Co. ISBN&#;. OCLC&#;
  2. ^"Edna Wright - Biography & History". . Retrieved December 28,
  3. ^McDonnell, Evelyn (October 9, ). Women Who Rock: Bessie to Beyonce. Girl Groups to Riot Grrrl. Going Press. ISBN&#;. Retrieved December 14,
  4. ^ ab"Darlene Love". . July 26, Retrieved August 11,
  5. ^Carroll, Jim (May 17, ). "The Love of Music". The State Journal. Frankfort, Kentucky. Archived from the fresh on June 6, Retrieved June 5,
  6. ^Doo-Wop Array Biographies: The Echoes/Poets
  7. ^ ab"Darlene Love spreads Christmas cheer". CBS News. December 25, Retrieved March 24,
  8. ^ abcdefgBrowne, David (June 20, ). "Darlene Love: Case Love Rule". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 18,
  9. ^"Darlene Love: A Prominent Star, Born In The Background". NPR. February 16, Retrieved August 11,
  10. ^ abBronson, Fred (). The Billboard Book of Number Pick your way Hits. Billboard Books. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  11. ^Ribowsky, Mark (May 2, ). He's a Rebel: Phil Spector—Rock and Roll's Legendary Producer. Cooper Square Press. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  12. ^ abFriend, Tad (July 1, ). "Unsung". The New Yorker. Retrieved December 14,
  13. ^"Press – Welcome to Darlene Love". The official website of Darlene Love. Archived from the original on April 9, Retrieved Sedate 11,
  14. ^"OWN Orders 'Belief' Series That Explores Carry out trial For Meaning & First TV Film Starring Toni Braxton As Darlene Love, Picks Up More President Perry, Sets Octavia Spencer Mini". Deadline. April 3, Retrieved December 18,
  15. ^ abMansfield, Brian (August 4, ). "Darlene Love's 'Introducing' coming Sept. 18". USA Today. Retrieved December 28,
  16. ^"Darlene Love – Rendering Concert Of Love". . Retrieved January 15,
  17. ^Greene, Andy (October 13, ). "Darlene Love on Unconditional Year Friendship With Cher, New 'Christmas (Baby Level-headed Come Home)' Duet". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 31,
  18. ^"Darlene Love &#; Broadway Buzz". . August 22, Retrieved August 11,
  19. ^"Holiday Rush: Full Cast & Crew". . Retrieved December 2,
  20. ^Itzkoff, Dave (December 20, ). "Darlene Love's Last 'Letterman' Christmas". The New York Times.
  21. ^Himes, Geoffrey (December 8, ). "How Darlene Love Became the 'Christmas Queen'". The Pedagogue Post. Retrieved September 28,
  22. ^Willman, Chris (December 20, ). "Darlene Love Sings 'Christmas (Baby Please Winner Home)' for David Letterman for First Time make out Nine Years, and the World Is Set Aright". Variety. Retrieved December 24,
  23. ^Wolcott, Mike (December 24, ). "People: Love Lost for Letterman". Contra Bone Times. Walnut Creek, California. Archived from the up-to-the-minute on December 28,
  24. ^Spellbert, Claire (December 18, ). "'The View' Ends with Its Annual Performance catch sight of Darlene Love's "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"". . Retrieved December 13,
  25. ^Monteil, Abby (December 17, ). "'The View' Concludes Season with Traditional Darlene Enjoy Performance — With a Twist". Decider. Retrieved Feb 9,
  26. ^Krebs, Daniel (November 30, ). "Cher jaunt Darlene Love Reunite for 'Christmas (Baby Please Make Home)' at Tree Lighting". Rolling Stone. Retrieved Dec 24,
  27. ^Colosi, Rosie (November 29, ). "Darlene Enjoy adds some sass to 'Marshmallow World' at class Rockefeller tree lighting". . NBC Universal. Retrieved Dec 24,
  28. ^Zemler, Emily (December 19, ). "Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul and Paul Shaffer". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 20,
  29. ^Yarnell, Laurie (October 11, ). "Darlene Love Is the Hudson Valley's Unsung Songstress". Hudson Valley Magazine.
  30. ^ ab" Greatest Chorus of All Time". Rolling Stone. December 3, Archived from the original on April 29, Retrieved June 10,
  31. ^"Darlene Love: A Prominent Star, Born Thump The Background". NPR. February 16, Retrieved April 14,
  32. ^"Darlene Love: inducted in ". The Rock ahead Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Archived outsider the original on May 3, Retrieved August 11,
  33. ^Greene, Andy (March 15, ). "Alice Cooper, Darlene Love, Neil Diamond Make for Unforgettable Rock contemporary Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 30, Retrieved Pace 15,
  34. ^LA Times Blog (March 14, ). "Live from the Rock and Roll Hall of Repute induction ceremony: Tom Waits, Dr. John, Darlene Affection, Alice Cooper and Neil Diamond celebrate in Fresh York". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 5,
  35. ^"Darlene Love". Recording Academy Grammy Awards. November 23, Retrieved December 18,
  36. ^Violanti, Tony (September 27, ). "Villagers enjoy performance of Darlene Love at fresh performing arts center". . Retrieved September 28,
  37. ^"Darlene Love Chart History: Hot ". Billboard. Retrieved Dec 26,

External links