 |
Darlene LoveAmerican pop singer
Date of Birth: 26.06.1941
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Darlene Love
Darlene Love, born as Darlene Wright on June 26, 1941, is an American pop singer. She started her singing career as a member of her local church choir in Hawthorne, California. In her senior years of high school in 1959, she received an invitation to join the relatively unknown girl group called "The Blossoms". In 1962, the group signed a contract with producer Phil Spector. With her strong vocal abilities, Darlene soon stood out among her peers.
Early Career
During her time with "The Blossoms", Darlene had the opportunity to work with many legends of the 1950s and 1960s, including Sam Cooke, Dionne Warwick, The Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, and Sonny & Cher. Additionally, Darlene and "The Blossoms" provided backing vocals for Shelley Fabares' hit song "Johnny Angel" and John Phillips' solo album "John, Wolfking". They also had featured parts in several Johnny Rivers hits, including his iconic "Poor Side of Town" and cover versions of "Baby I Need Your Loving" and "The Tracks of My Tears". Although the group attempted to record their own singles, they did not receive much public recognition.
Rise to Fame
Despite not achieving much success with their own singles, Darlene and "The Blossoms" gained prominence as backup singers for many popular songs of the 1960s. Notably, Darlene sang the lead vocals on Phil Spector's well-known hit "Da Doo Ron Ron". Initially, Darlene's lead vocals were featured in the song, but later versions replaced her part with a recording of The Crystals' lead vocalist, Dolores "LaLa" Brooks. Similar fate befell other compositions, such as "He's a Rebel" and "He's Sure The Boy I Love", which were credited to The Crystals despite being performed by Darlene with the support of "The Blossoms". Darlene's name was first mentioned on the single "Today I Met The Boy I'm Gonna Marry".
Later Career and Return to Music
In the early 1980s, Darlene made a comeback to the music industry. Alongside her old hits, she decided to return to her childhood passion and began singing gospel music. In the mid-1980s, she portrayed herself in the Tony-nominated musical "Leader of the Pack", which celebrated the icons of rock 'n' roll. The show featured the standout performance of Phil Spector's recorded song "River Deep – Mountain High" performed by Ike and Tina Turner. The success of the musical exceeded all expectations. Darlene then starred in another musical about her life called "Portrait of a Singer", which showcased covers of "The Change Is Going to Come", "Don't Make Me Over", and "River Deep, Mountain High", along with original compositions performed and written by renowned rock artists, such as Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.
Acting Career
In addition to her singing career, Darlene also tried her hand at acting. She had a flourishing film career in the late 1980s and early 1990s, portraying Danny Glover's wife in the "Lethal Weapon" quadrilogy. During this time, she also appeared in the Broadway version of the popular musical "Grease" and the short-lived musical adaptation of Stephen King's novel "Carrie". Until April 2008, Darlene played the role of Motor Mouth Maybelle in the Broadway production of "Hairspray".
Darlene Love's talent and contributions to the music industry have solidified her status as one of the iconic voices of her time. Despite facing challenges and setbacks throughout her career, she continues to be recognized and celebrated for her powerful vocals and immense musical talent.
