- Born
- Birth nameDarlene Wright
- Height5′ 2″ (1.57 m)
- Born Darlene Wright in Los Angeles in 1938, she began her career as lead singer with the vocal trio, The Blossoms. After a spell as regulars on ABC TV's variety show Shindig! (1964) in the early 60s, the trio went on to sing backup on a variety of Elvis Presley recordings, and even backed him on his 1968 NBC-TV special Elvis: The Comeback Special (1968). For a while, they backed Tom Jones during some of his Las Vegas shows. The Blossoms have the rare distinction of recording a number one hit without ever receiving any credit. Years before the advent of Milli Vanilli, Darlene Love, Fanita James and Gracie Nitzsche sang vocals on the Gene Pitney-penned song "He's a Rebel" that was championed as The Crystals' first (and only) No. 1 US hit. Because of confounding logistics, record producer Phil Spector had to use The Blossoms because The Crystals were on the wrong coast of the US at the time. And since he was up against the clock in L.A. attempting to get his production on the airwaves before the Vikki Carr version, he had no choice. Love also sang vocals on the Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans top twenty hit "Zip-a-Dee Doo Dah".- IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous
- SpousesAlton Allison(1984 - present)Wesley Mitchell(October 15, 1971 - May 11, 1982) (divorced, 2 children)Leonard Peete(October 31, 1959 - 1968) (divorced, 1 child)
- ParentsJoe WrightEllen Maddox
- Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on 3/14/11. The other inductees were Neil Diamond, Alice Cooper, Leon Russell, Tom Waits and Dr. John.
- One of David Letterman's favorite singers. On the final live show before Christmas, she appears on Late Show with David Letterman (1993) to sing her classic "Christmas, Baby Please Come Home". In one memorable appearance, her rendition was broadcast live to US troops stationed overseas. Letterman has said, "It is just not Christmas without Darlene Love".
- Has performed the song "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" every year (except one) since 1986 on the last live episode before Christmas of David Letterman's talk show. From 1986-92, and after 1993. She always performs with Paul Shaffer and the band (while at NBC, The World's Most Dangerous Band, and while at CBS, the CBS Orchestra), with additional musicians through the years, and usually with a backing choir. Letterman has said multiple times that her performance is one of his favorite parts of Christmas. Because of the 2007 Writers Guild strike she was prevented from performing on the 2007 pre-Christmas broadcast, and in place of her live performance, a repeat of her 2006 appearance was shown.
- Member of The Blossoms.
- Has three children, all boys.
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