Darlene Love

Darlene Wright, born in Los Angeles in 1941, began her musical journey within her local church choir. This early experience in gospel music set the foundation for a career that would span decades. In 1957, while still in high school, she sang with the Echoes, a doo-wop group, before joining the girl group The Blossoms. The Blossoms gained prominence as session singers, contributing backup vocals to numerous recordings throughout the 1960s, including hits for Elvis Presley and Tom Jones. A significant turning point in her career occurred in 1962 when producer Phil Spector hired her to sing lead on “He’s a Rebel,” a song credited to The Crystals. Spector subsequently renamed her Darlene Love and she recorded other tracks for him, including “He’s Sure the Boy I Love,” also credited to The Crystals. In 1963, Love recorded her signature song, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” for Spector’s holiday compilation album.

Love’s versatility extended beyond studio work. The Blossoms secured a weekly role on the television variety show “Shindig!” in the mid-60s and later participated in “Elvis Presley’s ’68 Comeback Special.” In the 1970s, she continued her work as a backup vocalist for various artists. After a hiatus to focus on her family, Love re-emerged in the music scene in the early 1980s, performing in New York clubs. This period also saw her acting debut, notably playing Trish Murtaugh in the “Lethal Weapon” film series, a role she reprised across all four movies. Her annual performance of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” on David Letterman’s late-night shows became a holiday tradition from 1986 until 2014, earning her the title “Christmas Queen.

Her career further diversified with appearances in Broadway productions like “Leader of the Pack” and “Hairspray.” In 1993, she successfully sued Phil Spector for unpaid royalties, receiving $250,000. Her autobiography, “My Name Is Love,” was published in 1998. Love was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. She was also featured in the Oscar-winning documentary “20 Feet from Stardom” (2013), for which she received a Grammy Award in 2015. Her most recent album, “Introducing Darlene Love,” was released in 2015 via Steven Van Zandt’s Wicked Cool Records. Love continues to tour, perform, and make television appearances, including annual Christmas performances on “The View” and a recent duet with Cher in 2023.