Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College continues its 2015–16 season on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at 8 pm with Darlene Love. Darlene Love has been captivating audiences worldwide for decades with her warmth, grace, and electrifying performances. From her No. 1 hit, “He’s A Rebel,” to her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, she continues to blaze a trail of success, proving why Rolling Stone magazine calls her “one of the greatest singers of all time.”
This has been a banner season for Darlene. Her new CD, “Introducing Darlene Love,” was released via Sony / Columbia / Wicked Cool Records and has been greeted with sensational critical reaction and numerous TV presentations. Produced by fellow musician and longtime friend Steven Van Zandt, it includes selections written for Darlene by Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Jimmy Webb, and many others, including two notable songs by Van Zandt himself.
At the 2014 Academy Awards, Darlene sang her powerful acceptance speech on behalf of all of the performers in the winning documentary film, Twenty Feet From Stardom. As she raised the Oscar, the entire house stood with a cheering ovation lead by the wildly applauding Bill Murray. It was another special moment in a great career. A GRAMMY Award soon followed for the soundtrack of the film.
Since the early sixties, as part of Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound hit factory, Love has done it all-from major motion pictures like the highly successful Lethal Weapon series to Broadway hits such as “Hairsprayand Grease.” She also starred as herself in Leader of thePack on the Great White Way, credited as Broadway’s first ‘jukebox musical.’ Darlene has appeared on numerous television programs, running the gamut from her weekly appearances on Shindigto a recent guest spot on the PBS special entitled Women Who Rock. An autobiographical film is currently on the drawing board with a development deal from Oprah Winfrey based on Love’s book, “My Name is Love.”
Darlene’s early career as lead singer for The Blossoms (who sang background vocals for The Righteous Brothers, Dionne Warwick, Marvin Gaye, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley,to name a few) set the stage for her emergence as a star.
Her Billboard hits include: “He’s A Rebel,” “The Boy I’m Gonna Marry,” “Wait ‘Til My Bobby Gets Home,” “He’s Sure the Boy I Love,” and the #1 holiday classic “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” a song that she performed annually with Paul Shaffer and the CBS Symphony Orchestra on The Late Show With David Letterman for 29 years before David retired in 2015.
Darlene Love received her industry’s highest award when Bette Midler, a great fan of her work, inducted her into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. During the celebration, the two ladies performed “He’s A Rebel” together. As part of the festivities, Darlene also sang “He’s A Fine, Fine Boy” backed by another distinguished fan, Bruce Springsteen.
Rolling Stone Magazine proclaimed Darlene Love to be “one of the greatest singers of all time” and that certainly rings true, but Paul Shaffer nailed it with greater veracity: “Darlene Love is Rock N’ Roll!”
