Darlene Love

Unarguably one of the most ubiquitous and influential singers in rock and roll, Darlene Love has been singing since the 1950s and shows no signs of stopping. Always a favorite at The Lyric Theatre, Love returns for another soul-filled evening. Featured in the Academy Award-winning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom, Darlene Love had a hand in some of the biggest hits of the 1960s, from Bobby Pickett's “Monster Mash” to “Be My Baby” by The Ronnette's. The Rock and Roll of Fame inductee will perform some of her most celebrated songs from the past 60 years including "Christmas Baby (Please Come Home)" and "He's a Rebel" to name a few.

Darlene Love realized her love for singing when she was a young girl after she began singing in her local church choir. It wasn't long until Love had started her own girl-group called the Blossoms. In 1962, she was signed by the famous music producer Phil Spector and Love began making a name for herself. She quickly impressed her fellow musicians and worked with major artists including Sam Cooke, Sonny and Cher, and Elvis Presley. Love made her mark on the music industry and can be heard in some of the most memorable music from the era, including "The Tracks of My Tears," "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah," and the Rolling Stone's “Gimme Shelter.” In addition to her music career, Darlene Love is also an actress, appearing as Danny Glover's wife in the Lethal Weapon series. She also performed in Grease, Carrie, and Hairspray as well as appearing on television programs like Saturday Night Live.

Recently, Darlene Love has begun to reach a whole new, younger audience after being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011 and being featured in the 2013 documentary 20 Feet from Stardom, which highlighted the careers of back-up singers of the '50s, '60s, and '70s whose work is often underappreciated. Most recently, Love released a new album, called Introducing Darlene Love, which is out now. The album was produced on Steven Van Zandt's label Wicked Cool Records and features singles by Van Zandt and two new songs by Bruce Springsteen. An autobiographical film is currently being developed based on Darlene Love's 1998 autobiography "My Name is Love." The film is being produced by Oprah Winfrey and is expected to star Toni Braxton as Darlene Love. At The Lyric this season, Darlene Love will sing some of her most recognizable hits from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.