Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Music Monday.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Singer & actress Darlene Love turned 85 yesterday. Born Darlene Wright on July 26, 1941 in Los Angeles, California, she grew up singing in a church choir before she became the lead singer of the girl group, The Blossoms. A meeting with legendary producer Phil Spector in 1962 led to her new name and her status as the unofficial voice of the sound he was trying to build when he had her sing the main vocal on two songs credited to The Crystals (“He’s A Rebel” and “He’s Sure the Boy I Love”). In 1963, she sang lead on Spector’s holiday song, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”, a song she would perform on David Letterman’s shows for 28 consecutive years, from 1986-2014.

Throughout the 1960’s Love & The Blossoms sang back-up for many artists including Frank Sinatra, The Ronettes, Johnny Rivers and even for Elvis on his 1968 Comeback Special. She also performed some solo work before taking a break for a family life. When she returned in the 1980’s, she found fans including Paul Shaffer, Steven Van Zandt and Bruce Springsteen who all worked with her. Love also branched out into acting including work on the soap opera, “Another World” in 1993 and opposite Danny Glover as Roger Murtaugh’s wife, Trish, in the “Lethal Weapon” movie franchise. Love was inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2011 and was featured in the 2013 documentary, “20 Feet From Stardom”.

Phil Spector (L) and Darlene Love (R) in the studio circa 1963. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Love (L) and Danny Glover (R) in “Lethal Weapon” (1987). (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Love (L), Steven Van Zandt (M) and Bruce Springsteen (R) circa 2025. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

In June 1975 Robert Altman’s masterpiece film, “Nashville”, was released. Keith Carradine wrote & performed a song in the movie that won the Oscar for Best Original Song at the 48th Academy Awards in March 1976. It was released as a single two months later and reached #17 on the Hot 100 chart. However, it reached #1 on the easy listening chart for one week 50 years ago on July 24.

Keith Carradine (L) and Shelley Duvall (R) in 1975’s “Nashville”. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Forty years ago Prince released the first single from his eighth studio album, Parade, which came out in March 1986. A month later that track became the #1 hit in the country for two consecutive weeks (4/19/86 & 4/26/86), less than a year after his song, “Raspberry Beret”, peaked at #2 in July 1985.  

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Darlene Love: “(Today I Met) The Boy I’m Gonna Marry” (1963, written by  Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector and Tony Powers).

Keith Carradine: “I’m Easy” (1976, written by Keith Carradine).

Prince: “Kiss” (1986, written by Prince).

Stay safe & well.