(St. Catharines, ON) – It didn’t feel or look like Christmas outside but inside the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre the feeling of Christmas was in full swing with a Christmas concert from legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Darlene Love. Love performed for about two hours at the recently opened, brand new venue located in downtown St. Catharines.
Love, once part of The Blossoms, sang back-up for many years with the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Phil Spector, The Crystals, Dionne Warwick, Marvin Gaye and U2 – just to name a few! Like many back-up singers, Love’s work went on for many years without recognition or proper credit. It’s only been in recent years Love, along with many other back-up singers, got long, overdue accolades and well-deserved credit. A large part of that is thanks to the Darlene Love film 20 Feet From Stardom (2013) which showcases Love and many other back-up singers. The film has won several awards including an Oscar for “Best Documentary” and a Grammy for “Best Music Film” in 2015.
It was over 50 years ago when Love recorded her classic trademark Christmas song Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) for the landmark holiday record A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector. The song was later recorded by U2 in 1987 for A Very Special Christmas and is a song she has performed every year for many years on the David Letterman Show, right up until Letterman’s retirement.
Now at age 74, Love, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011, headlines her own shows and is currently touring Canada and United States. She performed all her great songs from the early days right up to her latest album, Introducing Darlene Love, released this past September. The album is produced and arranged by artist / producer / E Street Band great Stevie Van Zandt and is comprised of all new recordings and features never-before-heard and classic songs from a superstar cast of songwriters eager to showcase one of the most seminal voices in music history. Elvis Costello and Bruce Springsteen contribute two tracks each to the 14-song album, and Stevie Van Zandt penned three songs. Other writers include Jim Webb, Linda Perry, Desmond Child, Joan Jett, longtime songwriting team Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, Michael Des Barres and more.
Every song was just like the record! Her voice is just amazing! With a great band and super talented background singers, it was like rock’n roll heaven. There aren’t enough superlatives to describe Love’s talent! It was obvious that the entire audience enjoyed themselves immensely at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre!
Even Darlene Love had a great night and vowed to make this an annual event!
A special thanks to everyone at FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre for their professionalism and hospitality!
To find out what’s coming to FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre click here.
Connect with Darlene Love online: (Website) (Facebook) (Twitter) (Instagram)
All photos by William Nagy.
© 2015. Please DO NOT copy or use without permission.
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