Darlene Love Live 1982

In her early career, Darlene Love was one of pop music's all-time busiest and most respected backup singers. But by the 1980s she had emerged under her own name as an accomplished actress and concert performer. This previously unavailable 1982 concert makes its debut, documenting a series of shows that affected her career transition.

Darlene was heard on countless 1960's hit recordings, ranging from Bobby "Boris" Pickett's "Monster Mash" to Frank Sinatra's "That's Life," and performed live with headliners on the scale of Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, and Dionne Warwick. In the studio with producer Phil Spector, she lent her voice to a series of hits, [including the Crystals' "He's A Rebel" and "Da Doo Ron Ron," The Ronettes' "Be My Baby," and Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans' "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah"], as well as releasing singles under her own name.

After appearing in 1981 at Righteous Brother Bill Medley's club, Darlene was invited to perform at a private Hollywood New Year's Eve party, with a band, the Monte Carlos, formed specifically to back her. Hearing the buzz independent producer Bob Lasiewicz arranged for an engagement on April 21, 1982, at the prestigious L.A. area jazz club Hop Singh's, from which this set is taken.

Shortly after, Love moved to NYC, to star in the jukebox musical "Leader of the Pack," followed by Broadway musical productions of "Carrie," "Grease," and "Hairspray." She appeared as Danny Glover's wife in the "Lethal Weapon" film series and performed annually to great acclaim on "Late Night with David Letterman," singing her holiday classic "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)."

Darlene has continued working into the 2000's, with her Grammy-winning appearance in the in 2013 Oscar-winning documentary "20 Feet from Stardom," and her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. More than sixty years after her recording debut, Love continues to perform on stages throughout the country.