Hairspray

There are great singers it has been said, and then there's Darlene Love. As if Hairspray needed another shot in the arm, it has acquired one of the greatest and most acclaimed vocalists in Rock 'n' Roll. Darlene's voice will become that of Motormouth Mabel until December 31st of this year. Ms. Love has achieved respect in the music business almost through no fault of her own. Her talent is easily equal to that of Aretha Franklin's and but for lack of an appropriate production team or record company there but for the grace of Aretha's gods she has not gone. However, those who know and care about these things know and care about Darlene. Visit "Column's" music section to read more about her.

Interesting that the press today connects her to "Da Doo Ron Ron" which actually has the lead vocals of the very talented Lala Brooks, Darlene's were over dubbed by the controlling malevolent Phil Spector. In My Name is Love she recounts how Spector became angry with her and erased her voice to replace it with Brook's. Be that as it may, to know Darlene is to love her and Hairspray's glory on the great white way can only be enhanced by her presence. She is no stranger to the ways of Broadway having participated in Leader of the Pack where she earned Tina Turner's envy and enmity by performing the song meant for her that is now associated with Turner, "River Deep Mountain High." Love's talent goes that deep and that high, and it appears that she will go on forever.