From the Desk of Jim R, Take 2, Column 297, A Preview: "Darlene Love - All You Need Is Love On Valentine's Day (The Ridgefield Playhouse)

By James V. Ruocco

Hoping to put "the romance" back into Valentine's Day, Grammy winner Darlene Love takes The Ridgefield Playhouse stage on Monday, February 14th to perform a medley of her longtime hit songs, a trunk load of romantic favorites, a surprise or two and oh yes, song requests from her many fans in the audience.
Still going strong - Love who turned 80 last July - has no plans of giving up the spotlight and hopes to rock the concert stage for many years to come.

"I'll probably be doing this till I'm 100," she says. "I have songs in my show that the audience can sing with me and enjoy along with me. I make them a part of my show so it's not just about watching me. It's about you performing along with me.
"And we do the whole song," she adds. "Not just the chorus."

True to her roots - Love's joy for singing began with her joining the church choir as a child - the singer will look back on her long career, performing everything from gospel favorite "Marvelous" to pop-tinged classics that include "He's a Rebel," "The Boy I'm Going to Marry," "Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home)", " "Wait 'Til My Bobby Comes Home," "Where Is the Love," "He's Sure the Boy That I Love," "There's No Greater Love," "Too Late to Say You're Sorry" and "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration."

"I have to do the classics," she explains. "I can't go anywhere without them."

Part of an all-girl back-up group that sang with some of the music industry's greats - Tom Jones, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley - Love's career began right after high school. Soon after, she caught the attention of music icon producer Phil Spector who hired her to sing lead vocals on "He's A Rebel" and "He's Sure the Boy That I Love," which quickly turned her into an overnight recording artist.

"I'm so grateful and thankful to God that I have been able to do this," Love confesses. "I have had people around me who care and really cared about me."

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011, Love is featured in the Oscar-winning documentary "20 Feet From Stardom," for which she won a Grammy Award. In the mid 80's, she portrayed herself in the Tony Award nominated musical "Leader of the Pack" and was featured as Danny Glover's wife Trish Murtaugh in the "Lethal Weapon" film series. Other Broadway credits include Teen Angel in the 90's revival of "Grease," Motormouth Maybelle in "Hairspray" and Miss Gardner in the short-lived musical "Carrie" opposite Betty Buckley.
On television, Love has performed on "Shindig!" "Elvis Presley's '68 Comeback Special," "Late Night With David Letterman," "The View," "New Girl" and "Saturday Night Live." Most recently, she was seen in the Netflix original movies "Holiday Rush" and "The Christmas Chronicles 2."

Touted by "Rolling Stone" magazine as "One of the Greatest 100 Singers of All Time," Love's Valentine concert at The Ridgefield Playhouse is not "only going to be special," but per the singer, it's backed by "brand new arrangements" and a band of "great musicians" that will not only celebrate the highlights of her music career, but will lovingly recreate the sound of the '60s with nostalgic twists that pay homage to the past for a modern-day audience.

That's not all.

To help put her audience in a romantic mood for her concert, "Darlene Love - All You Need Is Love On Valentine's Day" the celebration kicks off at 6:30 p.m. at the Ridgefield-based venue with chocolates and a free glass of bubbly for all ticket holders.

Raffles will also be held to win jewelry, a spa package from the Adam Broderick Salon & Spa and a special "Date Night" event for two that includes a chauffeur-driven BMW (courtesy of BMW of Ridgefield) for the night, a romantic dinner at Bernard's and tickets to a Playhouse show of the winner's choice.

The concert - part of the Pepsi Rock Series Driven by North American Motor Car - features additional support from media sponsor WEBE-108 FM and Diamond Sponsors Cox, Berisford, Raminowitz, Ross & Stockel Families.

"Darlene Love - All You Need Is Love On Valentine's Day" will be performed Monday, February 14, 2022 at The Ridegefield Playhouse (80 East Ridge Rd., Ridgefield, CT).
Showtime is 8:00 p.m.
Tickets are $85 (orchestra), $80 (mezzanine) and $75 (balcony).
For tickets or more information, call (203) 438-5795.