New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center presents legendary songstress Darlene Love, who Rolling Stone calls “one of the greatest singers of all time,” on Saturday, February 9, at 8:00 p.m. The GRAMMY Award-winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee is the voice behind hundreds of chart-toppers, including “He’s a Rebel” and “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home).” Tickets are $39 and $45 and can be purchased by calling 508-994-2900, online at https://zeiterion.org/, or at the Zeiterion Box Office at 684 Purchase Street in New Bedford. Group sales of 10 tickets and more are available by calling 508-997-5664 x123.
Through the years, Love has captivated audiences worldwide with her warm, gracious stage presence and extraordinary performances. It’s no wonder the New York Times raves that “Darlene Love’s thunderbolt voice is as embedded in the history of rock and roll as Eric Clapton’s guitar or Bob Dylan’s lyrics.” Paul Shaffer says it even more concisely, “Darlene Love is Rock N’ Roll!”
In the early years, Love provided background vocals as a lead member of The Blossoms for Tom Jones, The Righteous Brothers, Dionne Warwick, Marvin Gaye, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley, to name a few. This led to her own breakout career, with Billboard hits that included “He’s A Rebel,” “(Today I Met) The Boy I’m Gonna Marry,” “Wait ‘Til My Bobby Gets Home,” “He’s Sure the Boy I Love,” and the #1 holiday classic “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).”
As part of Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound hit factory, Love has done it all, from major motion pictures like the “Lethal Weapon” series to Broadway hits like “Hairspray” and “Grease.” She starred as herself in “Leader of the Pack,” Broadway’s first jukebox musical. Love has also appeared on numerous television programs, running the gamut from weekly appearances on “Shindig” to a guest spot on the PBS special “Women Who Rock.” Her history as a sought-after backup singer for artists like Sam Cooke, Cher, and Aretha Franklin is documented in the Academy Award-winning documentary “20 Feet from Stardom,” currently available on Netflix.
Her album “Introducing Darlene Love” has been greeted with sensational critical reaction and numerous TV presentations. Produced by fellow musician and long-time friend Steven Van
Zandt, it includes selections written by Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Jimmy Webb, and many
others including two notable songs by Stevie himself.
In 2011, Love received her industry’s highest award when Better Midler, a great fan of her work, inducted her into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. During the celebration, the two ladies enjoyed performing “He’s A Rebel” together. As part of the festivities, Love also sang “He’s A Fine, Fine Boy” backed by another distinguished fan, Bruce Springsteen.
The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to provide New Bedford and the region with performing arts programming of excellence that inspires, educates, engages and entertains. Tickets are available for purchase at www.zeiterion.org, by calling 508-994-2900, or in person at the box office at 684 Purchase Street, New Bedford, Mass. Zeiterion Box Office regular hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and two hours before each performance.
