The Blossoms
Encyclopedia
The Blossoms were a backing group from California
. They had a recording career in their own right and were to the American West Coast what The Sweet Inspirations were to the East Coast and The Andantes
were for Motown.
, California
, while still in high school in 1954. Originally the group was a sextet of young girls singing for fun. Calling themselves The Dreamers the group originally sang spirituals since two of the members had parents who were against their daughters singing secular rhythm and blues music popular on the radio during the early 1950s.
Fanita Barrett (later known as Fanita James), Gloria Jones, Jewel Cobbs, Pat Howard and twin sisters Annette and Nanette Williams all came from musical backgrounds. The twins had taken vocal and dancing lessons as youngsters. Fanita's brother Ronald was already a success with his vocal group, The Meadowlarks. The Dreamers were introduced to local musicians through Dexter Tisby, then successful with his own group The Penguins who had a hit with "Earth Angel".
The Dreamers joined Richard Berry in the studio and during 1955 and 1956 made several recordings for Flair and RPM Records. Among them was a version of Harry Warren and Mac Gordon's "At Last" and several of Richard Berry's compositions: "Together", "Wait For Me", and "Daddy, Daddy". The Dreamers gained attention as versatile singers and began to get studio work singing backup for other artists as well as recording a few singles of their own as The Dreamers.
The Dreamers signed with Capitol Records
where one of the executives, noticing their different skin tones, said they looked like a bouquet; which is how they became The Blossoms. Even though signing to Capitol was considered a step up the group's stay at Capitol was short yielding only three singles, none of which made the charts. The Blossoms also underwent significant changes at this time. By 1958 Annette was married, pregnant, and planning a leave of absence from the group.
Darlene Wright (later known as Darlene Love
) replaced Annette and was selected to be the lead, which the ensemble-based Blossoms had not previously had. The addition of Wright would change the style of the group but chart success was still elusive, despite Darlene's unique presence as lead on songs like "No Other Love" for Capitol in 1958, "Sugarbeat" for RCA (as The Playgirls) in 1960 and "Write Me A Letter" for Challenge in 1961.
used them on a song, "He's a Rebel", that he had acquired from singer-songwriter Gene Pitney
. Spector was having success on the East Coast with a quintet of young Brooklyn
girls named The Crystals
, who already had two hits with Spector.
Problems between The Crystals and Spector prompted him to record this new song without them. Instead he used the Blossoms, who received a meager session fee (Darlene Love states they were paid "triple scale") under the alias The Crystals, much to the dismay of the real band The Crystals. The song turned out to be a hit and firmly established Spector as a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. Over the next three years, the Blossoms, with Darlene as lead, would be the favored singers on all of Spector's sessions recorded in California. They were the Crystals once again on "He's Sure the Boy I Love". Darlene and Fanita sang with Bobby Sheen as Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans
. This combo achieved hit singles for Spector, including a version of the Disney classic "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah
."
The Blossoms most probably recorded all the backgrounds on numerous sessions by The Crystals and The Ronettes
as well as on Darlene's solo efforts under the new stage name Spector had given her, Darlene Love. The surname was in honor of Dorothy Love-Coates, a gospel singer he was impressed with. This association would prevent the group from establishing themselves as primary artists. At a crucial time in the industry, when new sounds were emerging quickly, The Blossoms seemed to be floundering as recording artists.
In 1964 the group was reduced to a trio of Darlene, Fanita, and newcomer Jean King and were a featured part of a relatively successful weekly rock'n'roll television program called Shindig!
. The Blossoms used their vocal versatility to their advantage, singing in various styles behind a variety of artists including Patty Duke
, Shelley Fabares
and Marvin Gaye
. They were the backup group for Fabares on her recording of "Johnny Angel".
Fabares stated in an interview quoted in The Billboard Book of #1 Hits that her strongest memory of that recording session was the "beautiful voices of the backup singers".
The Blossoms appeared in 1964's The T.A.M.I. Show providing backup vocals and dancing for all of Marvin Gaye's songs — their name appeared in the opening credits, but they were not introduced – they are later seen at stage left encouraging an exhausted James Brown to take the stage one last time after his climactic performance. The Blossoms also provided backing vocals to Doris Day's
"Move Over, Darling" from the film of the same name. They resumed recording under their own name later in the 1960s for labels such as Reprise
, Ode and MGM. They recorded their only album, Shockwave, in 1972 for Lion Records.
, and performing on the Las Vegas circuit until 1990 when she became a backing singer for Doris Kenner Jackson of The Shirelles
. Darlene stayed out of the music business for about five years after a brief reunion with Phil Spector in late 1974. She made a comeback in 1981 and two years later was starring in Leader of the Pack, the Broadway musical based on the life of songwriter Ellie Greenwich
. Darlene began a film acting career portraying Trish in the Lethal Weapon
movie series. She also had her own one-woman show "Darlene Love: Portrait of a Woman" at The Bottom Line in New York City. Darlene is also remembered for her hit "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
" from the 1963 album A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector
.
Following Doris Kenner Jackson’s death in 2000 from breast cancer Fanita revived The Blossoms with original member Gloria Jones and a new third member.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. They had a recording career in their own right and were to the American West Coast what The Sweet Inspirations were to the East Coast and The Andantes
The Andantes
The Andantes were a prolific female sessions group for the Motown record label during the 1960s. Composed of Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps, the group sang background vocals on numerous Motown recordings, including songs by Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, The Temptations, Stevie...
were for Motown.
Early years
Their career began in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, while still in high school in 1954. Originally the group was a sextet of young girls singing for fun. Calling themselves The Dreamers the group originally sang spirituals since two of the members had parents who were against their daughters singing secular rhythm and blues music popular on the radio during the early 1950s.
Fanita Barrett (later known as Fanita James), Gloria Jones, Jewel Cobbs, Pat Howard and twin sisters Annette and Nanette Williams all came from musical backgrounds. The twins had taken vocal and dancing lessons as youngsters. Fanita's brother Ronald was already a success with his vocal group, The Meadowlarks. The Dreamers were introduced to local musicians through Dexter Tisby, then successful with his own group The Penguins who had a hit with "Earth Angel".
The Dreamers joined Richard Berry in the studio and during 1955 and 1956 made several recordings for Flair and RPM Records. Among them was a version of Harry Warren and Mac Gordon's "At Last" and several of Richard Berry's compositions: "Together", "Wait For Me", and "Daddy, Daddy". The Dreamers gained attention as versatile singers and began to get studio work singing backup for other artists as well as recording a few singles of their own as The Dreamers.
The Dreamers signed with Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
where one of the executives, noticing their different skin tones, said they looked like a bouquet; which is how they became The Blossoms. Even though signing to Capitol was considered a step up the group's stay at Capitol was short yielding only three singles, none of which made the charts. The Blossoms also underwent significant changes at this time. By 1958 Annette was married, pregnant, and planning a leave of absence from the group.
Darlene Wright (later known as Darlene Love
Darlene Love
Darlene Love is an American popular music singer and actress. She gained prominence in the 1960s for the song "He's a Rebel," a #1 American single in 1962, and was part of the Phil Spector stable that produced a celebrated Christmas album in 1963....
) replaced Annette and was selected to be the lead, which the ensemble-based Blossoms had not previously had. The addition of Wright would change the style of the group but chart success was still elusive, despite Darlene's unique presence as lead on songs like "No Other Love" for Capitol in 1958, "Sugarbeat" for RCA (as The Playgirls) in 1960 and "Write Me A Letter" for Challenge in 1961.
Success years
During the summer of 1962 the Blossoms finally emerged successful on the charts. Then-unknown producer Phil SpectorPhil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
used them on a song, "He's a Rebel", that he had acquired from singer-songwriter Gene Pitney
Gene Pitney
Eugene Francis Alan Pitney, known as Gene Pitney , was an American singer-songwriter, musician and sound engineer. Through the mid-1960s, he enjoyed success as a recording artist on both sides of the Atlantic and was among the group of early 1960s American acts who continued to enjoy hits after the...
. Spector was having success on the East Coast with a quintet of young Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
girls named The Crystals
The Crystals
The Crystals are an American vocal group based in New York, considered one of the defining acts of the girl group era of the first half of the 1960s. Their 1961–1964 chart hits, including "Uptown", "He's a Rebel", "Da Doo Ron Ron " and "Then He Kissed Me", featured three successive female lead...
, who already had two hits with Spector.
Problems between The Crystals and Spector prompted him to record this new song without them. Instead he used the Blossoms, who received a meager session fee (Darlene Love states they were paid "triple scale") under the alias The Crystals, much to the dismay of the real band The Crystals. The song turned out to be a hit and firmly established Spector as a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. Over the next three years, the Blossoms, with Darlene as lead, would be the favored singers on all of Spector's sessions recorded in California. They were the Crystals once again on "He's Sure the Boy I Love". Darlene and Fanita sang with Bobby Sheen as Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans
Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans
Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans was an early 1960s vocal group produced by Phil Spector, and was initially conceived as a vehicle for the lead vocals of Bobby Sheen, who took the stage name Bob B. Soxx...
. This combo achieved hit singles for Spector, including a version of the Disney classic "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah
Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah
"Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" is a song from the Disney 1946 live action and animated movie Song of the South, sung by James Baskett. With music by Allie Wrubel and lyrics by Ray Gilbert, "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" won the Academy Award for Best Original Song...
."
The Blossoms most probably recorded all the backgrounds on numerous sessions by The Crystals and The Ronettes
The Ronettes
The Ronettes were a 1960s girl group from New York City, best known for their work with producer Phil Spector. The group consisted of lead singer Veronica Bennett ; her older sister, Estelle Bennett; and their cousin Nedra Talley...
as well as on Darlene's solo efforts under the new stage name Spector had given her, Darlene Love. The surname was in honor of Dorothy Love-Coates, a gospel singer he was impressed with. This association would prevent the group from establishing themselves as primary artists. At a crucial time in the industry, when new sounds were emerging quickly, The Blossoms seemed to be floundering as recording artists.
In 1964 the group was reduced to a trio of Darlene, Fanita, and newcomer Jean King and were a featured part of a relatively successful weekly rock'n'roll television program called Shindig!
Shindig!
Shindig! was an American musical variety series which aired on ABC from September 16, 1964 to January 8, 1966. The show was hosted by Jimmy O'Neill, a disc jockey in Los Angeles at the time who also created the show along with his wife Sharon Sheeley and production executive Art Stolnitz....
. The Blossoms used their vocal versatility to their advantage, singing in various styles behind a variety of artists including Patty Duke
Patty Duke
Anna Marie "Patty" Duke is an American actress of stage, film, and television. First becoming famous as a child star, winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at age 16, and later starring in her eponymous sitcom for three years, she progressed to more mature roles upon playing Neely...
, Shelley Fabares
Shelley Fabares
Michele Ann Marie "Shelley" Fabares is an American actress and singer. Fabares is known for her roles as Donna Reed's oldest child, Mary Stone, on The Donna Reed Show , and as Craig T. Nelson's love interest and eventual wife, Christine Armstrong Fox, on the sitcom Coach. She also was Elvis...
and Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
. They were the backup group for Fabares on her recording of "Johnny Angel".
Fabares stated in an interview quoted in The Billboard Book of #1 Hits that her strongest memory of that recording session was the "beautiful voices of the backup singers".
The Blossoms appeared in 1964's The T.A.M.I. Show providing backup vocals and dancing for all of Marvin Gaye's songs — their name appeared in the opening credits, but they were not introduced – they are later seen at stage left encouraging an exhausted James Brown to take the stage one last time after his climactic performance. The Blossoms also provided backing vocals to Doris Day's
Doris Day
Doris Day is an American actress, singer and, since her retirement from show business, an animal rights activist. With an entertainment career that spanned through almost 50 years, Day started her career as a big band singer in 1939, but only began to be noticed after her first hit recording,...
"Move Over, Darling" from the film of the same name. They resumed recording under their own name later in the 1960s for labels such as Reprise
Reprise
Reprise is a fundamental device in the history of art. In literature, a reprise consists of the rewriting of another work; in music, a reprise is the repetition or reiteration of the opening material later in a composition as occurs in the recapitulation of sonata form, though—originally in the...
, Ode and MGM. They recorded their only album, Shockwave, in 1972 for Lion Records.
Later years
Darlene eventually left The Blossoms in 1974 and Jean King died of a heart attack in Las Vegas in 1983. Fanita kept The Blossoms going with varying personnel, backing Tom JonesTom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
, and performing on the Las Vegas circuit until 1990 when she became a backing singer for Doris Kenner Jackson of The Shirelles
The Shirelles
The Shirelles were an African-American girl group that achieved popularity in the early 1960s. They consisted of schoolmates Shirley Owens , Doris Coley , Addie "Micki" Harris , and Beverly Lee...
. Darlene stayed out of the music business for about five years after a brief reunion with Phil Spector in late 1974. She made a comeback in 1981 and two years later was starring in Leader of the Pack, the Broadway musical based on the life of songwriter Ellie Greenwich
Ellie Greenwich
Eleanor Louise "Ellie" Greenwich was an American pop music singer, songwriter, and record producer. She wrote or co-wrote "Be My Baby", "Christmas ", "Da Doo Ron Ron", "Leader of the Pack", "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", and "River Deep, Mountain High", among many others...
. Darlene began a film acting career portraying Trish in the Lethal Weapon
Lethal Weapon
Lethal Weapon is a 1987 American buddy cop action film and the first in a series of films, all directed by Richard Donner and starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as a mismatched pair of LAPD detectives, and Gary Busey as their primary adversary...
movie series. She also had her own one-woman show "Darlene Love: Portrait of a Woman" at The Bottom Line in New York City. Darlene is also remembered for her hit "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
"Christmas " is a Christmas holiday song originally sung by Darlene Love and included on the 1963 Christmas compilation album, A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records. The song was written by Phil Spector, along with Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, with the intentions of being sung by Ronnie...
" from the 1963 album A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector
A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector
A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records is an album of Christmas songs, produced by Phil Spector, and originally released as Philles 4005 in 1963...
.
Following Doris Kenner Jackson’s death in 2000 from breast cancer Fanita revived The Blossoms with original member Gloria Jones and a new third member.