Originally Posted by
chemelr
My research shows that Fanita Barrett, later known as Fanita James, started The Dreamers in 1954. The other members were Gloria Jones, Jewel Cobbs, Pat Howard and twin sisters Annette and Nanette Williams. Various members left and The Blossoms evolved from that start. Darlene Love showed up around 1958. Still more members came and left and the group settled to Fanita James, Jean King and Darlene Love. It is incorrect to say "Darlene Love and The Blossoms". It is just "The Blossoms". In Darlene Love's book, My Name Is Love, Fanita was ready to battle Darlene on stage in front of God and everyone as the MC announced them as "Darlene Love and The Blossoms". Suffice to say that Fanita considered The Blossoms as "her" group.
The Blossoms did not sing background to any Crystal song. Darlene Love did not originally record the Da Doo Ron Ron as she claims. Phil Spector stated twice, once in August 2012 and once in December 2013 that Darlene Love had nothing to do with the DDRR. La La Brooks of The Crystals is the one and only original singer of the DDRR. Darlene then claims she sang background - she did not. That was done by Fanita James, Gracia Nitzsche and Cher. He's A Rebel and He's Sure The Boy I Love were sung by Darlene Love and credit given to The Crystals. La La Brooks has an interesting account of why that happened but that's a story for another day.
Darlene, Fanita and Bobby Sheen made up Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans.
Darlene made no mention of Moose and The Pelicans in her autobiography. I read where Edna Wright, Darlene's sister, and Fanita James made up Moose and The Pelicans. I don't know about that as Edna Wright, Carolyn Willis and Shelly Clark were the Honey Cone starting in 1966.
Yes, The Blossoms sure did work with Bill Medley. Bill and Darlene had a torrid affair during those days but racial conditions were not good then. This comes from Darlene's book.
I have been researching Darlene Love for years. She is not the kind, loveable person people think she is. Finding information to back up what she says is VERY hard to come by. Even Darlene's birthday is questioned. Her bio at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame says she was born 26 July 1938. Other sources say 26 July 1941. One thing to remember when using the internet to research is to look for multiple sources. Just because it is on the internet doesn't make it true. That is my experience.
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