Christmas Jingles

What’s your favorite holiday tradition, something you always do?

Well, mine is pretty simple, I watch Darlene Love sing, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” on the David Letterman show, the last show before Christmas which this year is tomorrow night around 12:15 a.m.

She began the tradition in 1986, twenty-five years ago. In the beginning, she just came out onto the stage and was accompanied by Paul Shaffer and the house band, but now the act has become so popular she has a full orchestra, Shaffer’s band and a whole covey of backup singers.

At age 73, Love has been belting out hits since she was discovered in a California high school choir by infamous music producer, Phil Spector. The song “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” was originally sung by Love on Spectors’ 1963 Christmas album.

In Darlene Love’s autobiography, “My Name is Love” (which I have a copy of) she writes that her music career had almost disappeared when in 1986 working as a maid in California she was cleaning someone’s house while listening to herself singing on the radio.

She was inspired to make a comeback and her efforts paid off. Her history is fascinating and shows her will to survive and her unquestionable talent.

This past March she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. From a high school girl group to be honored on her own, it was a long time coming. She had sung behind some of the most famous singers including Elvis Presley, the Righteous Brothers and Bobby Pickett and the Crypt Kickers on their one hit wonder still heard every Halloween, “The Monster Mash”.

Tune in tomorrow night and start a new tradition, but if you should miss it, go to www.youtube.com and search “Darlene Love on Letterman,” they have all 25 years of her performances. It is one of those songs that rings in your ears for days after.

And by the way, Merry Christmas, Monticello!