On the Town with Buddy Beaverhausen: Matt Beckoff Brings Sixties Girls to NYC's Metropolitan Room

Me & La La Brooks of the original Crystals

What an awesome afternoon delight this Saturday when three of the great girl-group divas of the 1960s appeared together at the Metropolitan Room. I met with La La Brooks in the lobby, ahead of her being onstage. I've interviewed La La and also reviewed her album from late last year. I was so happy she remembered Buddy Beaverhausen and showed such love! "Buddy Beaverhausen! I really enjoy your little sarcasms and that your blog has an edge to it," La La said to me. I can die happy now.

My friend Ron Giles and I went inside and were seated at one of the comfy booths at the back of the room. Matt Beckoff was a wonderful host to Ms Brooks (original lead singer of Phil Spector's The Crystals), Barbara Harris (of The Toys) and Margaret Ross Williams (lead singer of The Cookies). All were native New Yorkers. The Chantels' Arlene Smith was to be part of this but had to cancel over purported safety issues. Ms Smith uses a motorized wheelchair and thunderstorms were predicted (though failed to develop, gratefully, until much, much later) that could possibly spell danger. May-aybe.

with Barbara Harris and Margaret Ross Williams

What incredible true recollections were discussed by the ladies who lived through it all, however. Racism and segregation -- especially when touring in the South -- was a major focus, most of it harrowing and tragic, as well as the conditions under which the girls had to change and do their make-up and hair during that era.

Influences for this trio? Frankie Lyman and Brenda Lee were cited. Gospel music was a huge part of these women's early foundations and singing. Of course, the backstage stories were especially fabulous. The ladies talked about Phil Spector, Carole King, Neil Sedaka, Sam Cooke, Dick Clark, Little Eva, the Mob, Tony Orlando, Eydie Gorme among others.

Am I a pygmy? Is Matt a giant?

La La was, if nothing else, very outspoken. Our Ms Brooks is from Brooklyn, after all, and has the attitude and outspokenness to prove it. She referred to Darlene Love as a "sicko" (i.e., pathological liar and phony). In my Q&A with La La on this blog, I intentionally avoided asking her about Ms. Love. But Matt was fearless; he went there! "If she were here," the soft-spoken Books added tersely, "I'd tell her that to her face." Thankfully, the fellow Phil Spector alumnus wasn't present.

But La La really brought down the house when she gossiped about being on tour with Diana Ross (then of the Supremes) and how Miss Ross' diva attitude and prissiness pissed the young singer of The Crystals off. She also mentioned how today's divas, like Beyonce and Rihanna, don't know what girls in the Sixties went through, paving the way. "If it weren't for us, there wouldn't be them."

Matt, thank you so much for getting these ladies to talk. Brilliant work! We all loved hearing these amazing backstage stories. When the three women sang "Da Doo Ron Ron" at finale, it brought down the house. Can the Metropolitan Room take any more authentic girl-group power? We shall see.

.

All or Nothing: La La Brooks Gets Her Groove Back

La La Brooks, lead vocalist of the legendary Phil Spector girl group, The Crystals, has released a new solo album, All or Nothing, on the independent Norton Records label. And I have to say: WOW! But, of course, that's not all I have to say.

Situated somewhere between echos of Spector and somewhat sparer punk-styled numbers with a touch of late '50s rockabilly, La La recklessly puts her clear and piquant voice to excellent, and very expressive, use. This is not a "nostalgia" album by any means. It's a contemporary reinvention of a classic '60s voice that has been nuanced by time. All or Nothing is a musical must for this holiday season and beyond.

I love the throwback graphics of the cover art, too. (Available at Amazon.com, not only on cd and mp3 but on vinyl!) Better yet is the back cover's photo of La La sitting on the steps outside Norton's headquarters which, she writes, was the very site where the Crystals first harmonized! Obviously, the artwork, credit listing and La La's liner notes are only available in physical formats.

Phil Spector had a certain type of female vocalist in mind for his productions and her voice is distinct, strong and unique.

There isn't a single bum track on this album, with the diva backed up by a very accomplished band (Mick Collins, Matt Verta-Ray and Sam Baker, along with 15 others including the back-up vocals and everything from saxophones to trombone and organ). I love the mixture of sweetness/toughness of both vocals and instrumentals on this effort. The album ends with a touching ballad written by La La, "You Gave Me Love" after rocking most of the way through and kicking off with the divine "When My Baby Comes," which sounds more La La goes Motown than Spectoresque.

Kudos to producer Mick Collins (who emerged from Detroit's garage punk scene in the '80s) for this cohesive album of 14 tracks that, amongst them, display La La's vocal expertise, often in fresh and revelatory ways.

"Your Love Is Amazing" is a '60s-styled number that echoes The Crystals' "Uptown" as well as Spector's "Spanish Harlem." On another track that's also very '60s, "What's Mine Is Yours," La La seems to be channeling Ronnie Spector.

 http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/la-la-brooks-vows-whats-mine-is-yours-song-premiere-20131010

The title track has a very '70s pop ballad quality as does "Crazy for You" while "A Boy Like You" and "Two Is Company" have an appealing, bouncy, throwback sound to them. "Sun Is Shining" is distinctly punk with La La's voice at its rawest. "I Broke That Promise" and "Two Wrongs" take the diva into country-western territory.

"Mind Made Up" is very soulfully funky while "Dear Boy, Love Girl" is a reggae tune with very '60s girl-group-styled lyrics. Kind of "Tide Is High"-ish.

La La covers The Bee Gees' "To Love Somebody" in a fresh fashion that is truly stunning. This album showcases the 66-year-old singer's vocal versatility and plasticity and is, in many ways, even to long-time fans, a revelation.

On All or Nothing, La La Brooks is rediscovered, remade, reinvented for the 21st Century. I guarantee you'll want this album as a holiday gift to yourself and for all those discriminating music fans whom you love.

Giving Thanks for Divas on Thanksgiving 2013

Posted on a fan's Facebook Page

Thanksgiving has arrived, my turkeys, gobble gobble! Of course, Buddy B has so much to be thankful for this year, especially not having to cook for guests! (Ain't nobody got time for that.) I'm thankful for going to Bay Ridge's Lighthouse Diner, Thanksgiving afternoon, two blocks away, with my friend who called in the rezzies. Give me a bloody mary and a plate of lasagne and I'll be grateful, pilgrim! And, hey, Plymouth rocks! But also, I am thankful to the harvest of contemporary divas who keep us dancing and inspire us with their awesome voices.

Martha Wash has been our divine diva for five decades now, as a solo artist and as the voice of Two Tons of Fun, The Weather Girls, Black Box and C&C Music Factory. I am truly thankful for Miss Martha! And I adore her current album, Something Good, which is a perfect ~ and very inspirational ~ gift for the holidays. Available at Amazon.com.

I'm thankful for Cher! What a legend, icon, superstar diva, with an outstanding six-decade career. Her new album, Closer to the Truth, is marvelous and I highly recommend it for the holiday season and beyond!

La La Brooks, Darlene Love, Ronnie Spector. 1960s girl-group divas who survived Phil Spector and continue to have vibrant careers today! All have albums available on Amazon; Darlene and Ronnie having Christmas cds. Our Ms Brooks has a new album this season on the indy Norton label.

Cyndi Lauper! What more do I have to say? One of the outstanding pop vocalists of our lifetime. And she even recorded a Christmas album. Guess where you can get it!

Madonna and Lady Gaga continue to impress, tantalize and titillate. (Though neither has yet done a holiday cd; get on it, girls!)

Bette Midler, Barbra Streisand -- both boasting Christmas cds no holiday collection should ever be without.

Dj Buddy Beaverhausen and Our City Radio are grateful for our enduring divas and give thanks unto them. Not a turkey amongst them.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, and may God bless us all this holiday season! Stay safe, stay warm, stay tuned into Queens Our City Radio.

Toxic Brooks

La La Brooks will not let up on her obsession with Darlene Love. I think Blah-Blah "Babbling" Brooks should seriously start trying to productively, constructively and positively work on reviving her own career (after all, she has a new single she could be promoting instead of talking shit). Here's tonight's Facebook post via our Ms Brooks, verbatim.

It's beyond the pall, don't you think?

Hi Facebook Family,
I cannot express my gratitude enough to you guys who are backing me for the truth. I know that a lot of the same people who care about me also care about Darlene Love. I hate to keep repeating myself (I don't have dementia lol), but remember that I was a big admirer of Darlene when I'd be flown out to California to put down my tracks at GoldStar Recording Studios.
I can think back now and see The Blossoms going into the studio. I was googly-eyed over them. Fanita and Gloria would be very open-arms to me; I can remember that clearly as I think about it now. Darlene was definitely not as friendly; there was an aloofness about her. I was the one making over her while she sort of "patted me on the head" almost in a condescending manner. But it didn't matter to me at the time; I was just a teenager who was in awe of this person.
But for me to see the sickness in her today is unbelievable. I would bet my last dollar that the people around her know that she is a little loony to continue to promote these crazy assertions regarding my song. Interestingly, Darlene was trying to do the same thing with Tina Turner's "River Deep Mountain High."
She performed RDMH in the Broadway play, "Leader of the Pack" and recorded it on the soundtrack album. Over the subsequent years, she would sing this song in her live performances. And over many years of performing the song, she tried to burn it into the public's mind so that they would ultimately believe her lie that Phil had intended for that song to be hers. And it was not meant to be hers. Phil wanted Tina to sing that song. Unfortunately, if people don't do their research, it becomes very easy for them to be duped into believing that which is not true.
I think that Darlene Love has always had to lean on someone else to be successful. Anything she perceives as being potentially successful, she will grab onto in an attempt to gain success for herself. If you put a sign around a sewer rat's behind which said "You'll be a star in my underground show," she would follow him. She'll attach herself to anything and especially to anyone who she thinks might bring her any level of perceived success. Ironically, her song in the new movie is "Lean On Me" when in fact, she leans on everybody else.
Darlene's greatest success stories are the people who she claims wanted to sleep with her including the likes of Tom Jones, Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke; and now, only two days ago, she's added Danny Glover to the list.
She could never talk about being on tour with Dick Clark and all the other artists with whom we, The Crystals, traveled in this country and abroad. True, Darlene was on Shindig for two years, but she was on the show as a background singer and didn't interact with the artists to the extent that we did on tours, seeing and traveling with them night after night after night as professional performers.
Darlene has also proven herself to be a very adept liar. For example, after Whitney Houston died, Darlene jumped into the media, expressing that she was Whitney's godmother. She told this to many sources. Some of these sources began wondering why Darlene claimed this when it had been widely reported that Aretha Franklin was her godmother. At some point, reporters were getting curious about how Darlene came to be Whitney's godmother as it had never been mentioned prior to her death.
Darlene was put on the spot during one interview as she was asked about this.
She explained that she was the second godmother to Whitney. This is the story which she told: "One day I was visiting Cissy Houston and Whitney Houston was running around. She was about eight years old. I said, 'You're so cute. I want to be your godmother.' " End of story.
Here's another story. She was on the Wendy Williams show. Darlene spoke about the men who had tried to sleep with her. Wendy said, "Oh, you have two daughters. How do they feel about that?" Darlene laughed a little and answered the question. The incredible thing here is that Darlene does not have any daughters. She has three sons. I couldn't believe that when Wendy had mentioned her daughters, Darlene didn't correct her; she didn't even mention that she had any sons at all.
I think that Darlene must have always wanted daughters. I remember that we both had attended the funeral of Estelle Bennett, Ronnie Spector's sister. I had brought some photos of my kids to show Nedra Talley Ross (the third Ronette and first cousin of the other two) as I hadn't seen her in years. I was showing the pictures and Darlene was there and she saw them also. The photos showed my daughters holding my granddaughters. Darlene said passionately, "I always wanted daughters." So that's how I knew that she was lying on the Wendy Williams show.
So I think you all can see that Darlene has shown a pattern of lying. She not only lies about my song but also about other things.
How can you believe a liar?
There will never be an excuse about how Darlene perpetuates the lie regarding my song, "Da Doo Ron Ron" and how she attempts to rewrite history. I will not give up in fight to rectify this injustice.

Love you all, La La

Good God almighty! Enough already. Lalala, I can't hear you any more...!

Dueling Divas: La La Lashes Out! (At Darlene Love. Again.)

La La, Darlene & Cousin Brucie during happier days

Last summer, I documented the ongoing feud between girl-group divas La La Brooks and Darlene Love. http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2012/07/la-la-brooks-vs-darlene-love.html
http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2012/08/what-ever-happened-to-la-la-brooks.html

As the documentary, 20 Feet from Stardom, opens wider in cinemas across the USA, with a real possibility of being Oscar-nominated next year, Darlene Love continues to promote the film on tv talk shows and in the press. This, it seems, has invoked a renewed indignant frenzy from La La.

Fasten your seatbelts, she warned her Facebook fans today, paraphrasing Bette Davis in All About Eve. This is going to be a bumpy ride.

I just went to see the movie "20 Feet from Stardom," a documentary about background singers, which Darlene Love claims to be HER movie, when in fact, it's about and features background singers in general, including Merry Clayton and Lisa Fisher. I should mention that the latter two singers blew me away with their extraordinary talent. [Ahem! -- Buddy B] http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2013/06/audio-beaverhausen-20-feet-from-stardom.html

Toward the beginning of the film, there is a scene where Darlene Love and the other two members of her group, The Blossoms reunite to sing an impromptu version of "Da Doo Ron Ron." At that point, I knew where things were going.

There is a scene where you see The Crystals performing "He's A Rebel." While this is being shown, Darlene is discussing her drama of how she had been shortchanged to the point where her career really didn't begin until she was 40 years old. She blames The Crystals for being partially responsible for this (which is a lie, by the way). She gives the impression that by that record (and "He's Sure the Boy I Love) having been released under The Crystals' name, she was shortchanged out of a career. If it weren't for The Crystals' name which Phil had substituted for her own name, Darlene's career would not have been launched.

Darlene forgets that she was nowhere in sight at the time. We were an established professional group who had had records released (with Barbara on lead vocals). We had traveled extensively both domestically and internationally. In fact, we first heard Darlene sing as we were traveling on the road to a gig. That's when we heard "He's A Rebel" which was announced as being recorded by The Crystals. We were all in our teens at the time and I was the youngest. We got our manager on the phone to learn what was happening. He said that we'd have to learn the song and do it in our shows as it was released as a Crystals record.

Around the same time, the famous DJ Murray the K announced on the radio that it was not The Crystals who were singing on "He's A Rebel" which added to the confusion. We were angrier than Darlene could ever have been as we were already a professional group and vocally, we did not require a Darlene Love--or anyone else--to make us famous. We already were famous. Darlene was a housewife at home raising children and also cleaning houses for others.

The Crystals had nothing to do with stopping Darlene Love. Why didn't she travel with her group "Bob B. Soxx & The Bluejeans" with whom she had a hit with "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah?" We were on tour and were told that Bob B. Soxx & The Bluejeans would be joining us. I was happy as I thought I would get to see Darlene, whose voice I always liked. Then I saw Bobby Sheen appear with two other girls. I asked him about where Darlene was. He explained that she was married and living at home, raising children, so he had to bring a substitute for her. So that's the group she could have joined in order to launch her career.

Everything you hear from Darlene regarding and against The Crystals is a blatant lie. On some of her radio interviews, she jokes that if it weren't for her, The Crystals would not be working. If that isn't a joke!

Returning the the new movie, Darlene sings "Da Doo Ron Ron" at the beginning of the film and later shows The Crystals lip synching to "He's A Rebel" to suggest that Darlene had been the voice behind all of The Crystals' records, which could cause people who don't know the truth, to think that that The Crystals didn't sing anything on their own.

My manager and myself were able to discuss this with Morgan Neville, the director of the film. He knew who La La Brooks was and that I had recorded "Da Doo Ron Ron." When we explained everything to him, he sadly expressed regret that he had used the footage of Darlene and the reunited Blossoms singing that song. He explained that he had simply asked them to sing anything and Darlene chose "Da Doo Ron Ron." In retrospect, he wished that they would have sung a gospel song instead; it would have been a lot cheaper, considering the money it had cost to license the Phil Spector song.

At the end of the day, I must say that I admire the great background singers and respect them wholeheartedly because they spoke the truth about their lives. If Darlene would one day come forward and also tell the truth and express how she had to ride on my back to gain success, then she would gain my respect.

I would love for you guys to share this post as far and as wide as possible. Quoting from Humphrey Bogart's line in "Casablanca," "OF ALL THE GIN JOINTS IN ALL THE TOWNS IN ALL THE WORLD, SHE WALKS INTO MINE."

Ouch! Fasten your seatbelts indeed, referencing both All About Eve AND Casablanca! Our Ms Brooks signs off on her vitriolic Facebook post with -- get this! -- "Love you all,  La La"   

By the way, La La has a new single out on Norton Records, vinyl 45 rpm. It's a cover of The Rolling Stones' "Play with Fire." Should be fierce.

 

What Ever Happened to La La Brooks?

http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2012/07/la-la-brooks-vs-darlene-love.html

When the above post was created, I decided that would be the end of story, at least on my blog, no matter what drama continued. But, as things stand, I find that's so very hard to do.

Let me just add that I love Love and Brooks. I adore their voices. I enjoy seeing them perform. But La La has decided to sink her teeth into Darlene and it's becoming not only a public embarrassment on our Ms Brooks' Facebook page but a question of possible litigation. In her one rebuttal, Darlene Love, recently recovered from surgery for her heart attack, described La La's attacks as slanderous, and I for one smell litigation in the making.

When does one's free expression of thought become an issue of public harassment and/ or slander? La La is currently testing the parameters, having gone so far beyond the pall that I am beginning to lose respect for her, to be frank. Shouldn't La La be placing her energy in reviving her own career and not obsessively picking at the scabs of who was a real Crystal, and who sang "Da Doo Ron Ron" initially? Let go, baby, it's in the girl-group, Phil Spector past. So many psychic scars from those days. Ronnie knows and built a new show around it. As Ronnie warns in a song, "You can't put your arms around a memory/Don't try, don't try...."

In her single reply to your ranting, Ms Love said she related to you as a survivor of those Spector days and was hurt by your remarks. You ignored the olive branch and went on.

Who is pumping you up to keep tearing away at Ms Love on Facebook? This is not approprate discussion on such a public forum. As a friend of mine asked me privately, where the fuck is your manager? What is he getting paid for? Why doesn't he step in as you are out of bounds?

You have become a joke. Ms Blah Blah Babbling Brooks. Bette Davis never ripped into Joan Crawford with this much vitriol.

I enjoy your many recollections about "the old days" and working with Phil. But I am turned off by your unrelenting attacks on Ms Love. Kindly stop and proceed in a positive, productive kind of a way.

Ginger Casey made an attempt to smooth things over on your Facebook, yet you attacked her, her husband and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Honey, you don't need Phil to petition against The Crystals induction now!

Are you high, are you going insane? These are things I wonder as I read your cruel, paranoid hissy fits. I can't believe you've gone this far and it makes me sad. Even a frequent-posting Facebook friend suggested you get to bed after a full night of frothing at the mouth.

Last weekend, at the Laura Nyro tribute in Damrosch Park, I was speaking to a young woman, bringing up the gala Ponderosa Stomp Girl Group concert from last year. She asked if I knew La La Brooks. I said I didn't know you personally but you were nothing short of fabulous doing "River Deep, Mountain High" at that show's finale. She told me she met you in the neighborhood in the Village and thought you were very sweet.

That was encouraging. Please concentrate on your career, not on Darlene. It's uncomely for you to air dirty laundry in public.

Ta ta, La La! I'm hoping you get a grip. I'm sure you are nice to know. Let us know that sweetness again and let's hear more of your great talent, less of your bitter bile.

La La Brooks vs. Darlene Love

Darlene Love @ Joe's Pub in May, via my iPhone

My agent just informed me the United Nations purchased ALL the tickets to my show at 54 Below Theatre on Monday August 6th which means it's completely SOLD OUT!!!! I wonder who will be showing up! It's gonna be an interesting night .... lol,  Darlene Love recently posted on Facebook.

Ms Love has had a great resurgence and re-recognition, and has become of interest to a new generation. I don't know if she has new representation, but she's all over the place since her induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Performances under Studio 54 this season, Joe's Pub, BB King's Christmas Queen once more. She privately performed at NBC studios in NYC for friend Sue Simmons' retirement, and for the Ronald McDonald House. She is as beloved as she is omnipresent, not only on David Letterman every holiday season, but interviewed locally, nationally, internationally as of late. Might make another diva of the '60s girl-group era a little envious, huh?

Leery La La

Beside her success, Ms Love has a birthday tomorrow. I find it rather strange that La La Brooks chose to post this today on Facebook, then:

You know how I always have stories to tell you about things that are the truth and things that really happen in my life, LaLa begins. I will comment as we go along, otherwise offering La La's language verbatim on this matter.

The other day I received a personal letter from a fan who was venting ...about how Darlene Love has often incorrectly claimed credit for having performed lead vocals on "Da Doo Ron Ron." This letter was very heavy to me because the writer seemed very upset. I hope that after reading this message, you will all be calm and forgiving. [I was wondering if the letter was penned by, say, La La's sister.]

When I first came back from Europe where I had been living for 14 years, I got a call from the lead singer of a very famous girl group [Ronnie Spector, may I assume?], who told me "La, Darlene has been taking credit as if she did the original version of "Da Doo Ron Ron" and she has a lot of promoters booking her based on this assumption." [Ok, let me first say it is not true that Ms Love gets bookings based solely on the fact that she'll sing "Da Doo Ron Ron."] I listened to this but didn't respond as it was difficult for me to believe that someone could lie and be so mean. [Darl?] I had loved Darlene and her voice so much from the time that I was a child being flown out to California to put down the track. [Ms Love is only 6 years older than our Ms Brooks.] But, in time, I witnessed the lie myself.  [Oh-oh!]


In 1999 or 2000, I was being managed by Debbie and Bruce, a husband/wife couple who took me to "The New York Heroes Awards," which was an event honoring people including Mary J. Blige, Tony Bennett, Celia Cruz and others. When we got to the event, the first person I saw near the door was Darlene. I gave her a big hug and asked how she was doing. She said, "I'm fine but I'll be better if I can get a part in another 'Lethal Weapon' movie."  [Snark much?] We both laughed and then walked inside. I saw Mary J. Blige sitting at a table with her sister. I had wanted to meet her and now I had that opportunity. The event hadn't started yet so I was able to talk with her for about 20 minutes. I told her who I was and what group I was with and what songs I had sung. Mary was overwhelmed [!] and said that people like me had paved the way for those who came after including herself.

I then went upstairs to my seat, as the proceedings were getting ready to begin. I was sitting between my managers at the table. A gentleman came out on stage introducing Darlene as the Master of Ceremonies. I was aware of this but I had no idea as to what would happen after she came out. He introduced her as if she were a member of The Crystals. Also I noticed in the program book that she was listed as having sung "Da Doo Ron Ron." When Darlene came out, she had a "ha ha" demeanor about herself [Ooo, girl!], as if she knew that I was there in the audience but there was nothing I could do to refute what was being claimed. I was outraged. [Get where this is going, huh?]


I was now in tears and saying to my managers, "I'm going to go on stage and tell the truth." [Oh, that's such a '60s girl-group line!] I was going to shut it down. But I was sitting between both of them and they had me pinned in. [Helpless! They must have been big people.] Debbie knew that I was really upset and said that she would talk to this guy by the side of the stage. She went downstairs and I could see her speaking with this guy. Naturally, she was upset and I could see her hands flying with emotion. Then she came back upstairs. Bruce asked what had happened. I was too upset to say anything. She said that show producer acknowledged that they all knew that La La Brooks was there and knew that she did that song, but that "this is politics. We know La La's there. We'll send her an apology letter later."

At this point, Debbie went to the ladies room so I was not pinned in and was able to get out of my seat. [Phew!] I began going down the stairs, heading toward the stage. I bent down to speak with Tony Visconti who was one of the organizers of the event. I told him about what was happening and he said that "I know, La La This is f'd (sic) up." I said, "Tony, if you don't rectify this, I'm going on stage." He was very concerned about this as he knew I was ready to go up there. He showed me the guy I should go to behind the stage. I went up to him, grabbed his arm and with tears in my eyes, I said, "How dare you! You're giving out these Heroes awards to current artists; yet at the same time, you're snuffing out another hero from the past-- who did this song; you're lying and playing politics by falsely giving someone else credit!"

I now saw Mary J. Blige coming down to go to the ladies room. She saw that I was upset and asked what happened. So I explained the story to her. "Mary, this business will try to screw you over. Don't let this happen to you." She responded, "Girl, don't let them steal your joy." Her manager who was accompanying her said, "La La Brooks, we know that you did that song. We know you're the real deal!" [I.e., Darlene is NOT.] In the meantime, I saw various show people speaking on their walkie-talkies, trying to solve the problem [it was that important!], as they knew I was determined to walk on stage. Everyone was there--people from Billboard and Cashbox magazines, etc.

Suddenly I saw this woman running down toward me saying "La La, don't worry, we're going to rectify it and get you on stage." So she walked me to the back of the room. As we were walking back there, I ran into some famous basketball players who were there and had heard about this mess-up. They were yelling, "Don't worry, sis. This stuff is wrong. Don't worry, they're gonna take care of it." Then I heard Darlene on stage introducing me, telling the audience who I was and what I did. And then she said, "Ladies and Gentlemen......La La Brooks." As I approached the stage, I received an overwhelming standing ovation, which shocked me. But these people hadn't seen me in 14 years. And Cashbox and Billboard had always known that I had done that song.


My hands were shaking as I reached the podium so I made sure that I placed them firmly upon it. Darlene was standing toward my right. I calmly spoke into the mike: [Are you ready, bitches? A star is reborn.]


"Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen. I was an original member of The Crystals. My name is La La Brooks. The other original members were Barbara Alson [sic], Dee Dee Kenniebrew, Mary Thomas and Patsy Wright. I did "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Then He Kissed Me" when I was 15 years old with Phil Spector." The audience applauded. I continued, "Ladies and Gentlemen. Darlene Love was never a Crystal. But she was always Darlene Love." [Woowee, child!] I gave Darlene a smile and a hug and went offstage. [Bitch!] I received another standing ovation. [Bitch!]


I tell you this story to say how in this business there are people who will try to steal your glory. When fans write to me about things which are wrong, they are people who have done their research and know the truth and would like to tell it but don't have a platform to do so. And even Paul Shafer [Uh-oh! Dragging him in, too! Shafer will be on the phone with DL tomorrow, whining, "I never said that! I swear!"], who I love so much, has said many times that he doesn't understand why Darlene continues to try to take credit for a song she didn't do. If he doesn't know about music and who did what then who does? Paul is one of Phil Spector's good friends. [That's a recommendation these days?] So to all of you fans who've written letters to me about this, I thank you for having done your research on everything. So don't worry or be angry. Because when we have our big fan barbeque next year, I want you to come with your party faces on (lol). So don't worry, be happy........Love to all, La La

La La and Barbara Alston were the original lead vocalists for The Crystals. Phil Spector brought in Darlene Love to get more of the sound he wanted from his fronting diva, starting with "He's a Rebel." Oddly timed and bitter, I was surprised by this post. La La has posed with Darlene, both smiling. I assumed they were friendly. But now the dark side. What Ever Happened to La La Brooks? I was shocked to read such blatant resentment today. It's all playing out on Facebook, people, in the future of today. Is Darlene to Madonna as La La is to Gaga? Or vice versa?

 La La and Love: you decide! Below, dueling River Deeps.





Aw, it's all so sad. Right, Ms D?

Dick & La La

La La Brooks told a very interesting and heartfelt story about her relationship with Dick Clark to her "Facebook Family" of Friends. La La was one of the original vocalists of The Crystals, working with Phil Spector in the Sixties. La La is an amazing, accomplished singer with an electric stage presence. She will be at Iridium in September (dates to be announced). Writes La La:

"I know you, my friends know by now about the passing of Dick Clark. As some of you may or may not know, I worked with Dick on many of the Crystals' tours. These tours were called the 'Caravan of Stars.'

"You may not know this, but I was very close to Dick Clark. When I was on tour with him in the 60's, Dick would always call me to ask if I could cover for any of the artists who got sick and couldn't perform; I would fill in for those artists and still do my show with The Crystals. One day the Dixie Cups' singer, Barbara Hawkins became ill and couldn't sing, so Dick asked me, "La La, could you fill in for another artist?" And so I sang "Chapel of Love" with Rosa Lee Hawkins and their cousin Joan. Another time I filled in for the singing duo, Paul and Paula. This was a White couple and when Paula became sick, Dick asked me to fill in for her. I thought it was crazy!! I didn't know how people were going to accept me as the Black Paula!! But I did it and I made it through. I remember that the audience was laughing when we came out on stage to sing. But somehow we made it work. After our set, Dick gave me a big hug and said, 'Wow! You made it!' He always could count on La La to fill in for the sick singers.

Years later when I was living in Vienna, Austria, my son called me from New York saying that he saw Dick Clark in a restaurant on 72nd street. My son ran in there and approached Dick and said, 'You know my mother!' Dick asked, 'Who is your mother?' When my son told him who I was, Dick remembered me and asked where I was and what I was doing. My son said that I was living in Vienna and Dick responded by mentioning that he and his wife were going to be vacationing in Vienna in a few days. What a coiincidence! He said that each year he and his wife traveled abroad to different countries. He asked my son for my number and said that he would call me when he got over there. My son called me and told me what had happened and I said, 'Yeah, right. Dick Clark isn't gonna call me. He's too busy and I haven't seen him for years.'

Well, one day in Vienna, my phone rang and it was Dick Clark. I was shocked! He asked me to meet him and his wife for dinner. I met them at their hotel, we went to a restaurant and strolled down memory lane for hours. He remarked as to how good I looked and suggested that I come back to the States and get work. I told him that I was afraid and unsure as to whether I'd be able to find any work there. I had recorded a CD in Austria, 'La La Brooks & Friends, which I said that I would send him so that he could hear how I sounded now. But I was still apprehensive and fearful about returning to America.

"Shortly thereafter, Dick wrote me two letters insisting that I return home; he said the CD was THAT GOOD. He told me that if I came back, I should call him. Eventually when I did return I phoned him and he said that he was happy that I was back and that if I needed him for any assistance, I should call him. I said that I didn't want to trouble him and that I was just thankful that he had been so persuasive in getting me to have the courage to come back to America. And over the years, I would keep in touch and call him just to see how was doing. So it's all because of Dick Clark that I returned home and I'm here today.

"So I want to thank Dick for believing in me and may he rest in peace. He was such a good guy."

La La and The Crystals on American Bandstand:

The Answer & La La

Oh my God! Not many people took my last poll but I forgot to publish the answer it required, so here it is: "White Christmas," indeed, is the best-selling Christmas song of all time.

By the way, La La Brooks (pictured above with Cousin Brucie and Darlene Love) sent this message out on Facebook tonight (Christmas night 2011):

Dear Facebook Family,

On this Christmas Day, I'd like to wish everyone a most joyous Holiday Season! I hope you are enjoying yourselves, spending time with friends and family, and looking forward to the coming new year.
At this time, I'd like to share a Chrismas card message which Phil Spector sent out one year in the sixties (my manager, Art, collector that he is, shared it with me):

Be Creative This Christmas

BUILD A SNOWMAN!
Snow Head

Snow Face

Snow Arms

Snow Legs

Be Extra Creative & Make Some

Snow Balls....

HAPPY HOLIDAYS
from
PHIL SPECTOR

HAVE A BALL,

LOVE, LA LA

Below, Lady La La at the Damrosch Park girl-group revival this past June. See my archived post, "Alpha Girls," and read all about it.