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292:) replaced Nanette and was selected to be the lead, which the ensemble-based Blossoms had not previously had. The addition of Wright changed the style of the group but chart success was still elusive, despite Wright'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.
285:. 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, Nanette Williams was married, pregnant, and planning a leave of absence from the group.
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record the track. However, when
Spector released the record, the song was instead credited to the Crystals (much to the dismay of the actual Crystals). The Blossoms in turn received only a meager session fee (Darlene Love states they were paid "triple scale") and are not credited for contributing to the record. The song peaked at No.
259:
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, which was popular on the radio during the
322:
had learned that Vikki Carr was soon to record "He's a Rebel" for
Liberty Records as her debut single, and decided he had to rush his own version to stores. Since the Crystals (his biggest girl group at the time) were touring on the east coast at the time, the Blossoms were instead brought in to
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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 of
271:" fame), 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.
491:", which was first released in 1967 as the B-side to the "Wonderful" single, and then again in 1969 as an A-side single. They had scored their hit in the R&B chart entry, entitled "Good, Good Lovin'" in that same year. They recorded their only album,
522:
After that, singer Alex Brown, who briefly filled in for Jean King in the 1960s, took Love's spot for a brief time until
Cynthia Woodward replaced her full time. On her own, Love was pursued for a contract with
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and firmly established
Spector as a force in the music industry. Over the next three years, the Blossoms, with Wright as lead, would be the favored singers on all of Spector's sessions recorded in California.
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Jean King died of a heart attack in Las Vegas in March 1983. James kept the
Blossoms going with varying personnel, performing on the Las Vegas circuit until 1990, when she became a backing singer for
570:
Original member of the
Dreamers and Blossoms, Annette Williams, died on August 1, 2023. Just a few months later fellow founding member Fanita James died on November 23, 2023, at the age of 85.
396:", although again Spector credited the song to the Crystals). Fabares has said that her strongest memory of that recording session was the "beautiful voices of the backup singers".
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Although the
Blossoms were attempting to establish themselves as primary artists, they still contributed backing vocals behind many of the biggest hits of the 1960s including "
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542:. Following Doris Kenner Jackson's death in 2000 from breast cancer, James revived the Blossoms with original member Gloria Jones and a new third member.
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Fanita
Barrett (later known as Fanita James; August 13, 1938 – November 23, 2023), Gloria A. Jones (born September 12, 1938;not to be confused with
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471:"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
409:. The Blossoms used their vocal versatility to their advantage, singing in various styles behind a cross-section of artists, including
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The
Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits: The Inside Story Behind Every Number One Single on Billboard's Hot 100 from 1955 to the Present
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519:. Following a hiatus the group brought singer Stephanie Spruill in as a replacement, returning to live work in 1974 with Tom Jones.
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Although the group had a recording career in their own right, they were most famous for being the group to actually record the No.
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Love left the Blossoms in mid-1973 after a backstage incident caused the group to be fired as the backing singers for
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in 1966. It later peaked at #115 on the same chart, and at #45 R&B. The Blossoms also provided backing vocals for
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During the summer of 1962, the Blossoms were finally successful on the charts, although their biggest hit song, "
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In 2013, the Blossoms (namely Love, James, Wright, and Jones) were highlighted in the Oscar-winning documentary
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This article is about the American girl group. For the British indie pop band from Stockport, see
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In 1964, the group was reduced to a trio of Wright (now Love), Barrett (now James), and newcomer
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1414:"The Blossoms Songs • Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography • Music VF, US & UK hits charts"
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in the studio and, during 1955 and 1956, made several recordings for Flair and RPM Records.
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342:. This combo achieved hit singles for Spector, including a version of the Disney song "
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1 hit in 1964 in the U.S. and in the U.K.. Helping out too with the crescendo was
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234:), and for providing backing vocals for many of the biggest hits of the 1960s.
207:. During their height of success in the 1960s, the group's lineup consisted of
1139:"Good, Good Lovin' (song by The Blossoms) • Music VF, US & UK hits charts"
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The Blossoms in 1966. Left to right: Darlene Love, Fanita James, Jean King
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But Will You Love Me Tomorrow?: An Oral History of the '60s Girl Groups
392:", and the Blossoms lead singer Wright's solo efforts (which included "
963:
Girl Groups, Girl Culture: Popular Music and Identity in the 1960s
353:
Spector also used the Blossoms as the prime backing group for the
1061:(6th ed.). New York: Watson-Guptill Publications. pp.
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503:. It also appeared on a review from Billboard and also on the
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Flam, Laura; Liebowitz, Emily Sieu (September 5, 2023).
1117:. Internet Archive. William Morrow and Co. p. 100.
949:. New York: Little, Brown and Company. pp. 269–270.
483:. While with Ode, they recorded a pop–gospel version of
369:, who had previously sung for Spector on recordings by
1368:"RIP: Annette Williams of The Dreamers / The Blossoms"
829:
American Singing Groups: A History from 1940s to Today
997:
Girl Groups: Fabulous Females that Rocked the World
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495:, in 1972 for Lion Records. The album appeared on
203:were an American girl group that originated from
447:. In 1966, they provided background vocals on
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1090:(5 ed.). Billboard Books. p. 107.
338:Wright and Barrett sang with Bobby Sheen as
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881:The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music
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960:Warwick, Jacqueline (October 31, 2013).
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565:the Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)
947:Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke
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1323:from the original on January 17, 2024
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377:", which also featured the Blossoms.
295:The group provided back-up vocals to
7:
582:Gloria Jones (1954–1962; 2000–2023)
579:Fanita James (1954–1990; 2000–2023)
1505:Musical groups established in 1954
529:Philadelphia International Records
346:". They sung background on Love's
14:
1057:The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits
348:Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
1288:Girl Groups Who Rocked the World
432:The Blossoms appeared in 1964's
340:Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans
1510:Musical groups from Los Angeles
555:", Frank Sinatra's version of "
359:You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'
288:Darlene Wright (later known as
697:"That's When the Tears Start"
301:Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha
1:
1390:"In Memoriam – November 2023"
455:". In 1968, they appeared in
315:", was not credited to them.
1500:African-American girl groups
1495:American soul musical groups
627:Cynthia Woodward (c. 1975–?)
588:Nanette Williams (1954–1958)
585:Annette Williams (1954–1960)
832:. Hal Leonard Corporation.
621:Stephanie Spruill (c. 1973)
603:Gracia Nitzsche (1962–1964)
257:John C. Fremont High School
1561:
612:Carolyn Willis (1962–1964)
505:Best New Album of the Week
453:River Deep – Mountain High
443:" with his singing group,
20:
1520:Challenge Records artists
1229:– via Google Books.
1207:– via Google Books.
1017:– via Google Books.
983:– via Google Books.
945:Guralnick, Peter (2005).
693:
281:The Dreamers signed with
37:
966:. Taylor & Francis.
919:"The Blossoms Biography"
655:List of charting singles
394:He's Sure the Boy I Love
1525:Reprise Records artists
1515:Capitol Records artists
1313:"Jean King - Biography"
1285:Clemente, John (2013).
1053:Whitburn, Joel (1996).
1000:. Krause Publications.
994:Clemente, John (2000).
75:Los Angeles, California
1545:Musical backing groups
1240:Love, Darlene (1998).
1111:Love, Darlene (1998).
1086:Bronson, Fred (2003).
388:and Shelley Fabares' "
247:Their career began in
50:Background information
1317:Utahswomenhistory.org
1033:Soulfulkindamusic.net
449:Ike & Tina Turner
386:Bobby "Boris" Pickett
1540:Bell Records artists
826:Warner, Jay (2006).
758:20 Feet from Stardom
722:"Good, Good Lovin'"
708:"Good, Good Lovin'"
645:(1972, Lion Records)
548:20 Feet From Stardom
536:Doris Kenner Jackson
501:New LP/Tape Releases
274:The Dreamers joined
255:, United States, at
211:, Fanita James, and
109:1954–1990; 2000–2023
1535:MGM Records artists
1530:Ode Records artists
1268:"Stephanie Spruill"
886:Guinness Publishing
791:"The Blossoms Page"
763:Background singers
16:American girl group
1346:. Hachette Books.
888:. pp. 272/3.
884:(First ed.).
591:Jewel Cobbs (1954)
355:Righteous Brothers
226:" (which producer
190:Stephanie Spruill
1370:. August 10, 2023
1246:. HarperCollins.
1177:. August 19, 1972
1124:978-0-688-15657-2
795:soulwalking.co.uk
767:
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674:US R&B Charts
624:Alex Brown (1974)
594:Pat Howard (1954)
525:Gamble & Huff
465:Billboard Hot 100
445:The Famous Flames
361:, which was a No.
344:Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah
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166:Nanette Williams
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1470:The Blossoms
1456:The Blossoms
1442:The Blossoms
1421:. Retrieved
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1395:December 22,
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382:Monster Mash
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313:He's a Rebel
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269:Tainted Love
265:Gloria Jones
262:
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232:The Crystals
230:credited to
228:Phil Spector
224:He's a Rebel
217:
209:Darlene Love
201:The Blossoms
200:
199:
175:Darlene Love
170:Jewel Cobbs
158:Past members
105:Years active
32:The Blossoms
18:
1418:Musicvf.com
1327:January 17,
1225:January 17,
1219:"Billboard"
1203:January 17,
1197:"Billboard"
1181:January 17,
1175:"Billboard"
1161:Musicvf.com
1143:Musicvf.com
1013:January 17,
979:January 17,
930:January 17,
845:January 17,
800:January 17,
735:Filmography
665:Song Title
632:Discography
618:(1964–1983)
609:(1962–1964)
607:Edna Wright
600:(1958–1973)
557:That's Life
469:Doris Day's
441:Night Train
427:Marvin Gaye
249:Los Angeles
243:Early Years
192:Alex Brown
181:Edna Wright
172:Pat Howard
1489:Categories
1253:0688156576
1038:August 16,
770:References
489:Stoney End
485:Laura Nyro
461:TV special
411:Patty Duke
375:Be My Baby
253:California
205:California
1423:March 25,
669:US Charts
643:Shockwave
616:Jean King
527:'s label
497:Billboard
493:Shockwave
401:Jean King
330:Billboard
327:1 on the
318:Producer
307:The 1960s
297:Sam Cooke
213:Jean King
187:Jean King
126:Challenge
1446:AllMusic
1374:March 5,
1321:Archived
924:AllMusic
406:Shindig!
1460:Discogs
650:Singles
574:Members
559:", and
473:Reprise
332:Hot 100
238:History
222:1 hit "
138:Reprise
122:Philles
118:Capitol
86:R&B
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637:Albums
507:list.
479:, and
425:, and
363:
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148:, Lion
114:Labels
82:Genres
77:, U.S.
71:Origin
748:Role
719:1967
694:1966
680:1961
662:Year
384:" by
1474:IMDb
1425:2024
1397:2023
1376:2024
1348:ISBN
1329:2024
1293:ISBN
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1183:2024
1119:ISBN
1092:ISBN
1067:ISBN
1040:2021
1015:2024
1002:ISBN
981:2024
968:ISBN
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890:ISBN
847:2024
834:ISBN
802:2024
753:2013
745:Film
742:Year
725:115
711:101
700:128
567:".
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367:Cher
267:of "
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142:Ode
134:RCA
90:pop
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