Why wasn't Darlene invited to perform at the Grammys? It seems like everyone else was. As far as I know she's still in great shape, active in show business, and actually, still quite young. If Aretha is the midwest's top female singer, Etta James is the west coast's, Irma Thomas is the south's best, then Darlene Love is the east coast's #1 female vocalist. I guess U2 needs more current hit-makers, like Mary J. Blige, joining them, to keep their high profile, but really, there's no comparison; Darlene is the Bomb!

Did you you see her singing with Sam Moore at the Grammys? They were, without a doubt, (at least on my part), the high point of this, and -any- televised music award show that I can recall. Irma was so youthful in sound and appearance that,for aminute, (I missed her introduction),I thought that she was some new \\\'old school\\\' hopeful. Of course, it was soon obvious that she was simply too good to be anyone other than herself. As much I join in on regretting lives of great soul artists cut short, another sad truth is that we pay little attention to the greats who are still healthy and in top form.