Delores "D'Marie" Warren (May 30, 1951 - February 22, 1985) – It Must Be Love (1978)

One of the original members of Alton McClain & Destiny, Warren's voice shone on this disco anthem produced by Frank Wilson before her death at age 33 in a car crash.

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Singer Delores Warren was one of the original members of the disco trio Alton McClain & Destiny. They released three albums from 1978-81, but the anti-disco backlash prevented them from breaking through to a higher level of stardom.

Delores Marie “D'Marie” Warren, Robyrda Stiger, and Alton McClain came together as a vocal group in Los Angeles during 1978, near the peak of the disco era. They were signed early on by Polydor Records, and their debut album was produced by legendary Motown producer Frank Wilson.

The LP’s first single, the elegant disco jam “Crazy Love,” was mixed by talented remixer Jim Burgess, but only reached #69 R&B and failed to crack the dance charts. The slow jam “My Empty Room” was released as its second single did not chart.

Finally, the group scored a modest hit when the upbeat jam “It Must Be Love” was released, also mixed by Jim Burgess.

Co-written by John Footman and Judy Weider, it hit #10 R&B, #25 Dance, and crossed over to #32 on the Billboard Hot 100. Polydor re-issued their first album, re-titled It Must Be Love. They seemed poised for bigger and better things.

Unfortunately, the racist, homophobic anti-disco backlash had gotten started by the time their second album More of You dropped later in 1979. Co-produced by Frank Wilson and John Footman, the LP did not chart, despite several excellent tracks including the superb opening cut “Love Waves.” When released as a single, it peaked at #47 on the dance charts.

Another highlight was the fiery, fast-paced disco jam “99 1/2,” which would be covered five years by Carol Lyn Townes for the Breakin’ soundtrack.

The group was dropped by Polydor after their third album Gonna Tell the World (1981) also failed to chart. Alton McClain married famed songwriter and producer Skip Scarborough and became a gospel artist. Warren and Stiger joined Krystol, another vocal group, and their first two albums were produced by legendary producer Leon Sylvers III. Sadly, Warren died in a car crash, gone much too soon at age 33, shortly before the 1985 release of Krystol’s second album Talk Of The Town.

#soul #disco #AltonMcClainAndDestiny #DeloresWarren