Cass Elliot

CASS ELLIOT d1974. Notable American singer nicknamed "Mama Cass", best known as a member of the highly successful 1960s folk rock harmony group The Mamas and Papas who recorded and performed between 1965-68 selling over 40 million records. She was born in Baltimore, the daughter of Philip Cohen d1962 and the former Bess Levine d1994. Both her parents were the children of Jewish immigrants from the Russian Empire. Her father owned a small business (lunch wagon) and her mother was a trained nurse. She adopted the name "Cass" in high school, possibly borrowing it from actress Peggy Cass. She provided wonderful vocals on all of the most notable songs of the Mamas & Papas including ; "California Dreaming" (1965) / "Monday Monday" (1966) / "Words of Love" (1966) / "Dedicated To the One I Love" (1967) and "Dream a Little Dream of Me" (1968). After they split she enjoyed a productive solo career releasing five studio albums. Cass Elliot battled with addiction and weight issues throughout her life and died of a heart attack aged just 32 in London on July 29th 1974 after completing a two week engagement at the Palladium. She died in Flat 12, 9 Curzon Place, Mayfair which was on loan from singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson. Four years later (7th September 1978), The Who's drummer Keith Moon was to die of a drug overdose in the same flat at the same age.