Died On This Date (July 29, 1974) Mama Cass Elliot / The Mamas & The Papas

Cass Elliot (Born Ellen Cohen)
September 19, 1941 – July 29, 1974

casselliottMama Cass, as she was known, is best remembered as one of the singing women of ’60s folk rock band, The Mamas & The Papas.  She, along with Michelle Philips, John Phillips and Denny Doherty made records that are considered to be staples of the psychedelic pop scene of the late ’60s and early ’70s.  Such hits included “California Dreamin'” and “Monday Monday.”   Born in Baltimore, Elliot moved to New York City to pursue a career on Broadway.  After appearing in a few musicals, Elliot set her sights on the local folk music scene, eventually falling in with Doherty who would later recruit the Phillips’ to form The Mamas & The Papas.  The group worked together until 1971, after which Elliot released solo records, including the hit, “Dream A Little Dream of Me.”  She was also a popular personality on television, appearing regularly on such programs as Hollywood Squares, The Mike Douglas Show and Match Game.    Contrary to the popular myth that she choked to death on a sandwich, Mama Cass died of a heart attack in her sleep following a London performance.  She was just 32.  The Who’s Keith Moon died in the same room four years later.

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Dream a Little Dream: The Cass Elliott Collection - Cass Elliot

Died On This Date (March 18, 2001) John Phillips / The Mamas and the Papas

John Phillips
August 30, 1935 – March 18, 2001

As the driving force behind the Mamas & the Papas, Papa John Phillips has been called one of the greatest pop songwriters of the last forty years. If there was one American group that could hold its on against the British Invasion, it was the Mamas & the Papas (John Phillips, Michelle Phillips, Mama Cass Elliot and Denny Doherty) with their hits, “Monday Monday,” “California Dreamin’,” and “Got A Feeling.” Outside of the Mamas & the Papas, John had a huge hit with Scott McKenzie’s recording of his “San Francisco,” while helping to create the Monterey Pop Festival, a moment in musical history that introduced us to Jimi Hendrix. Three of his “greatest hits” were daughters Mackenzie Phillips, Chynna Phillips and Bijou Phillips. John battled substance abuse late into his life and passed away from heart failure on March 18, 2001.

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Died On This Date (January 19, 2007) Denny Doherty / The Mamas & The Papas

Denny Doherty
November 29, 1940 – January 19, 2007

Denny Doherty was a founding member of ’60s rock band, the Mamas and the Papas.  The group, that also included  John Phillips, Michelle Phillips and Cass Elliot, formed in 1965 and found worldwide fame and success with songs like “California Dreamin,” and “Monday Monday.”  Following the group’s breakup in 1968, Doherty released a handful of solo albums and singles, but nothing came close to matching the success he had with the Mamas and the Papas.  He reunited with Phillips in a 1982 version of the group that included MacKenzie Phillips and Spanky MacFarlane, but that was short-lived.  In later years, he produced an off-Broadway show, Dream a Little Dream that was based on the Mamas and the Papas.  He also did voice over work for Canadian broadcast television.  Denny Doherty was 66 when he died of an abdominal aneurysm on January 19, 2007.

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If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears (The Mamas and The Papas) - The Mamas & The Papas