Mary Weiss, best known as the lead singer of the ’60s girl group The Shangri-Las, has died at the age of 75.
In a statement provided to the BBC, Norton Records’ Miriam Linna confirmed the news. “Mary was an icon, a hero, a heroine, for both men and women of my generation and all generations,” she shared.
Founded in 1963, The Shangri-Las was made up of two groups of sisters and formed in Queens. Among the group’s best-known songs was Leader of the pack. Mary and her sister Elizabeth “Betty” were bandmates of twins Marguerite and Mary Ann Ganser. They all attended the same school in New York City.
While performing locally, the girl band attracted the attention of producer Artie Ripp. He got the group’s first record deal. His first recording was in 1963 with Simon Says. Leader of the pack It was recorded a year later. The track was so iconic that it was placed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
Unfortunately, the group ended up disbanding in 1968. Mary Ann passed away in 1970 at the age of 22. Years after Mary Ann’s death, the group reunited in 1977 and produced new material. But the bandmates decided not to publish anything. The original group last performed together in 1989 during a reunion show hosted by Cousin Brucie.
Marguerite passed away in 1996 at the age of 48 after battling breast cancer.
Among those who paid special tribute to Weiss was X account of Ronnie Spector, the co-founder of the Ronettes. Spector notably died in January 2022. “We are deeply saddened to hear the news of Mary Weiss’ passing,” he reads in the post. “She and Ronnie were kindred spirits; Two fearless bad girls from the ’60s. Join us as we spin the Shangri-Las in her honor.”
Mary Weiss disagreed with the idea of Shangri-Las bandmates being tough
Meanwhile, Mary Weiss once said she disagreed with the idea of bandmates being “tough.”
“If you look at the old tapes, I don’t think that word ever came up,” he explained after the band broke up. “Maybe it was the boots.”
Weiss released a solo album in March 2007 and during that time talked about returning to music. “When people reach age 50, they reevaluate themselves,” she said during an interview with the Los Angeles Times. After The Shangri-Las dissolved, Weiss spent more than 30 years as an architect and worked for a New York City furniture dealership. He noted that he worked between 80 and 90 hours a week at his job.
In 2004 he decided to leave. “I needed to regroup,” Mary Weiss said of the decision. She then devoted herself to music and began writing once again.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn