Mary Weiss, lead singer of the Shangri-Las, dies age 75

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Mary Weiss, lead singer of the Shangri-Las, dies at 75

Mary Weiss, the lead singer of the 1960s pop group the Shangri-Las, whose hits included “Leader of the Pack,” has died. She was 75.

www.nbcbayarea.com

Miriam Linna, founder of Weiss' label, Norton Records, said Sunday that Weiss died Friday in Palm Springs, Calif. No cause of death was given. Rolling Stone first reported her death Friday.

The Shangri-Las, formed in the New York City borough of Queens, were made up of two pairs of sisters: Weiss and her sister Elizabeth “Betty” Weiss, along with twins Marguerite “Marge” Ganser and Mary Ann Ganser. They met in school and as teenagers began performing at school dances and teen hops.

After producer Artie Ripp signed them to Kama Sutra Productions, the Shangri-Las found enormous success as a girl group with a tough, working-class image and drama-filled songs of teen dreams and heartbreak that consumed mid-1960s radio waves. Their name came from a restaurant in Queens.
(Mary at far right)

Mary Weiss, Lead Singer of Sixties Girl Group the Shangri-Las, Dead at 75

Mary Weiss, leader of Sixties New York band Shangri-Las, has died at the age of 75.

www.rollingstone.com

Growing up in Queens, Weiss and her sister Elizabeth “Betty” Weiss joined twins Marguerite “Marge” Ganser and Mary Ann Ganser. Together, the quartet performed at local talent shows and were introduced to producer George “Shadow” Morton in 1964. After calling in some favors, the group recorded their first demo, “Remember (Walking in the Sand).”

The Shangri-Las encapsulated the height of the early-Sixties trend for teen tragedies, with the girls documenting their melodramas with songs such as “Give Him a Great Big Kiss” and 1964’s “Leader of the Pack” — a track that went on to become a Number One hit that year. In 2021, Rolling Stone included the track in its list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time at number 316.

 

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