Who was Cass Elliot? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Ellen Naomi Cohen

Died At Age: 32

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Donald von Weidenman (m. 1971–1972), Jim Hendricks (m. 1963–1969)

father: Philip Cohen

mother: Bess Cohen

siblings: Leah Kunkel

children: Owen Vanessa Elliot

Born Country: United States

Jewish Singers American Women

Height: 5'5" (165 cm), 5'5" Females

Died on: July 29, 1974

place of death: Mayfair, London, England

Cause of Death: Heart Failure

Ancestry: Russian American

City: Baltimore, Maryland

U.S. State: Maryland

More Facts

education: American University

Recommended For You

1

What was Cass Elliot's role in The Mamas & the Papas?

Cass Elliot was the lead singer in the iconic 1960s, folk rock band The Mamas & the Papas.
2

Did Cass Elliot have a successful solo career after leaving The Mamas & the Papas?

Yes, Cass Elliot had a successful solo career after leaving the band, releasing several albums and singles.
3

What was Cass Elliot's style of music known for?

Cass Elliot's music was known for blending elements of folk, pop, and rock, creating a unique sound that resonated with audiences.
4

Did Cass Elliot face any challenges in her music career?

Despite her talent and success, Cass Elliot faced challenges such as body image issues and industry pressures, but she persevered and continued to make music.
5

How did Cass Elliot influence the music industry?

Cass Elliot influenced the music industry through her powerful vocals, unique style, and pioneering role as a female artist in the male-dominated music scene of the 1960s.

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Childhood & Early Life

Cass Elliot was born as Ellen Naomi Cohen on September 19, 1941 in Baltimore, Maryland. Her father Philip Cohen operated various businesses. Although he faced financial problems initially, he ultimately succeeded in running a profitable lunch wagon business. Her mother Bess was a trained nurse. Elliot had two siblings: Joseph and Leah. Her sister, professionally known as Leah Kunkel, is also a singer and a recording artist.

Elliot spent her early years with her family in Alexandria, Virginia, and later moved to Baltimore at the age of 15. She studied at George Washington High School and later attended Forest Park High School.

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Music Career

While attending Forest Park, Cass Elliot developed a passion for acting. She eventually won a minor part in a play titled ‘The Boy Friend’ that premiered at the Hilltop Theatre in Maryland.

After leaving high school and moving to New York City to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, she toured with the 1962 musical ‘The Music Man’.

She then met singers John Brown and Tim Rose and the trio started performing as the Triumvirate. In 1963, Brown was replaced by James Hendricks and the group was renamed ‘Big 3’. That year, Cass recorded her first song with the group "Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod" that were released by FM Records.

In 1964, the group was featured in an "open mic" night event at Greenwich Village’s night cub The Bitter End. Also the same year, Tim Rose left the Big 3 and Elliot and Hendricks collaborated with Canadians Denny Doherty and Zal Yanovsky to form the group Mugwumps. The group performed for about eight months after which Elliot performed solo for a while.

In the mid-1960s, Denny Doherty asked Cass Elliot to become a part of the New Journeymen, a group that also consisted of John Phillips and his wife Michelle. This group was later renamed to The Mamas & the Papas.

With The Mamas & the Papas, Elliot went on to record numerous hits including "California Dreamin'", "Words of Love" and "Monday, Monday". In 1966, the group released its albums ‘If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears’ and ‘The Mamas & the Papas’. The group broke up in 1968.

Cass Elliot embarked on a solo career and released the solo album ‘Dream a Little Dream’ (1968) that included the songs "Dream a Little Dream of Me" and "California Earthquake". These songs went on to peak at #12 and #67 on the US charts.

Elliot next came out with her solo album ‘Make Your Own Kind of Music’ in 1969. Then in 1970, she released ‘Mama's Big Ones’ that included the singles "New World Coming" and "The Good Times Are Coming".

In 1971, she came out with ‘Dave Mason & Cass Elliot’, the only album she released with Dave Mason. It charted at #49 on the US Billboard chart. Then in November the same year, she reunited with the other members of The Mamas & the Papas to release the group’s final studio album ‘People Like Us’.

Television & Film Career

Cass Elliot featured in two TV variety specials: CBS’s ‘Don't Call Me Mama Anymore’ and ABC’s ‘The Mama Cass Television Show’ in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

During the early 1970s, she was a regular guest on variety shows and talks shows including ‘The Mike Douglas Show,’ ‘Hollywood Squares,’ ‘The Andy Williams Show,’ ‘The Johnny Cash Show,’ ‘The Carol Burnett Show,’ and ‘The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.’

She acted in the flick ‘Pufnstuf’ in 1970. Two years later, she made appearances on the series ‘The Julie Andrews Hour’.

The American singer performed in a music-comedy-western special titled ‘Saga of Sonora’ alongside Zero Mostel, Vince Edwards, Lesley Ann Warren and Jill St. John in 1973.

She made guest appearances in ‘The Tonight Show’ multiple times. She also co-hosted ABC’s ‘The Music Scene’ and appeared in ‘The New Scooby-Doo Movies’, ‘The Red Skelton Show’ and ‘Love, American Style’ among others.

Legal Issues & Controversies

In 1967, during her stay in London, Cass Elliot was arrested for stealing bed sheets from an apartment. This case was brought before the West London magistrates’ court, where the charges against the singer were dismissed due to the absence of any evidence. Later, she herself confessed that she had committed the act.

Substance Abuse

In October 1968, Cass Elliot was supposed to perform live solo concerts in Las Vegas at Caesars Palace over a period of three weeks. However, on the opening night of the show, she turned up on the stage barely rehearsed and looking sick. She gave a very weak performance that was panned by the audience members.

Following her ill-fated Las Vegas concert, rumors started to spread that Cass Elliot had abused drugs prior to the performance. Later, Eddi Fiegel wrote in a biography that the singer had admitted to a boyfriend that she had used heroin immediately before going on stage.

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Personal Life

Cass Elliot was married twice in her lifetime. Her first marriage in 1963 was to her band mate James Hendricks. The marriage was never consummated and was later annulled in 1968..

The singer cum actress gave birth to her first child, daughter Owen Vanessa Elliot, in 1967. She never publicly identified the father of her baby but later it was revealed that Chuck Day was Owen's father.

In 1971, Elliot married Donald von Wiedenman, a journalist. The couple divorced a few months later.

After her death, her sister Leah received the custody of Owen and raised her along with her own son, Nathaniel. Later, Owen went on to become a singer.

Death & Legacy

On April 22, 1974, Cass Elliot collapsed in the television studio of ‘The Tonight Show’ immediately before her scheduled appearance on the late night show. She was taken to a hospital and discharged after some time.

On July 29, 1974, she breathed her last at her London flat. Later, an autopsy by Keith Simpson declared that the singer had died due to a heart attack. She was just 32 at that time.

She was buried at the Mount Sinai Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California.

The City of Baltimore dedicated the day August 15, 1973 as "Cass Elliot Day" so as to honor her homecoming.

Elliot was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

The British play and movie ‘Beautiful Thing’ feature Elliot’s recordings.

The Swedish artiste Marit Bergman recorded the track "Mama, I Remember You Now" as a tribute to the late singer.

The Crosby, Stills & Nash released the video “Daylight Again” and the “Greatest Hits” album to honor Elliot in 1982 and 2005 respectively.

Facts About Cass Elliot

Cass Elliot's original stage name was "Mama Cass" and she was known for her powerful and soulful voice which helped define the sound of the 1960s.

She was known for hosting elaborate dinner parties for her friends and fellow musicians.

She had a natural comedic flair and charmed audiences with her wit and humor.

Despite facing challenges and criticism in the music industry, Cass Elliot remained resilient and continued to pursue her passion for singing.

She inspired many with her perseverance and dedication to her craft.

She was known for her warmth and kindness towards those close to her, leaving a lasting impact on those who knew her personally.

Cass Elliot Biography

You wanted to know

What was Cass Elliot's role in The Mamas & the Papas?

Did Cass Elliot have a successful solo career after leaving The Mamas & the Papas?

What was Cass Elliot's style of music known for?

Did Cass Elliot face any challenges in her music career?

How did Cass Elliot influence the music industry?