Cass Elliot was born in 1941 under the name Ellen Cohen. She grew up in Virginia and the D.C. area. Her career in the earlier days was acting. In high school she performed in a few plays. Her family wanted her to go to college to make something of herself, but she went straight into the performing world--New York. She began acting there and even produced a play.
Her career shifted to music when she became a member of the Big Three, a folk trio, in 1963. The group made a couple of albums and got some spots on TV. By 1964, the group was beginning to disolve so Cass joined up with some Canadians-Denny Doherty and Zal Yanovsky and became The Mugwumps. It was there when Cassie began her long lasting crush for Denny.
It was the end of 1964 and Cass had began working solo and Denny had left to join John Phillips and his wife Michelle as the New Journeymen. The three left for St. Thomas and Cassie, in pursuit of Denny, joined them. She wanted to sing with the group, but John, who was already at work for the harmonies that would make his group famous, wouldn't let Cass because she couldn't get the high notes required for her part. But, fate stepped in and Cass started singing with the group thanks to a pipe hitting her in the head, giving her a broader singing range.
Things looked they were going nowhere, so Cass went back to the states. The others followed in 1965 and thanks to Cass, and her friend Barry McGuire, who was recording with producer Lou Adler, the four got an audition. Cass was not an official member, but when Adler gave his approval, Cass signed up quickly. With that rock and roll history was made, and the supergroup The Mamas and Papas was born.
Ok, the group was successful. But, Cass was apart of the love triangle that split up the group. But, the group's last single "Dream a Little Dream of Me" launched her solo career. She had other hits, such as "Make Your Own Kind of Music" and "California Earthquake" (whose lyrics are in the Lyrics Section).
Cass's career was looking up in 1974 when she got a series of shows at the London Palladium. Tragically, on July 29, 1974 Cass Elliot died in a London hotel room of a heart attack. Stangely and hurtfully to her family, many urban legends and lies arose from Cass's death. (When I still hear people say she choked on a Ham Sandwich, I get really pissed.)
Cass will always be remembered as a great woman and performer. When the Mamas and Papas were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cass's only daughter, Owen Vanessa, born in 1967 accepted the award in honor of her mother.
