Mary Weiss, lead singer of the group Shangri-Las, famous in the 1960s for hits such as “Leader of the Pack” and “Give Him a Great Big Kiss”, has died at the age of 75. Her death was confirmed by Miriam Linna of Norton Records, who released Weiss’ only solo album in 2007. The cause of her death was not revealed.
“Mary was an icon, a hero, to young men and women of my generation and all generations,” Linna said.
Innovative band
Along with the Ronettes, the Shangri-Las symbolize the girl group era more than any other girl group. Weiss was at the center of the group’s sound and image, with a young, yearning voice that echoed over the radio and long blonde hair that made her the object of countless admirers at the time. With a string of pop songs written by George “Shadow” Morton, Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry and produced by Morton, the group’s heyday was brief – just 1964 and 1965 – but its impact was timeless.
The Shangri-Las broke new ground with the song “Leader of the Pack,” which spawned countless imitations and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Her songs often addressed problematic relationships with “bad boys”, embodying a revolutionary sexuality for girls of the time. In addition to the modern lyrics, the female trio had a look that was widely copied and marked the 60s before the hippie era. Musically, they also represented the “wall of sound”, a production style that incorporated echoes, sound effects and made everything sound epic.
Trajectory
Weiss, who grew up in Queens, New York, and her sister Betty attended the same school as their future bandmates, twins Margie and Mary-Ann Ganser. The group began performing in nightclubs in 1963, attracting the attention of producer Artie Ripp, who orchestrated the group’s first recording contract. He helped arrange the group’s first recording contract with Kama Sutra, leading to their first recording in December 1963, “Simon Says.”
Success came with “Shadow” Morton, associate of Phil Spector (producer of the Ronettes), who chose the girls to record “Remember (Walking in the Sand)”. The song reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1964 and established the group on the music scene. That same year, “Leader of the Pack” reached No. 1, a teen mini-opera with a dramatic spoken introduction and motorcycle sound effects. With the release and television appearances, Morton highlighted Weiss’ ability as an actress, not just a singer.
The group performed with the Beatles, toured with the Rolling Stones, and appeared on several television shows of the time, continuing to enjoy success with hits such as “Give Him a Great Big Kiss” and “Out in the Streets.” The image of tough but vulnerable New York teenagers was genuine. “We didn’t get along at first,” Weiss recalled of the Ganser twins. “They were quite rude, with gestures and language, chewing gum and torn socks. We said, ‘That’s not okay, you must be women,’ and they said, ‘We don’t want to be women.'” Weiss noted that the group was just teenager – he was only 15 when “Remember” was released – and faced educational instability; all members except Weiss left the group at some point.
The wave of girl groups was overshadowed by the British invasion – the Beatles, the Stones, the Who, etc. – and psychedelia, and the Shangri-Las disbanded in 1968 amid a series of lawsuits. Weiss was 19 at the time, and her legal battles kept her away from the music business for a decade. “My mother gave up my life when I was 14,” Weiss said.
But the Shangri-Las left a great legacy. First there were the Beach Boys, Jan and Dean and other surf music vocal groups, who drew inspiration from their melodies to create harmonies into historic hits. Later, the New York Dolls, a major influence on punk rock, incorporated “Give Him a Great Big Kiss” into their repertoire. Later, the band Blondie based their sound on the style of girl groups, with Deborah Harry even incorporating the look. In addition, the repertoire of the musical “Grease” was practically based on the vocal style and theatrical performances of the group.
The quartet reunited in 1976, signed by Sire Records, but were dissatisfied with the recorded songs, which remain unreleased to this day. After that, they occasionally reunited for tours. Weiss, however, only released one solo album, “Dangerous Game,” in 2007. She opened up about the challenges she faced in the sexist 1960s music industry as a teenager in the book “But Will You Love Me Tomorrow? “, published last year.
Source: Terra
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
