Cass Elliot

With a powerhouse voice that could shake the rafters, Cass Elliot was the driving force behind the Mamas & the Papas‘ lush harmonies and soaring hooks. As one quarter of the legendary 60s folk-rock group, the singer born Ellen Naomi Cohen in Baltimore commanded the spotlight with her massive presence and even more massive pipes. Her soulful lead vocals powered smash hits like “California Dreamin’” and “Words Of Love”, earning the band a Grammy while turning Elliot into a counterculture icon known as “Mama Cass.”

When the Mamas & Papas inevitably combusted amid romantic turmoil, she launched a celebrated solo career, scoring a top 10 hit with her take on “Dream a Little Dream of Me” and a top 40 hit with “Make Your Own Kind Of Music.” Her soulful voice and radiant charm made her a beloved TV presence as well, with memorable variety show appearances and acting roles. Sadly, Elliot’s life was cut tragically short when she died of a heart attack in 1974 at just 32 years old, though her outstanding musical legacy as a singular talent and trailblazer lives on through the Mamas & Papas' timeless classics as well as her solo hits.