Cass Elliot facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cass Elliot
Elliot in 1972
Born	Ellen Naomi Cohen (1941-09-19)September 19, 1941 Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Died	July 29, 1974(1974-07-29) (aged 32) Mayfair, London, England
Other names	Mama Cass
Children	1
Relatives	Leah Kunkel (sister), Joseph Cohen (brother)
Musical career
Genres	Pop Folk rock
Occupation(s)	Singer, actress
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1959–1974
Labels	FM Dunhill RCA
Associated acts	The Mamas & the Papas The Big 3 The Mugwumps

Cass Elliot (born Ellen Naomi Cohen; September 19, 1941 – July 29, 1974), also known as Mama Cass, was a famous American singer and actress. She was best known as a member of the popular music group The Mamas & the Papas. After the group broke up, she released five solo albums. In 1998, Cass Elliot and other members of The Mamas & the Papas were honored by being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Name Change

Ellen Naomi Cohen was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Her parents were Philip and Bess Cohen. They were children of Jewish immigrants. Her father owned a small business, and her mother was a nurse. Cass had a brother, Joseph, and a younger sister, Leah, who also became a singer. Her family later moved to Alexandria, Virginia.

Elliot started using the name "Cass" when she was in high school. She might have gotten the idea from an actress named Peggy Cass. Later, she took the last name Elliot to remember a friend who had passed away. She went to George Washington High School.

While in high school, Cass became interested in acting. She performed in a school play called The Boy Friend. She left high school early to move to New York City and try to become an actress.

Starting a Music Career

Cass Elliot with Tim Rose and James Hendricks as part of the Big 3

After moving to New York, Cass toured in a musical called The Music Man. She almost got a part in another show but Barbra Streisand got it instead. Cass sometimes sang while working at a club in Greenwich Village. However, she didn't focus on singing until she moved to the Washington, D.C. area.

The folk music scene was growing in America. Cass met banjo player Tim Rose and singer John Brown. They started a group called The Triumvirate. In 1963, James Hendricks joined them, and the group became The Big 3. Cass's first recording with The Big 3 was "Winkin', Blinkin' and Nod" in 1963.

Tim Rose left The Big 3 in 1964. Cass and James Hendricks then formed a new group called The Mugwumps with Canadians Zal Yanovsky and Denny Doherty. This group lasted about eight months. After that, Cass performed by herself for a while. Meanwhile, Denny Doherty joined a group called The New Journeymen. This group included John Phillips and his wife Michelle. In 1965, Denny convinced John that Cass should join their group. She did this while they were all on vacation in the Virgin Islands.

There's a famous story that Cass's singing voice improved after she was hit on the head by a pipe at a construction site. Cass herself confirmed this story in an interview. She said her voice range increased by three notes after the accident. However, friends later said this story was a way to explain why John Phillips had been hesitant to let her join the group earlier.

Joining The Mamas & the Papas

With two female members, The New Journeymen needed a new name. Denny Doherty said that Cass had the idea for the band's new name. He wrote that they were watching TV and saw a show about the Hells Angels. Someone on the show said, "Some people call our women cheap, but we just call them our Mamas." Cass then jumped up and said, "Yeah! I want to be a Mama." Michelle agreed, and John Phillips suggested "The Papas." That's how the band got its famous name.

Cass Elliot was known for her great sense of humor and positive attitude. Many people thought she was the most exciting member of the group. Her strong and unique voice was a big reason for their success. She is especially remembered for her vocals on the group's hit songs. These include "California Dreamin'", "Monday, Monday", and "Words of Love". She also sang the solo on "Dream a Little Dream of Me". The group recorded this song in 1968. Cass's version of "Dream a Little Dream of Me" was slower and more thoughtful than earlier versions.

The Mamas & the Papas continued to record music for their record company. Their last album was released in 1971.

Solo Career

Elliot with Johnny Cash, 1969

After The Mamas & the Papas broke up, Cass Elliot started her own solo singing career. Her most successful song during this time was "Dream a Little Dream of Me" in 1968. This song was from her solo album of the same name.

Later Work and TV Appearances

Photo from the special Don't Call Me Mama Anymore

Cass Elliot appeared in two special TV shows: The Mama Cass Television Show (1969) and Don't Call Me Mama Anymore (1973). She was a frequent guest on many TV talk shows and variety shows in the early 1970s. These included The Mike Douglas Show, The Andy Williams Show, and The Johnny Cash Show. She also appeared on The Carol Burnett Show and was a guest panelist on the game show Match Game '73. She even guest-hosted The Tonight Show for Johnny Carson and appeared on the show many other times.

She sang the main song "The Good Times Are Comin'" for the 1970 movie Monte Walsh. In 1972, she appeared on The Julie Andrews Hour three times.

In 1973, Cass performed in Saga of Sonora, a TV special. She also sang a jingle for Hardee's fast-food restaurants.

Throughout the early 1970s, Cass continued her acting. She had a role in the movie Pufnstuf (1970). She also made guest appearances on TV shows like The New Scooby-Doo Movies and Love, American Style.

In 1973, Cass hired Allan Carr as her manager. He thought Cass should try performing in cabaret shows, which are musical acts in nightclubs. So, they put together a show with old classic songs and some new ones. The show was called Don't Call Me Mama Anymore. This name came from a song written by her friend Earle Brown. It showed Cass's wish to be known by her real name, not just "Mama Cass."

The show started in Pittsburgh in February 1973. Cass felt ready to perform in Las Vegas again. Her show at the Flamingo received excellent reviews. The Las Vegas Sun newspaper wrote that Cass Elliot was "here to stay." She then took her show to other fancy nightclubs across the country.

Death

Grave of Cass Elliot at Mount Sinai Memorial Park

9 Curzon Square in 2012; Flat 12 was on the fourth floor (top left) in 1974.

On April 22, 1974, Cass Elliot collapsed before a TV appearance. She later said it was just from being tired.

Later that summer, Cass performed two weeks of concerts at the London Palladium. Many of these shows were sold out. She called Michelle Phillips after her last concert on July 28. She was very happy because she had received standing ovations every night. She then went to bed and died in her sleep at age 32. The cause of death was heart failure. Cass Elliot died in a flat in Mayfair, London, which belonged to singer/songwriter Harry Nilsson. Four years later, The Who's drummer Keith Moon also died in the same flat. Cass Elliot was buried in Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Discography

Albums

The Big 3

• 1963: The Big 3
• 1964: Live at the Recording Studio

The Mugwumps

• 1965: The Mugwumps

The Mamas and the Papas

• 1966: If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears
• 1966: The Mamas & the Papas
• 1967: The Mamas and the Papas Deliver
• 1968: The Papas & The Mamas
• 1970: Monterey Pop Festival (Live) (recorded in 1967)
• 1971: People Like Us

Solo

"-" means the album did not appear on the chart.

Soundtracks

• 1996: Beautiful Thing (soundtrack with Mama Cass and the Mamas and the Papas)

Singles

Images for kids

• 

  Elliot in 1973

See also

In Spanish: Cass Elliot para niños