Mary Weiss, lead singer of the iconic 1960s female pop group The Shangri-Las, has died. She was 75 years old.
America's groundbreaking all-female ensemble rose to global stardom on the back of a string of hit songs about teenage love, loss, tragedy, and longing.
Weiss was central to the sound and look of the Shangri-Las, helping to pioneer the girl group era alongside the similarly rapidly rising Ronettes.
“Remember (Walking in the Sand)” (also known as “Remember”) was the band's first demo written by George “Shadow” Morton. This song became a worldwide hit when he released it in 1964.
“Leader of the Pack,” also released in 1964, was a number one hit. Both songs were included on Shangri-La's debut album, “Leader of the Pack”, released in 1965.
The girl group opened for the Rolling Stones on their 1964 U.S. tour.
On Friday, Norton Record's Miriam Linna confirmed Weiss' death to the PA news agency.
“Mary was an icon, a hero, and a heroine, not just to my generation, but to young men and women of every generation,” Rinna said in a statement to the U.S. press.
At the same time, the official Instagram account of Ronnie Spector, co-founder of the girl group Ronettes, who passed away in January 2022, also shared a condolence comment in response to the news.
Shangri-Las, LR's Mary Ann Gunther, Betty Weiss, Marge Gunther and Mary Weiss pose for a studio group portrait in the United States in 1964. (Photo credit: Gilles Petard/Redferns)
American pop girl group Shangri-Las pose for a photo on a terrace in London, England, on October 24, 1964. They are Margaret “Marge” Gunther, Mary Weiss, and Mary Ann Gunther. (Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
“We are very saddened to hear of the passing of Mary Weiss. She and Ronnie hit it off. Two fearless villains of the 60s. We are spinning Shangri-La in her honor. Please join us,” the statement said.
The group disbanded due to legal issues. Weiss said. rolling stone In 2007, I realized that my priorities had changed since my initial efforts.
“When we started, it was all about the music. By the time it ended, everything was about lawsuits,” she lamented.
She made a comeback in 2007 with the release of “Dangerous Game.” Oh No also resurfaced as a TikTok remix.
“At first I didn't know how to feel about recording again,” Weiss told the magazine about his first music release in 40 years.
“But when I got back to the studio, it felt like home.”
