Personal info and family—
Birth: September 19, 1941, as Ellen Naomi Cohen in Baltimore, Maryland
Death: July 29, 1974 in London, England
Marriages:
Jim Hendricks (1963-1968)
Baron Donald von Wiedenman (1971)
Children: Owen Vanessa Elliot (w/?)
Principal site: www.casselliot.com
Pre-M&P Career—
Cass opted out of college in order to pursue a performance career which included acting and singing in a variety of musical shows. Her first performing vocal group was called The Triumvirate with Tim Rose and John Brown. This group quickly became The Big Three with the replacement of Brown by James Hendricks. In 1964, the group changed both members (with the departure of Rose and the addition of Denny Doherty and Zal Yanovsky ) and name (becoming Cass Elliot and the Big Three). Eventually, the group would change yet again, adding John Sebastien and drummer Art Stokes and thus becoming The Mugwumps (cf. Creeque Alley). Once this group dissolved (with Sebastien and Yanovsky going on to form the group The Lovin’ Spoonful.), Cass spent her time at a variety of jobs until she finally convinced John Phillips to let her join him, Michelle, and Denny thus creating The Mamas and the Papas.
Post M&P Career—
Even as the Mamas and Papas were in their last year as a group, Cass was already beginning to claim a solo career. The songs “Dream a Little Dream of Me” and “Midnight Voyage” were released as a single under the names Cass Elliot and the Mamas and Papas. Hers was the most successful solo singing career of the various members of the group in terms of album sales and name recognition. Though she did dabble in some other areas of interest—becoming especially well known for her appearances on the evening television circuit—Cass’s singing career stayed the central interest of her life until her untimely death.
MUSIC
Solo Albums:
Dream a Little Dream [1968] Tracks
Bubblegum, Lemonade, and Something for Mama [1969] Tracks
Make Your Own Kind of Music [1969] Tracks
Mama’s Big Ones [1970] Tracks
Dave Mason and Cass Elliot [1971] (w/ Dave Mason) Tracks
Cass Elliot [1972] Tracks
The Road is No Place for a Lady [1972] Tracks
Don’t Call Me Mama Anymore [1973] Tracks
Soundtracks:
Cass sang the themes and soundtracks of a number of films including:
Last Summer – “Safari Mari” [1969]
Pufnstuf – “Different” [1970]
Monte Walsh – “The Good Times are Coming” [1970]
Doctors’ Wives – “The Costume Ball” [1971]
L’amour – “Don’t Leave Me Please” [1972]
Other album credits:
Cass contributed to the albums of the following singers:
3’s a Crowd on Christopher’s Movie Matinee [1968] (co-producer )
Stephen Stills on Stephen Stills [1970] (vocals)
Cyrus on Cyrus [1971] (vocals)
Bob Neuwirth on Bob Neuwirth [1974] (vocals)
Denny Doherty on Waiting for a Song [1974] (vocals, also with Michelle Phillips)
FILM
Pufnstuf as Witch Hazel [1970]
TELEVISION
Guest appearances:
The Red Skelton Show [1971]
Love, American Style [1972]
Young Kildare [1972]
Movies:
Saga of Sonora as Mrs. James [1973]
Television hosting:
Cass appeared many times on television in the early ’70s. She had a least two prime time specials. She also appeared as a guest and performer on several shows including Match Game, Music Scene, The Ray Stevens Show, and even as a voice on Scooby-Doo. Her most well known television role, however, was as guest host of the late night talk show The Andy Williams Show on which she appeared several times between 1969 and 1971.