Mary Weiss, lead singer of The Shangri-Las, dead at 75
Mary Weiss, the frontwoman of the 1960s pop ensemble The Shangri-Las, has passed away at 75.
The Shangri-Las were an American pop girl group formed in Queens, New York, in 1963. The group consisted of two pairs of sisters: Mary and Betty Weiss, and identical twins Margie and Mary Ann Ganser.
They gained prominence in the mid-1960s with dramatic and emotionally charged pop songs that often featured spoken-word interludes. Their hits include their best-known song, ‘Leader of the Pack’, along with ‘Remember (Walking in the Sand)’ and ‘Give Him a Great Big Kiss’.
The Shangri-Las were known for their unique style that blended doo-wop, rock and roll, and elements of melodramatic storytelling.
One thing that characterised the band was their talent for providing seamless harmonies, as Weiss once explained, “We rehearsed constantly until the harmonies were perfected. I think our voices blended so well because we were two sets of sisters. In a brief period of time, we had a manager, and we started doing small gigs.”
Miriam Linna, of Norton Records, said in a statement: “Mary was an icon, a hero, a heroine, to both young men and women of my generation and of all generations.”
The Shangri-Las played a pivotal role in pioneering the girl group era, alongside the Ronettes. The official X account of Ronnie Spector, co-founder of the Ronettes who passed away in January 2022, shared a tribute: “We are deeply saddened to hear the news of Mary Weiss’ passing. She and Ronnie were kindred spirits; two fearless bad girls of the 60s. Join us as we spin the Shangri-Las in her honour.”
The group gave their final performance at a reunion show in East Rutherford, New Jersey on June 3, 1989.
Weiss released her final solo album, backed by garage rockers The Reigning Sound, titled Dangerous Game, in 2007.
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