The lead vocalist of the 1960s musical group The Shangri-Las, Mary Weiss, passed away at the age of 75.
The American female group (“Leader Of The Pack”), which was subsequently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s singles category, and “Remember (Walking In The Sand)” were among the successful songs about adolescent love and tragedy that propelled the group to fame.
Alongside The Ronettes, Weiss was instrumental in the sound and appearance of The Shangri-Las, which propelled the girl group era to its forefront.
Friday, Miriam Linna of Norton Records verified to the Pennsylvania news agency the demise of Weiss.
Linna said in a statement to US outlets,
“Mary Weiss was an icon, a hero, and a heroine to young men and women of my generation and of all generations.”
In the aftermath of the news, Ronnie Spector’s official Instagram, where he co-founded The Ronettes and passed away in January 2022, posted a tribute.
“We are profoundly grieved to learn of the departure of Mary Weiss. She and Ronnie were comrades in spirit; they were both fearless 1960s bad girls. “In her honor, we invite you to partake in a Shangri-La spin,” the statement continued.
The group formed in the New York City borough of Queens consisted of two pairs of sisters: Mary and Elizabeth Weiss, and twins Marguerite and Mary Ann Ganser. They were known as the tough ladies of the 1960s pop scene.
Mary Weiss, raised in Queens, New York, where she was born in 1948, participated in school productions and choirs. During their time in school, she and her sister Betty developed close friendships with the Gasner twins, which led to the formation of a quartet that started harmonizing together.
After meeting local producer Artie Ripp, they subsequently contracted with Kama Sutra Productions.
Shangri-Las disbanded in 1964, following a series of successes including “Out In The Streets” and “Give Him A Great Big Kiss,” in addition to performing for the Rolling Stones on their second US tour during that year.
The band’s “Leader of the Pack” reached Number One that same year.
Following the band’s 1968 dissolution, Weiss abandoned the music industry for decades and relocated to San Francisco in an attempt to adopt a new way of life.
She did perform with The Shangri-Las on occasion during the few reunions that occurred throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Mary Weiss returned to the music industry in 2007 with the critically acclaimed publication of her debut solo album, Dangerous Game, on Norton Records.
“I desired a combination of old and new,” Weiss told modern York Magazine in 2007. “Why enter the studio to perform outdated tasks? “What is the purpose?”
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