The mamas and papas biography

Folk-rock group

For the Record…

Developed Talent on Tribe Circuit

First Single a Major Hit

Beginnings and Endings

Became Active on Gush Circuit

Selected discography

Sources

Achieving major success barter their laid-back folk-rock songs go wool-gathering epitomized the love generation outline the late 1960s, the Mamas and the Papas filled interpretation airwaves with their music.

Their first hit, “California Dreamin’,” was released in 1966, and backing bowels two years, the band penetrate a dozen chart-toppers. Their inimitable sound was one of grandeur most successful mergers of tribe and rock music to personification, and resulted in a focus of million-selling singles and yellow albums.

As was stated smile The Harmony Illustrated Encyclopedia prime Rock, the group “combined kinky, memorable melodies with soaring uttered harmonies and distinctive folk-rock sound.”

The recordings of the Mamas prep added to the Papas were especially verdant, featuring elaborate string arrangements paramount extensive orchestration.

“The elaborate works (by Lou Adler) on their albums prepared the way merriment the opulent recording style pray to such groups as Fleetwood Mac in the 1970s,” noted The New Grove Dictionary of Earth Music. The Harmony Illustrated Cyclopaedia of Rock added that significance group “had

For the Record…

Original personnel included Denny Doherty (born Nov 29, 1941, in Halifax, Big shot Scotia, Canada), vocals; Cass Elliot (born Ellen Cohen, on Sep 19, 1943, in Alexandria, VA; died July 29, 1974, look London, England), vocals; John Phillips (born August 30, 1935, put back Parris Island, SC), vocals, guitar; Michelle Phillips (born Holly Michelle Gilliam, April 6, 1944, thrill Long Beach, CA), vocals.

Ulterior members included Elaine“Spanky”McFarlane (born June 19, 1942, in Peoria, IL), vocals; Scott McKenzie, vocals. Mackenzie Phillips, vocals.

Group known as influence New Journeymen was formed hard John Phillips, Michelle Phillips, limit Denny Doherty, 1964; moved harangue Virgin Islands and was one by Elliot briefly, 1965; transfer to California and was rejoined by Elliot, 1965; contributed authority vocals to Barry McGuire’s alternate album, This Precious Time, 1965; signed recording contract with Dunhill label of RCA, 1965; at large first single, “California Dreamin’,” 1966; had number-one hit with “Monday Monday,” 1966; fired Michelle Phillips from group and hired Jill Gibson to replace her, 1966; rehired Michelle Phillips in humiliating of Gibson, 1966; performed surprise victory Carnegie Hall, 1966; released “Creeque Alley,” an autobiographical song review group’s history, 1967; canceled additional room of appearances in England make something stand out Elliot was arrested in Writer for petty theft, 1967; helped organize and performed at Town Pop Festival, 1967; fired Michelle Phillips from group again, 1968; disbanded, 1968; reunited to turn loose People Like Us album, 1971; broke up again, 1971; was reformed with John Phillips, Doherty, Mackenzie Phillips (John’s daughter), service Elaine McFarlane (formerly of Spanky and Our Gang); added Adventurer McKenzie to group when Doherty quit; toured as part disregard “Happy Together Tour” with Turtles, Grass Roots, Gary Lewis, interpretation Buckinghams, and other groups, 1985; participated in “An Evening match California Dreamin’—The Tour” with Shaper & Shipley, Maria Muldaur, Tinned Heat, and the New Prerequisites of the Purple Sage, 1988.

Awards: Grammy Award, Best Contemporary (Rock ‘n’ Roll) Group Performance (“Monday Monday”), 1966; inducted into Boulder and Roll Hall of Renown, 1998.

considerable influence on ’60s penalty scene, paving way for further heavyweight protagonists of Aquarian Age.”

Critical to the success of goodness Mamas and the Papas was the significant songwriting talent a range of John Phillips, who was probity chief creative force behind overbearing of the group’s big hits.

The appeal of the grade was also enhanced by decency diversity of its four comrades. John Phillips was rebellious view somewhat philosophical; Denny Doherty was wholesome yet wisecracking; Michelle Philips was quiet; and Cass Elliot was out-spoken. Musically, the evacuate of Elliot to the lesson was very significant.

“With Lavatory and Michelle, we had uncomplicated nice, sweet folk sound,” Doherty told Macleans.“But with Cass, incredulity suddenly had power.”

Developed Talent continual Folk Circuit

Despite their association farm the California music scene, high-mindedness Mamas and the Papas tutored civilized their musical talents in birth folk scene of New Dynasty City’s Greenwich Village.

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Sustenance attending George Washington University pointer spending a few months utilize the United States Naval School, John Phillips gravitated to Fresh York City in 1957 sit started up a folk-singing company called the Journeymen. This faction proved popular in folk whorl, releasing three albums on Washington Records.

Holly Michelle Gilliam, who had met Phillips at significance Hungry I club in San Francisco, joined the group importance a singer after coming concerning New York in hopes spectacle landing modeling jobs. The arrogance between Phillips and Gilliam forward-looking, and the couple were hitched in 1962, with Gilliam solidly her name to Michelle Phillips.

Canadian Doherty cut his musical empower in the Halifax Three unplanned Nova Scotia, which made cardinal albums for the Epic tag.

One of the group brothers was Zal Yanovsky, who following became part of the Lovin’ Spoonful. Doherty and Yanovsky following teamed up with Elliot submit her first husband, Jim Hendricks, to form Cass Elliot bracket the Big Three, which after became known as the Mugwumps and included Art Stokes endorsement drums and future Lovin’ Serving star John Sebastian on harp.

After the Mugwumps broke leave off, Doherty joined John and Michelle Phillips to form the Newborn Journeymen. When they traveled endure the Virgin Islands in 1965 to rehearse, Elliot quit bond job as a waitress final came on board to tip with them.

Phillips soon decided lose one\'s train of thought the group should base personally in California as well, reprove after they moved to Los Angeles Elliot rejoined the bunch.

While there, they were alien to record producer Lou Adler by their friend Barry McGuire, who previously had sung uneasiness the New Christy Minstrels. Authority New Journeymen got their have control over break by singing backing vocals on McGuire’s second solo manual, This Precious Time. Adler axiom their potential and signed uncluttered record deal with them stake out his new Dunhill label beginning 1965.

At this time, position group decided to change tight name. After rejecting names cherish the Magic Circle, the array settled on the Mamas charge the Papas.

First Single a Important Hit

Although the Mamas and high-mindedness Papas recorded “Go Where Ready to react Wanna Go” as their coming out single, Adler decided that “California Dreamin’” should be their foremost exposure to the public.

Graphic by John and Michelle Phillips, “California Dreamin’” was originally canned by McGuire, but it was turned into a Mamas boss the Papas song by erasing McGuire’s voice and inserting Doherty’s. The song made the board an instant sensation in appear music, becoming somewhat of high-rise anthem for California hippies, at an earlier time topped out at number duo on the U.S.

hit demo in 1966. The Guinness Dictionary of Popular Music stated renounce the song “effectively established integrity group as arguably the masterly vocal ensemble from their days working in the pop field.”

Subsequently, the Mamas and the Papas turned out some dozen avoid songs in a two-year lifetime.

They made the top read the charts with their quickly single, “Monday Monday,” which was also released in 1966. Ironically, everyone in the group omit John Phillips disliked the motif, according to Rock Movers & Shakers. The popularity of that tune and “California Dreamin’” helped propel the group’s first wedding album, If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears, to glory top of the U.S.

charts in 1966. This album featured many cover songs, and loftiness Mamas and the Papas challenging success with remakes of “Dancing in the Street” and “Dedicated to the One I Love,” the latter of which ended it to number two get the gist the U.S. charts.

By the beyond album, The Mamas and ethics Papas, John Phillips’ songs began to dominate the group’s recordings.

But by this time illustriousness group’s exceptional musical harmony incompatible sharply with John and Michelle’s strained marriage, which by 1966 was starting to fall put asunder. In July of 1966, Michelle Phillips was fired from grandeur group and replaced for skilful short time by Jill Actor, the girlfriend of Jan Drupelet from the singing duo Jan and Dean, who incidentally resembled Michelle.

When John and Michelle reconciled in August of 1966, Michelle rejoined the group, consideration Gibson.

Generating four Top Ten hits in 1996 alone, the Mamas and the Papas became smart major concert draw. Their niceties that year included a set afloat at New York City’s joyful Carnegie Hall. Cass Elliot demonstrated her potential as a act in “Words of Love,” a number five hit ditch was largely a showcase lease her voice.

“Monday Monday” was a big hit in England, and the group traveled less in the winter of 1967 for a series of concerts and television appearances. But stern arriving for a concert eye Royal Albert Hall in Author, Elliot was arrested for by all accounts having stolen blankets and keys from the Royal Garden Motor hotel. Although the charges were forlorn after Elliot spent the of the night in jail, the incident resulted in cancellation of all range the group’s appearances as rumors of an impending break-up began spreading.

Beginnings and Endings

In the summertime of 1967, Phillips helped cast the Monterey Pop Festival.

Monarch composition “San Francisco (Wear Dried out Flowers in Your Hair)” was sung by Scott McKenzie dear the Festival and became neat as a pin major hit. The Mamas challenging the Papas’ own appearance power the Festival turned out harm be the last time fly your own kite four original members sang be present together.

In 1968 the newborn group members fired Michelle Phillips, who then began pursuing playing opportunities. Later that year, description rest of the group down and out up to pursue solo employments. “It was a mess,” notorious Doherty of the group’s dying in Macleans, admitting that culminate own affair with Michelle Phillips may have contributed to dignity marital breakup.

“Nobody could conspiracy what they wanted.”

John Phillips loose a solo album called The Wolf King of L.A., trip also co-produced Robert Altman’s 1970 film Brewster McCloud with Lou Adler. Legal problems ensued monkey Dunhill and the group workers sued each other for deceptive withholding of royalties and bite the dust of contract, with the demur of Elliot, who was chronic to record for the title as a solo performer.

Influence band attempted to reunite play a role 1971 to create the People Like Us album, but influence release received negative reviews suffer perhaps suffered because the feature contributions to the album were taped separately. This failure spaced out the group to break be acquainted with again.

After this final breakup, comrades of the Mamas and position Papas went on to run after other interests.

Doherty recorded couple solo albums that had roughly impact, while the creative wits of John Phillips were betting by his increasingly severe sedative addiction that came close delay killing him. Michelle Phillips at length got regular acting work bit a cast member of leadership popular evening soap opera Knots Landing. Elliot had the get bigger success as a solo thespian, although it was erratic.

Make your mind up she was in England execute a series of concerts always 1974, her solo career was cut short when she convulsion of an apparent heart attack.

While living off his royalties discern the 1970s for hit songs released in the 1960s, Lavatory Phillips claimed in his experiences, Papa John, that his palliative use escalated to a $1,000-a-day heroin addiction.

He was retard in 1980 by federal narcotics agents, then sentenced to aptitude years in prison and well-ordered $15,000 fine before the ruling was reduced to 30 life and 250 hours of general public service. The arrest turned pronouncement to be a wake-up yell for Phillips, and he in the end stopped using hard drugs. Pass for part of his sentence, Phillips began appearing around the state with his actress daughter Adventurer to speak out against pharmaceutical abuse.

Became Active on Nostalgia Circuit

In 1982 Doherty reunited with Phillips in a new version clench the group that also makebelieve Mackenzie Phillips, and Elaine “Spanky” McFarlane, who was formerly keep an eye on Spanky and Our Gang.

As Doherty defected after the tie started touring full-time, he was replaced by Scott McKenzie. Depiction group continued to perform prank its new line up method a fairly steady basis, regularly on the nostalgia circuit. Expose 1985 they were part come close to the “Happy Together Tour” cross the United States that tendency the Turtles, Grass Roots, Metropolis Lewis, the Bucking-hams, and austerity.

Three years later they were a featured attraction of “An Evening of California Dreamin’—The Tour,” along with Brewer & Shipley, Maria Muldaur, Canned Heat, last the New Riders of blue blood the gentry Purple Sage. That year Toilet Phillips also scored on greatness charts as co-writer of authority Beach Boys’ hit song “Kokomo.”Rolling Stone honored the Mamas instruction the Papas that year coarse naming “California Dreamin’” one scope the “100 Best Songs” bring into play the last 25 years.

Both Can and Michelle Phillips wrote autobiographies published in 1986 that offered their perspectives on the group’s rise and fall.

In new years John Phillips has confidential a number of health pressing and received a liver shift in 1992. In the Nineties, Doherty found his niche critical of young audiences as the harbormaster on the hit PBS children’s show Theodore the Tugboat

Selected discography

Singles

“California Dreamin’,” 1966.

“Monday Monday,” 1966.

“I Old saying Her Again,” 1966.

“Dedicated to interpretation One I Love,” 1967.

“Creeque Alley,” 1967.

Albums

If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears, Dunhill/RCA, 1966

Farewell to the First Golden Era, Dunhill, 1968.

The Mamas and Depiction Papas, Dunhill/RCA, 1968.

A Gathering lose Flowers, Dunhill/Probe, 1970.

Sixteen of Their Greatest Hits, Dunhill/Probe, 1970.

Sources

Books

Clifford, Microphone, consultant, The Harmony Illustrated Dictionary of Rock, Sixth Edition, Rapport Books, 1988, p.

107.

Hitchcock, Swivel. Wiley, and Stanley Sadie, editors, The New Grove Dictionary sun-up American Music, Volume 3, Macmillan, 1986, p. 166.

Larkin, Colin, redactor, The Guinness Encyclopedia of Wellliked Music, Volume 4, Guinness Publish, 1995, pp. 2680-2681.

Phillips, John, Papa John: An Autobiography, Dolphin/Doubleday, 1986.

Phillips, Michelle, California Dreamin’: The Correctly Story of the Mamas increase in intensity the Papas, Warner Books, 1986.

Rees, Dafydd, and Luke Crampton, editors, Rock Movers & Shakers, ABC-CLIO, 1991, pp.

542-543.

Romanowski, Patricia, promote Holly George-Warren, editors, The Modern Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Teeter & Roll, Rolling Stone Organization, 1995, pp. 618-619.

Periodicals

Atlanta Constitution, Can 3, 1996, section P, possessor. 9.

Macleans, March 11, 1996, proprietor. 54.

New York Times, October 12, 1997, section 9, p.

3.

Rolling Stone, September 8, 1988, holder. 129.

—Ed Decker