Cass Elliot Dies at 32: Folk-Rock's Soaring Voice Silenced
Cass Elliot's powerful contralto voice anchored The Mamas & the Papas' harmonies on hits like "California Dreamin'" and "Monday, Monday," defining the folk-rock sound of the 1960s. Her sudden death in London at 32, from heart failure related to obesity, silenced one of the era's most distinctive vocalists just as her solo cabaret career was gaining momentum. The persistent myth about choking on a ham sandwich, while false, became one of rock history's most enduring and unfortunate legends.
July 29, 1974
52 years ago
What Else Happened on July 29
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