Mary Weiss, Lead Singer of The Shangri-Las, Passes Away at 75

Yesterday, news broke from the BBC that Mary Weiss, the lead singer of the Shangri-Las, passed away at the age of 75. Miriam Linna, who runs Weiss’ label Norton Records, confirmed her death on Facebook and wrote: “Remembering Mary Weiss with much love and affection. Mary was the ultimate.” Linna later told Rolling Stone that “Mary was an icon, a hero, a heroine, to both young men and women of my generation and of all generations.” No cause of death has been announced. The New York-born vocalist first rose to fame with her beloved girl group in 1964 when, at the age of 15, their songs “Remember (Walking in the Sand)” and “Leader of the Pack” both cracked the Top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100—the latter of which was a #1 hit.

The Shangri-Las featured Weiss and her sister Betty, along with twins Marge and Mary Ann Ganser, the four of whom met in elementary school in Queens. They found prominence at the height of doo-wop and ensemble pop, when acts like the Ronettes, the Crystals and the Chiffons were finding resounding chart success, and the Shangri-Las—along with the massive popularity of the Supremes—were responsible for inspiring decades of girl groups like the Spice Girls, TLC and Bananarama.

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The Shangri-Las broke up in 1968 due to litigation but would occasionally, in the 1970s come together to play shows, which led to Sire Records attempting to house a comeback for the group in 1977. Ultimately, the final Shangri-Las performance would occur in 1989 at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. In 2019, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honored “Leader of the Pack” in its Singles category, which highlights songs that have helped shape rock ‘n’ roll. After getting a job at an architectural firm and becoming a chief purchasing agent in Manhattan, managing a furniture store and spending time as an interior designer, Weiss made a return to the music industry in 2005 and released a solo album in 2007, Dangerous Game, touring the U.S., Spain and France.

Years after its release, “Leader of the Pack” found a home with a new generation through its use in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas in 1990. In the 60 years since the Shangri-Las formation, Weiss’ voice has endured as one of the most important and formative of its era, and its impact can still be felt today, as artists like Garbage, Stevie Van Zandt and Sky Ferreira have shared tributes online since her passing was announced yesterday.