Leader of the Pack’ singer Mary Weiss of the Shangri-Las passes away at 75

Oh, you’re not going to believe this – Mary Weiss, the lead vocalist for the 1960s pop sensation the Shangri-Las, has passed away at the age of 75. The founder of Weiss’ label, Norton Records, Miriam Linna, shared the sad news on Sunday that Weiss died in Palm Springs, California, on Friday. No details about the cause of her death have been disclosed. Her passing was first reported by Rolling Stone.

The Shangri-Las, who originated in Queens, New York, were composed of two sets of sisters: Mary Weiss and Elizabeth “Betty” Weiss, as well as twins Marguerite “Marge” Ganser and Mary Ann Ganser. They formed a group after meeting in school and began performing at school dances and teen hops.

Following their signing to Kama Sutra Productions, the Shangri-Las became wildly popular as a girl group with a hard, working-class image and songs filled with teen angst and heartache that dominated the mid-1960s airwaves. Their name was inspired by a local Queens, New York, restaurant.

Their first major hit, “Remember (Walking in the Sand),” made it to the top 5 on the Billboard chart in 1964 for Red Bird Records when Weiss was just 15 years old. The tune, which was later covered by Aerosmith, was written by famed Brill Building pop songwriter-producer George “Shadow” Morton.

Morton played a significant role in shaping the sound of the Shangri-Las, blending a Ronettes-style R&B with intense teenage emotions. “Leader of the Pack,” co-penned by Morton, was the number one Billboard single of 1965. The lyrics sang by Weiss included:

“My