“Shangri-Las Lead Singer Mary Weiss Dies at 75”

Shangri-Las Lead Singer Mary Weiss Dies at 75

The music industry mourns the loss of Mary Weiss, the lead singer of the iconic girl group, the Shangri-Las, who passed away at the age of 75 on January 19th. Known for her yearning vocals and street-smart vibe, Weiss brought an edgier style to the girl-group era of the 1960s with hits like “Leader of the Pack.” After a hiatus from music, she made a comeback in her 50s with a solo album. Miriam Linna, head of Norton Records, confirmed her death, although no further details were immediately released.

Challenging the reigning glamour of groups such as the Chiffons and Supremes, the Shangri-Las, consisting of Weiss, her sister Betty, and twins Marge and Mary Ann Ganser, channeled their working-class roots in Queens through their sound and look. Weiss scoffed at the evening gowns worn by other singers onstage, referring to them as “old people’s clothes.” Instead, she favored tailored men’s pants and boots, which became part of the group’s signature style. The Shangri-Las made their mark with songs about teen love, heartbreak, tragedy, and the sly suggestion of sex. Weiss’s crystalline voice was perfectly suited for the AM radio play that could make or break groups in the 1960s.

Their breakout hit, “Leader of the Pack,” topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1964. The song tells the story of a bad-boy crush and features the sounds of a crashing motorcycle as Weiss mourns the end of an ill-fated romance. Another notable track, “Remember (Walking in the Sand),” released in 1965, showcases Weiss’s ability to convey lost love with her haunting vocals while being backed up by the other Shangri-Las. The song was later covered by Aerosmith in 1979.

The Shangri-Las’ producer, George “Shadow” Morton, recognized Weiss’s talent and asked her to be more than just a singer but also an actress. Their run as a group was relatively short, lasting fewer than five years, but it helped pave the way for female performers in a new genre. They inspired contemporaries like the Ronettes and later influenced singers such as Debbie Harry with Blondie during the punk wave of the 1970s.

Weiss’s musical journey began in elementary school when she listened to Everly Brothers records and sang doo-wop with guys on the street corner in her neighborhood. She teamed up with her sister Betty and the Ganser twins, and their talent caught the attention of producer Artie Ripp, leading to their first record deal. Their single “Simon Says” was released in late 1963. Morton signed them to record “Remember (Walking in the Sand),” which became a hit on New York’s influential Top 40 station WABC.

In 1964, as the British music invasion was taking over the U.S. charts, the Shangri-Las traveled to Britain to appear on popular music programs like “Top of the Pops” and “Ready Steady Go!” During their visit, they found themselves at the London apartment of pop star Dusty Springfield, where things got a little wild. Springfield started a food fight, and Weiss ended up hiding under a desk with her manager while fish and food flew around. The night ended with bandmate Mary Ann Ganser’s boots filled with fish.

The Shangri-Las disbanded in 1968, and Weiss mostly left the music industry behind. In later years, she expressed bitterness over the lack of power women had in the music business, stating that women were considered products while men were seen as artists. The group briefly reunited in 1977, but Mary Ann Ganser passed away in 1970. Weiss went on to build a new career in the accounting department of a New York architectural firm and later worked as an interior designer.

In 2007, Weiss made a comeback to music with her solo album, “Dangerous Game,” which featured the track “Cry About the Radio,” a lament on the state of modern pop music. Reflecting on her time with the Shangri-Las, Weiss admitted that she never fully understood their reputation as tough girls. She believed that the Ronettes were more authentic in that regard.

Mary Weiss’s legacy lies in her contribution to the girl-group era and her ability to capture the emotional tumult of being a teenager through her music. She believed that people were forgetting about teenage angst and that things were different for kids growing up today. Her unique style and powerful vocals will forever be remembered in the annals of music history.

Mary Weiss is survived by her husband Edward Ryan and sister Elizabeth. The couple had moved to Palm Springs, California, around a decade ago