NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) – Mary Weiss, the former lead singer of 1960s girl group The Shangri-Las, passed away Friday (January 19). News of her death was confirmed via Miriam Linna at Norton Records. Details surrounding her death were not disclosed. She was 75.
Linna said, “Mary was an icon, a hero, a heroine, to both young men and women of my generation and all generations.”
The girl group rose to stardom with hit songs about teenage love and tragedy, such as “Remember (Walking in the Sand),” which featured Billy Joel on piano, and “Leader of the Pack.” Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the group consisted of two sets of sisters, Mary and Elizabeth (Betty) Weiss, and twins Marguerite (Marge) and Mary Ann Ganser (Mary Ann), hailing from the borough of Queens in NYC who first met in elementary school.
Mary was just 15 when the group recorded their first hit in 1964, and making such a presence, they were chosen to open for The Rolling Stones on their second tour of the US in 1964 and performed with the Beatles, The Drifters, Herman’s Hermits, James Brown, and others. The girls were minors when their parents signed with Red Bird Records in 1964, and due to several legal entanglements from bad contracts being signed, Mary quit at the age of 18, and the group disbanded the same year.
After disbandment, Betty had a daughter and now lives in Long Island. Mary Ann passed away in March 1970 from a reported drug overdose caused by encephalitis, and Marge returned to school and worked for NYNEX, succumbing to breast cancer in 1996.
The official Instagram account for Ronnie Spector, co-founder of the Ronettes who passed away in January 2022, posted a tribute to Mary, expressing deep sadness at her passing. “We are deeply saddened to hear the news of Mary Weiss’ passing. She and Ronnie were kindred spirits; two fearless bad girls of the 60s. Join us as we spin the Shangri-Las in her honor.”
Mary worked as a secretary, an accountant, and a chief purchasing agent, owned a commercial furniture dealership, and worked in interior design throughout her life. In 2007, Mary made a musical comeback with her debut solo album, Dangerous Game, released via Norton Records.
She is survived by her husband, Ed Ryan.
RIP.
