Mary Weiss, lead singer of iconic ’60s pop group The Shangri-Las, has died at age 75. The news came via her label: “Mary was an icon, a hero, a heroine, to both young men and women of my generation and of all generations,” wrote Norton’s Miriam Linna.
The Shangri-Las formed in 1963 in Queens, NY with two sets of sisters: Mary Weiss and Elizabeth “Betty” Weiss, and identical twins Marguerite and Mary Ann Ganser. Their songs of (often tragic) teenage romance like “Leader of the Pack,” “Remember (Walking in the Sand)” and “Give Him a Great Big Kiss” are touchstones for the ’60s girl group sound.
Rest in peace, Mary. Watch a few classic Shangri-Las television performances and read tributes from Steve Van Zandt, filmmaker Alison Anders and more below.
RIP Mary Weiss. Lead singer of the legendary Shangri-Las. One of the essential Girl Groups of the ‘60s that empowered young girls to dream bigger at a time when society limited women to be secretaries. Their brilliant records with Shadow Morton defined aural cinema.
— 🇺🇸🇮🇱🇺🇦🕉Stevie Van Zandt☮️💙 (@StevieVanZandt) January 20, 2024
Oh No. Mary Weiss. A role model for rebels has left the building…very possibly on the back of a motorbike. Safe travels x
Listening to The Shangri-Las before our show tonight pic.twitter.com/PVrCtew4EN
— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) January 19, 2024
RIP Mary Weiss, singer of the fabulous Shangri-Las. Here they are, the full four, performing Give Him A Great Big Kiss on Shindig in 1965. Their sings had real teen content https://t.co/NbXxbS5pwT
— Jon Savage (@JonSavage1966) January 20, 2024
https://twitter.com/Psychotronicci1/status/1748518083474452801
Goodnight Mary Weiss of The Shangri-Las.
Mary made The Shangri-Las-Las pop melodramas feel authentic. Tonight I‘m sharing Past, Present & Future, so unique, so brilliant.https://t.co/haQue71a4t pic.twitter.com/enYS5pkpT0— Duglas T Stewart / BMX Bandits (@DuglasTStewart) January 20, 2024
Mary Weiss, Lead Singer of The Shangri-Las, Dies at 75 https://t.co/bpwUGjkrJO
— Clem Burke (@clem_burke) January 20, 2024