The Mamas and Papas
California Dreamin was the best-known hit of this group. Monday Monday was another of their best songs, sung here in 1966.
The plump Cass Elliott, who enjoyed a solo career as well as singing with this band, was also the biggest voice of the quartet. Another Mamas and Papas hit was Dedicated to the one I Love.
The unusually heavy Mama Cass died in London at the age of 32, while doing a gig at the Palladium. The doctor who was called to the scene first thought that she had died of asphyxiation, which he associated with a sandwich she had been eating at the time. This led to the unkind rumour that she had choked to death on a ham sandwich.
According to the Medical Bag, Cass actually died of a heart attack, possibly associated with the fainting spells she'd frequently experienced. In 1998, the Mamas and Papas became part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.