Singer-songwriter Lesley Gore, who topped the charts in 1963 at age 16 with her epic song of teenage angst, "It's My Party," and followed it up with the hits "Judy's Turn to Cry," and the feminist anthem "You Don't Own Me," died Monday. She was 68.
Gore died of lung cancer at New York University Langone Medical Center in Manhattan, according to her partner of 33 years, Lois Sasson.
"She was a wonderful human being - caring, giving, a great feminist, great woman, great human being, great humanitarian," Sasson, a jewelry designer, told The Associated Press.
Brooklyn-born and New Jersey-raised, Gore was discovered by Quincy Jones as a teenager and signed to Mercury Records. She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with a degree in English/American literature.
Gore's other hits include "She's A Fool," "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows," "That's the Way Boys Are" and "Maybe I Know." She co-wrote with her brother, Michael, the Academy Award-nominated "Out Here On My Own" from the film "Fame."
She also played Catwoman's sidekick in the cult TV comedy "Batman."
In the 1990s, Gore co-wrote "My Secret Love" for Allison Anders' film "Grace of My Heart," released in 1996. A couple of years later, she appeared in "Smokey Joe's Cafe" on Broadway. Gore had been working on a stage version of her life with playwright Mark Hampton when she died.
In 2005, she released "Ever Since," her first album in 30 years, but was sure to revisit older hits in front of fans.
"If I've learned anything in this business," she told The New York Times that year, "how stupid would it be not to do `It's My Party' when people come to hear it?"
She officially came out to the public when she hosted several episodes of the PBS series, "In The Life," which dealt with gay and lesbian issues.
During the 2012 presidential campaign, Gore turned "You Don't Own Me" into an online video public service announcement demanding reproductive rights which starred Lena Dunham and Tavi Gevinson, among others.
In the last few years, she performed at Feinstein's at the Loews Regency in New York and, along with Ronnie Spector and LaLa Brooks, headlined the "She's Got the Power" concert outdoors at Lincoln Center in 2012.
In addition to Sasson, Gore is survived by her brother and mother, Ronny. Services will be held on Thursday at the Frank E. Campbell funeral home on Madison Avenue.
"If I've learned anything in this business," she told The New York Times that year, "how stupid would it be not to do `It's My Party' when people come to hear it?"
If only all musicians (and actors) who "outgrew" the songs (and roles) that made them thought the same way.
Lesley Gore's first appearance on the big screen was in the 1964 concert film THE T.A.M.I. SHOW. Gore sang six of her hits: "Maybe I Know," "You Don't Own Me," "You Didn't Look Around," "Hey Now," "It's My Party," and "It's Judy's Turn to Cry." The T.A.M.I. Show (Teenage Awards Music International) was videotaped in the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on October 29, 1964. The tape was then transferred to film for release in theaters.
Lesley Gore appeared as herself in the 1965 film THE GIRLS ON THE BEACH. She sang three songs: "I Don't Want To Be a Loser," "It's Gotta Be You," and "Leave Me Alone."
Gore said that she filmed all her scenes very quickly--but unfortunately had unknowingly contracted Rubella (German measles) before arriving on the set. She later infected most of the crew members.
Gore's last feature film appearance was in 1965's SKI PARTY. Appearing as herself, she sang "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows," a song with music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Howard Liebling. Here's the song as it appears in the film:
My best friend said she died from breast cancer, but from what I've read, it was lung cancer. I find it hard to believe that she smoked, given that she relied on her voice to make a living!
My best friend said she died from breast cancer, but from what I've read, it was lung cancer. I find it hard to believe that she smoked, given that she relied on her voice to make a living!
Some people get lung cancer even thought they never smoked. And then a lot of strangers, including hospital staff, assume that they did smoke and brought the disease upon themselves. I don't know if Gore smoked or not.
I'm surprised "Califonia Nights" hasn't been mentioned among her hits. She lip-synced it on BATMAN. To me, it was one of the worst scenes in the series. It was transparently commercial in that there was no plausible, organic reason for Gore to be singing anything in this episode. The overly-processed, reverbed vocal on the record made it obvious that her character was not really singing it live. The song itself came off as tedious and repetitive, and it seemed to go on forever. It was just wrong in every way, unless you loved that song or absolutely adored Leslie Gore.
"If I've learned anything in this business," she told The New York Times that year, "how stupid would it be not to do `It's My Party' when people come to hear it?"
If only all musicians (and actors) who "outgrew" the songs (and roles) that made them thought the same way.
They can't all be Clayton Moore. And in their defence, some of said songs (and roles) are pretty bad - luckily for her "It's My Party" isn't one of them.
I'm surprised "Califonia Nights" hasn't been mentioned among her hits. She lip-synced it on BATMAN. To me, it was one of the worst scenes in the series. It was transparently commercial in that there was no plausible, organic reason for Gore to be singing anything in this episode. The overly-processed, reverbed vocal on the record made it obvious that her character was not really singing it live. The song itself came off as tedious and repetitive, and it seemed to go on forever. It was just wrong in every way, unless you loved that song or absolutely adored Leslie Gore.
I respect that. Also, the song may have suffered on BATMAN because, according to Wikipedia, they deleted the second verse and the refrain. Thus the edit used on the show was out of whack in terms of song-writing, and it seemed too repetitive.
I respect that. Also, the song may have suffered on BATMAN because, according to Wikipedia, they deleted the second verse and the refrain. Thus the edit used on the show was out of whack in terms of song-writing, and it seemed too repetitive.
She was on BATMAN????!!! RIP BRUCE
ps there was a movie which contained a fictional character that was based on her. Trying to remember it. "Piece of My Heart"?
It starred Matt Dillon as a fictionalized Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys iirc b
ps there was a movie which contained a fictional character that was based on her. Trying to remember it. "Piece of My Heart"?
It starred Matt Dillon as a fictionalized Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys iirc b
You're thinking of the 1996 film GRACE OF MY HEART. Illeana Douglas stars as an aspiring singer who sacrifices her own singing career to write hit songs that launch the careers of other singers. Bridget Fonda had a small role as a female bubble gum singer who was in the closet, and which was presumably inspired by Lesley Gore.
You're thinking of the 1996 film GRACE OF MY HEART. Illeana Douglas stars as an aspiring singer who sacrifices her own singing career to write hit songs that launch the careers of other singers.
Reportedly inspired by Carole King. (Wow, there were a lot of characters like that in this movie!)
