One Mama Left

I have been California Dreamin’ lately with the cold weather returning. Only one member of the group The Mamas & the Papas is still alive - Michelle Phillips. What happened to the rest?

The Mamas & the Papas was founded by John Phillips and included his wife Michelle, Denny Doherty and Cass Elliot. The band ran out of money and relocated to the Virgin Islands where Michelle earned them enough money through gambling to bring them back to New York. The song California Dreamin’ was released in 1965 was a chart climber as was another hit, Monday, Monday.

In June 1966, Michelle was kicked out the band after it was found that she was having an affiar with Doherty. A new girl was hired, Jill Gibson, but she was later released and Michelle hired back again.

The band released three albums and after a rude comment by John Phillips about Elliot in front of Mick Jagger, Elliot quit the band. However, she was contractually obligated to complete another album and she did. She also made a solo album that did quite well.

The band split again, but the record company threatened to sue each member if they did not make a fifth album. The album, People Like Us, was released in 1971 and was the final album.

Cass Elliot - Cass had a successful solo career after the break up. She died of a heart attack on July 29, 1974, she was 33 years old.

John Phillips - John continued to write and perform. In the 80s he formed a group called The New Mamas & the Papas with his daughter Mackenzie, Denny Doherty and Spanky McFarlane (from Our Gang). Denny dropped out after John returned to drugs and Mackenzie (also into drugs) ran away. He died of heart failure on March 18, 2001. He was 65 years old.

Denny Doherty - Denny had one single hit and later produced a stage musical - Dream a Little Dream, supposedly about the group. He hosted a children’s TV show in Canada in the 90s. Denny died of kidney failure on January 19, 2007, he was 66 years old.

Michelle Phillips - Michelle released an album in 1977 with no success. She later became an actress and starred in both Knot’s Landing and Beverly Hills 90210. She is the last surviving member of the group. She is 62 years old.