Remembering the lives of 60s pop group Shangri-Las icon Mary Weiss (75) and Dexter Scott King (62)
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The world is mourning the loss of iconic singer Mary Weiss, and the son of famous civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr, Dexter Scott King.
Mary, the lead singer of the 1960s pop group the Shangri-Las, passed away at the age of 75 in Palm Springs, California. The cause of her death remains undisclosed.
On the other hand, Dexter, the younger son of Martin Luther King Jr and his wife, Coretta Scott King, passed away on Monday at the age of 62 after a long battle with prostate cancer.
The Shangri-Las, known for their unforgettable hit 'Leader of the Pack', was a product of the vibrant New York City borough of Queens.
The group was a family affair, comprising two pairs of sisters: Mary and Elizabeth 'Betty' Weiss, and twins Marguerite 'Marge' Ganser and Mary Ann Ganser.
The quartet met in school and began their musical journey performing at school dances and teen hops.
Their big break came when producer Artie Ripp signed them to Kama Sutra Productions.
The Shangri-Las quickly rose to fame, their tough, working-class image and drama-filled songs of teenage dreams and heartbreak resonated with mid-1960s radio audiences.
The group's name was inspired by a restaurant in their home borough of Queens.
Their first hit, 'Remember (Walking in the Sand)', reached the Billboard top five in 1964 for Red Bird Records.
Mary was only 15 when it charted.
The song, later covered by Aerosmith, was penned by Brill Building pop Songwriter-Producer George 'Shadow' Morton.
Morton played a pivotal role in shaping the Shangri-Las' sound, blending Ronettes-style R&B with the raw emotions of teenage life.
'Leader of the Pack', co-written by Morton, became the top Billboard single of 1965.
Mary’s heartfelt rendition of the lyrics, 'My folks were always putting him down/ They said he came from the wrong side of town/ They told me he was bad, but I knew he was sad/ That’s why I fell for the leader of the pack,' captured the hearts of listeners across the nation.
Despite their success, the Shangri-Las' journey was short-lived, disbanding in 1968 due to legal issues.
However, their impact on the music industry was profound. They were pioneers in an era when all-female groups were a rarity.
'I truly believe a lot of men were considered artists, whether or not people wrote for them, where women were considered products,' Mary said in an interview in 2007 at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Following the group's break-up, Mary moved to San Francisco and stepped away from the music industry.
She spent several years working at an architectural firm, a stark contrast to her previous life in the limelight.
It wasn't until four decades later that Mary returned to her musical roots, recording an album of new material.
Her solo debut, 'Dangerous Game', was released in 2007.
Meanwhile, Dexter Scott King, passed away on Monday at his home in California.
His wife, Leah Weber King, shared that he died 'peacefully in his sleep'.
Dexter King was not just the son of a legendary figure; he was a man who carved out his own path in life.
Named after the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Alabama, where his father once served as pastor, Dexter was only seven years old when his father was assassinated in 1968.
He was the third of the King family’s four children, and his life was deeply influenced by his parents' legacy.
Dexter King pursued a career in law and dedicated his life to preserving his father's legacy and protecting the King family's intellectual property.
He served as the Chairperson of the King Center in Atlanta, an institution dedicated to advancing the legacy and ideas of his father.
He was also the President of the King estate, ensuring the family's history and contributions were accurately represented and respected.
The King family has faced multiple losses over the years.
In 2006, Coretta Scott King, the matriarch of the family, passed away, and the following year, the King family’s oldest child, Yolanda King, also passed away.
'Words cannot express the heartbreak I feel from losing another sibling,' Bernice A King, Dexter King's youngest sibling, said in a statement.
Dexter's older brother, Martin Luther King III, echoed her sentiments, saying, 'The sudden shock is devastating. It is hard to have the right words at a moment like this. We ask for your prayers at this time for the entire King family.'
Tributes have been pouring in from around the world, reflecting the impact Dexter King had on those who knew him and his work.
Atlanta's Mayor, Andre Dickens, expressed his condolences, saying he stood with his city 'and so many worldwide in grieving the loss of Dexter Scott King'.
'His profound and unwavering love for his family positioned him as a guardian of his father and mother’s legacies,' Dickens said.
He also highlighted Dexter's various roles, including his time as a Morehouse College graduate, humanitarian, civil rights activist, and actor.
'However, above all, he was a devoted family man,' said Dickens, who also offered condolences to Dexter King's various survivors.
Mary Weiss's legacy of giving voice to the dreams, heartbreaks, and hopes of a generation and Dexter Scott King's dedication to preserving his father's work and his commitment to his own humanitarian efforts have left an indelible mark on the world.
As we mourn their passing, we also celebrate their lives and the contributions they have made.
May they rest in peace.
Mary, the lead singer of the 1960s pop group the Shangri-Las, passed away at the age of 75 in Palm Springs, California. The cause of her death remains undisclosed.
On the other hand, Dexter, the younger son of Martin Luther King Jr and his wife, Coretta Scott King, passed away on Monday at the age of 62 after a long battle with prostate cancer.
The Shangri-Las, known for their unforgettable hit 'Leader of the Pack', was a product of the vibrant New York City borough of Queens.
The group was a family affair, comprising two pairs of sisters: Mary and Elizabeth 'Betty' Weiss, and twins Marguerite 'Marge' Ganser and Mary Ann Ganser.
The quartet met in school and began their musical journey performing at school dances and teen hops.
May Mary Weiss and Dexter Scott King rest in peace. Image source: X/@14Admirals (left), X/@Blavity (right).
Their big break came when producer Artie Ripp signed them to Kama Sutra Productions.
The Shangri-Las quickly rose to fame, their tough, working-class image and drama-filled songs of teenage dreams and heartbreak resonated with mid-1960s radio audiences.
The group's name was inspired by a restaurant in their home borough of Queens.
Their first hit, 'Remember (Walking in the Sand)', reached the Billboard top five in 1964 for Red Bird Records.
Mary was only 15 when it charted.
The song, later covered by Aerosmith, was penned by Brill Building pop Songwriter-Producer George 'Shadow' Morton.
Morton played a pivotal role in shaping the Shangri-Las' sound, blending Ronettes-style R&B with the raw emotions of teenage life.
'Leader of the Pack', co-written by Morton, became the top Billboard single of 1965.
Mary’s heartfelt rendition of the lyrics, 'My folks were always putting him down/ They said he came from the wrong side of town/ They told me he was bad, but I knew he was sad/ That’s why I fell for the leader of the pack,' captured the hearts of listeners across the nation.
Despite their success, the Shangri-Las' journey was short-lived, disbanding in 1968 due to legal issues.
However, their impact on the music industry was profound. They were pioneers in an era when all-female groups were a rarity.
'I truly believe a lot of men were considered artists, whether or not people wrote for them, where women were considered products,' Mary said in an interview in 2007 at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Following the group's break-up, Mary moved to San Francisco and stepped away from the music industry.
She spent several years working at an architectural firm, a stark contrast to her previous life in the limelight.
It wasn't until four decades later that Mary returned to her musical roots, recording an album of new material.
Her solo debut, 'Dangerous Game', was released in 2007.
Meanwhile, Dexter Scott King, passed away on Monday at his home in California.
His wife, Leah Weber King, shared that he died 'peacefully in his sleep'.
Dexter King was not just the son of a legendary figure; he was a man who carved out his own path in life.
Named after the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Alabama, where his father once served as pastor, Dexter was only seven years old when his father was assassinated in 1968.
He was the third of the King family’s four children, and his life was deeply influenced by his parents' legacy.
Dexter King pursued a career in law and dedicated his life to preserving his father's legacy and protecting the King family's intellectual property.
He served as the Chairperson of the King Center in Atlanta, an institution dedicated to advancing the legacy and ideas of his father.
He was also the President of the King estate, ensuring the family's history and contributions were accurately represented and respected.
The King family has faced multiple losses over the years.
In 2006, Coretta Scott King, the matriarch of the family, passed away, and the following year, the King family’s oldest child, Yolanda King, also passed away.
'Words cannot express the heartbreak I feel from losing another sibling,' Bernice A King, Dexter King's youngest sibling, said in a statement.
Dexter's older brother, Martin Luther King III, echoed her sentiments, saying, 'The sudden shock is devastating. It is hard to have the right words at a moment like this. We ask for your prayers at this time for the entire King family.'
Tributes have been pouring in from around the world, reflecting the impact Dexter King had on those who knew him and his work.
Atlanta's Mayor, Andre Dickens, expressed his condolences, saying he stood with his city 'and so many worldwide in grieving the loss of Dexter Scott King'.
'His profound and unwavering love for his family positioned him as a guardian of his father and mother’s legacies,' Dickens said.
He also highlighted Dexter's various roles, including his time as a Morehouse College graduate, humanitarian, civil rights activist, and actor.
'However, above all, he was a devoted family man,' said Dickens, who also offered condolences to Dexter King's various survivors.
As we mourn their passing, we also celebrate their lives and the contributions they have made.
May they rest in peace.
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