To the rest of the world, Cass Elliot was a beloved member of 1960s pop quartet The Mamas & The Papas, a Lady of the Canyon resplendent in custom-made muumuus, and possessing a crystal-clear voice that had millions of listeners California Dreaming and eagerly awaiting Monday, Monday. To Owen Elliot-Kugell, however, she was simply Mom.
In the nearly fifty years since Cass Elliot’s untimely death at the age of 32, rumors and myths have obscured the realities of her multifaceted life. In her plaintive and affectionate memoir, Elliot-Kugel shares the groundbreaking story of her mom as only a daughter can tell it, revealing a headstrong artist, single parent and feminist who challenged the male-dominated music business. Elliot-Kugel also addresses paternal mysteries and maternal absence.
Join Bob Dylan Center Director Steven Jenkins and Elliot-Kugell in a discussion about her book, both an intimate biography of Cass Elliot and her enduring cultural impact, and a memoir of growing up as the child of a music legend. Zoom in for this virtual chat as Elliot-Kugel fields questions from Jenkins and attendees.
“My Mama, Cass is a daughter’s search for the mother she lost. In these pages, Owen Elliot-Kugell reconstructs who Ellen Naomi Cohen really was, which is not an easy task, as the woman who became Cass Elliot was a very complex person: unimaginably talented, independent, loving, warm, and completely dedicated to her one and only child. She brings her mother back to life for herself and for Cass’s millions of fans. The spotlight is back on my friend, and it’s great to see her again.”
—Michelle Phillips, The Mamas & The Papas
“Filled with time-warping anecdotes, Elliot-Kugell’s searing tribute is an important work that fills in the gaps and corrects the apocryphal lore about an essential era and a key figure in American music.”
—Booklist
Details:
This event will take place virtually via Zoom.
Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024
6 p.m.
Tickets:
$5 for nonmembers
Free for Bob Dylan Center members
