Lesley Sue Gore (born Lesley Sue Goldstein; May 2, 1946 – February 16, 2015… Read Full Bio ↴Lesley Sue Gore (born Lesley Sue Goldstein; May 2, 1946 – February 16, 2015) was an American singer, songwriter, actress and activist. At the age of 16, in 1963, she recorded the pop hit "It's My Party", and followed it up with other hits including "Judy's Turn to Cry" and "You Don't Own Me".
Gore also worked as an actress and composed songs with her brother Michael Gore for the 1980 film Fame, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award. She was active until 2014, and hosted an LGBT-oriented public television show, In the Life, on American TV in the 2000s.
Raised in Tenafly, New Jersey to Jewish parents, Gore was discovered as a teenager. Her first single in 1963 at age 16 was the #1 hit It's My Party still perhaps her best known recording, which also made #9 in Britain. It was followed by others, including Judy's Turn to Cry (the sequel to "It's My Party"), She's a Fool, the proto-feminist You Don't Own Me, and Maybe I Know. Her record producer was Quincy Jones, who would later become one of the most famous producers in American music.
Instead of accepting the television and movie contracts that came her way, Gore chose to attend Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York. This limited her public career to weekends and summer vacations and undoubtedly hurt her career. Nevertheless, throughout the mid-1960's, Gore continued to be the one of the most popular female singers in the United States and Canada.
By the late 1960s, though, her fame lessened as popular tastes evolved towards a harder-edged, psychedelic sound. Her last major hit was "California Nights," (1967) which she performed on an episode of the Batman TV series in which she guest-starred as one of Catwoman's minions. Afterwards, she continued to stay busy in the music industry, performed at concerts and in cabarets and achieved noted success as a professional songwriter, including composing songs for the soundtrack of the 1980 film, Fame. She received an Academy Award nomination for "Out Here on My Own," written with her brother Michael.
Gore continued to be busy, playing concerts, appearing on television, and recently (2005) recording a self-produced and critically-acclaimed CD, "Ever Since." She is also known for tackling a variety of musical genres, including a credible take on AC/DC's "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap."
Although Gore did not officially come out until 2005, her lesbianism was not exactly a secret. The 1996 film Grace of My Heart featured a character (played by Bridget Fonda) whose industry struggles over her sexual orientation were similar to Gore's. Beginning in 2004 Gore could be seen hosting the PBS series In the Life, which focused on LGBT issues.
On February 16, 2015, Gore died of lung cancer at the age of 68.
Gore also worked as an actress and composed songs with her brother Michael Gore for the 1980 film Fame, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award. She was active until 2014, and hosted an LGBT-oriented public television show, In the Life, on American TV in the 2000s.
Raised in Tenafly, New Jersey to Jewish parents, Gore was discovered as a teenager. Her first single in 1963 at age 16 was the #1 hit It's My Party still perhaps her best known recording, which also made #9 in Britain. It was followed by others, including Judy's Turn to Cry (the sequel to "It's My Party"), She's a Fool, the proto-feminist You Don't Own Me, and Maybe I Know. Her record producer was Quincy Jones, who would later become one of the most famous producers in American music.
Instead of accepting the television and movie contracts that came her way, Gore chose to attend Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York. This limited her public career to weekends and summer vacations and undoubtedly hurt her career. Nevertheless, throughout the mid-1960's, Gore continued to be the one of the most popular female singers in the United States and Canada.
By the late 1960s, though, her fame lessened as popular tastes evolved towards a harder-edged, psychedelic sound. Her last major hit was "California Nights," (1967) which she performed on an episode of the Batman TV series in which she guest-starred as one of Catwoman's minions. Afterwards, she continued to stay busy in the music industry, performed at concerts and in cabarets and achieved noted success as a professional songwriter, including composing songs for the soundtrack of the 1980 film, Fame. She received an Academy Award nomination for "Out Here on My Own," written with her brother Michael.
Gore continued to be busy, playing concerts, appearing on television, and recently (2005) recording a self-produced and critically-acclaimed CD, "Ever Since." She is also known for tackling a variety of musical genres, including a credible take on AC/DC's "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap."
Although Gore did not officially come out until 2005, her lesbianism was not exactly a secret. The 1996 film Grace of My Heart featured a character (played by Bridget Fonda) whose industry struggles over her sexual orientation were similar to Gore's. Beginning in 2004 Gore could be seen hosting the PBS series In the Life, which focused on LGBT issues.
On February 16, 2015, Gore died of lung cancer at the age of 68.
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It's My Party: The Mercury Anthology
Lesley Gore Lyrics
All Of My Life I`ve been looking for a boy like you All of my…
Brink Of Disaster I'm your conscience, listen to me Don't give in, 'cause it's…
California Nights Along the sand Let's walk the shore together, now, just hand…
Hello Young Lover Hello young lover, you ain't gonna get to my heart Hello…
Hey Now (Ah ah, ah ah) Hey now (ah ah), what you gonna…
I Don't Wanna Be A Loser I don't want to be A loser I don't want to have A…
I Just Don't Know If I Can What do I do now boy Now that I know you…
I'll Be Standing By (I'll be standing by) Whenever you need me, baby (I'll be st…
If That's The Way You Want It You came along and made me fall Now I can't walk…
It's My Party It's my party and I'll cry if I want to Cry…
Judy's Turn To Cry 'Cause now it's Judy's turn to cry Judy's turn to cry Judy's…
Just Let Me Cry Oh stars on high, why can't I make you see…
Look Of Love (Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, look of love) (Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh,…
Love Goes On Forever All I have, I'll give you Everything you see What have I…
Magic Colors My days are darker than my nights My world is black,…
Maybe I Know Maybe I know that he's been a cheatin' Maybe I know…
Off And Running No matter what you do, no matter what you say I've…
Run Bobby Run When you see her walking toward you Run Bobby run She has…
She's A Fool She don't know it she's a lucky girl Got the best…
Sometimes I Wish I Were A Boy Sometimes, yes sometimes I wish I were a boy I'd been…
Summer And Sandy Oh what a day to take a ride, my baby's…
Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows, Everything that's wonderfu…
That's The Way Boys Are When I'm with my guy and he watches all the…
That's The Way The Ball Bounces I love him He doesn't love me That's the way the ball…
The Bubble Broke All alone sittin′ in my room because the bubble broke You…
The Old Crowd Sometimes I get to thinkin' 'bout days gone by And I…
Treat Me Like A Lady I know I look like an open book But if you…
We Know We're In Love Let's go home and tell my folks I think they ought…
Wedding Bell Blues Bill I love you so I always will I look at you…
What Am I Gonna Do With You Someone who says she's my friend Told me you've been untrue…
What's A Girl Supposed To Do He dropped me till my door And said he's glad he…
Wonder Boy Wonder boy, wonder boy That's what they call you at our…
You Didn't Look Around [Chorus:] Oh you were holding her, you were kissing her Bu…
You Don't Own Me You don't own me I'm not just one of your many…
Philip Kassabian
on Wonder Boy
Yet another great Leslie Gore song.
Philip Kassabian
on Sunshine, Lollipops And Rainbows
Fantastic song by Leslie Gore.
Philip Kassabian
on It's My Party
A great Leslie Gore song.