Lesley Gore Biography
Who was Lesley Gore? What set her apart from her colleagues in early 1960s pop? How was it that a teenager was able to capture the voice of female assertiveness before the feminist movement gained full force? The answers start with a 16-year-old from New Jersey who, with a voice of adolescent scorn and anguish, came to define the pop voice of a generation.
Born Lesley Sue Goldstein on May 2, 1946, in Brooklyn, New York City, she was brought up in Tenafly, New Jersey, in a Jewish family that would later adopt a different surname, Gore.
Her dad, Leo Goldstein, operated a store for children’s clothes, while her mom, Ronny, facilitated her early passion for music. Lesley came from a middle-class background that fostered ambition and artistry.
She attended the Dwight School for Girls before going to Sarah Lawrence College, from which she graduated with a degree in American literature. Gore’s big break came when a demo was passed on to music executive Joe Glaser by a uncle of hers, who forwarded it to Mercury Records president Irving Green.
Quincy Jones, who was a rising force in producers at that time, listened to that tape and saw a future with it. That move saw “It’s My Party,” produced in 1963, become an instant number-one hit and the soundtrack for every betrayed-at-my-own-birthday-party teenage girl.
It made Gore a household name overnight. Her succeeding releases, such as “Judy’s Turn to Cry” and the forceful “You Don’t Own Me,” solidified that she was more than a one-hitter.
“You Don’t Own Me” particularly struck a chord with people as it reached up to No. 2 on Billboard Hot 100 and went on to be a lasting feminist hit. While still being active with a pop career, Gore managed school and stardom with ease, a rarity for artists that age.
As the sixties progressed with music trends, popularity faded from Gore, though she never stopped recording. Later on, she made a transition into writing and composition. In the 1980s, she co-wrote “Out Here on My Own,” along with a piece for the movie Fame with a piece with her brother Michael Gore.
She was nominated for an Academy Award. Lesley also famously came out as a lesbian later in life and lived for over thirty years with partner Lois Sasson.
She appeared on episodes of LGBT-related television program In the Life and continued to be a voice for equality.
She passed away from lung cancer on February 16, 2015, aged 68. She leaves behind a legacy that was defined by empowerment, early success with a pop voice that was ahead of its time.
Contents
Lesley Gore Top Songs
- It’s My Party – Her first and most popular single, a classic teen pop drama.
- Judy’s Turn to Cry – A temporary successor that hit No. 5 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
- You Don’t Own Me – A powerful statement of freedom and independence.
- She’s a Fool – Another one of our top 5 with a classic 1960s sounding tune and voice craftsmanship.
- Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows – A celebratory Marvin Hamlisch piece that featured in the film Ski Party.
- Perhaps I Know – A sad love song that shows off her powerful voice.
- California Nights – A laid-back, otherworldly pop tune that was her last big chart hit.
- That’s the Way Boys Are – Documented the subtleties of teenage love in the ’60s.
Lesley Gore Discography
- I’ll Cry If I Want To (1963)
- Lesley Gore Sings of Mixed-Up Hearts (1963)
- Boys, Boys, Boys (1964)
- Girl Talk (1964)
- My Town, My Guy & Me (1965)
- Lesley Gore Sings All About Love (1966)
- California Nights (1967)
- Someplace Else Now (1972)
- Love Me By Name (1976)
- The Canvas Can Do Miracles (1982)
- Ever Since (2005)
- Magic Colors: The Lost Album (2011)
Lesley Gore Top Albums
- I’ll Cry If I Want To – A first concept album from a broken-hearted perspective, led off with “It’s My Party.”
- Lesley Gore Sings of Mixed-Up Hearts – With early favorites plentiful, this set showed increased maturity.
- California Nights – Her finest late-‘60s set, blending celestial West Coast pop.
- Ever Since – A critical comeback with a mature voice and a mature re-interpretation of “You Don’t Own Me.”
- Love Me By Name – This was Quincy Jones’ production and showed that she was moving into a more adult contemporary sound.
Lesley Gore Awards
- Grammy Award nomination in 1964 for “It’s My Party” (Rock-and-Roll Recording).
- 1980 Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for “Out Here on My Own” (Fame).
- Posthumously praised by NPR as a pioneer for female empowerment in popular music.
- Her archives and work are now preserved and made available to the general public in 2022 at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
Lesley Gore Singles
| Year | Title | Chart (US) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | It’s My Party | #1 | I’ll Cry If I Want To |
| 1963 | Judy’s Turn to Cry | #5 | I’ll Cry If I Want To |
| 1963 | She’s a Fool | #5 | Lesley Gore Sings of Mixed-Up Hearts |
| 1963 | You Don’t Own Me | #2 | Lesley Gore Sings of Mixed-Up Hearts |
| 1964 | That’s the Way Boys Are | #12 | Boys, Boys, Boys |
| 1964 | I Don’t Wanna Be a Loser | #37 | Boys, Boys, Boys |
| 1964 | Maybe I Know | #14 | Girl Talk |
| 1964 | Hey Now | #29 | Girl Talk |
| 1965 | Look of Love | #27 | My Town, My Guy & Me |
| 1965 | All My Life | #72 | My Town, My Guy & Me |
| 1965 | Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows | #13 | Lesley Gore Sings All About Love |
| 1965 | My Town, My Guy and Me | #32 | My Town, My Guy & Me |
| 1965 | I Won’t Love You Anymore (Sorry) | #72 | Lesley Gore Sings All About Love |
| 1966 | We Know We’re in Love | #66 | California Nights |
| 1966 | Young Love | #50 | California Nights |
| 1967 | California Nights | #16 | California Nights |
| 1967 | Summer and Sandy | #89 | California Nights |
| 1967 | Brink of Disaster | #82 | California Nights |
| 1968 | He Gives Me Love (La La La) | #96 (Music Business) | — |
| 1969 | 98.6 / Lazy Day | — | — |
| 1970 | Wedding Bell Blues | — | — |
| 1970 | Why Doesn’t Love Make Me Happy | #38 (Adult Contemporary) | — |
| 1972 | She Said That | — | Someplace Else Now |
| 2005 | You Don’t Own Me (Re-recorded) | — | Ever Since |