MY MAMA, CASS A Memoir

Laurel Canyon music legend Ellen Naomi Cohen, better known as Mama Cass of the 1960s folk-rock group The Mamas & the Papas, died at age 32. Her daughter, the author of this audiobook, was 7. Elliot-Kugell's slightly nasal narration of this biography is sincere, loving, and precise. But, sadly, the text seems unfinished and incomplete. What predominates is a compendium of facts, tour dates, stories, and legends as told by Cass's friends, music collaborators, and business associates. Cass's daughter does her best to debunk the widely repeated legend of Cass choking to death on a ham sandwich. While there are truly appealing moments in this performance and many stories help build a more complete portrait of the iconic artist, the overall effort is lacking. W.A.G. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2024]