Dream a Little Dream of Me (1968)

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By: The Mamas and the Papas, which consisted of Denny Doherty (born November 29, 1940, died of kidney failure following surgery January 19, 2007,) "Mama" Cass Elliot (born Ellen Naomi Cohen September 19, 1941, died in sleep of a heart attack July 29, 1974,) John Phillips (born August 30, 1935, died of heart failure March 18, 2001,) and Michelle Phillips (born June 4, 1944, the only living member.)

The group was formed in 1965 after their previous groups (The Mugwumps, The New Journeymen) failed. They immediately hit it big with their first single, "California Dreamin'," and altogether had 15 charting singles. In 1998, they were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

Michelle Phillips met songwriter Fabian Andre when she was 6 years old in Mexico City, Mexico. In an interview, she remembered him as always "singing, playing and drinking at the piano".

In 1968, when the Mamas and the Papas were rehearsing in the studio, they learned that Andre had died in a fall down an elevator shaft 8 years earlier, on March 30, 1960. As they were discussing his death, Michelle remembered his most famous song, "Dream a Little Dream of Me", and the group asked Cass Elliot to sing it.

It fit Elliot's style of singing, as her dream had been to perform on Broadway. She once auditioned for a part that went to Barbra Streisand, and she aspired for a singing and acting career like Streisand's. It was even credited to Mama Cass with the Mamas and the Papas.

The group disbanded in 1968, the same year "Dream a Little Dream of Me" was released. For the next 6 years, it was a mainstay in Elliot's live performances. She sang it for the last time on July 27, 1974, to a sold out crowd at London's Palladium. She died two days later at the age of 32.

Chart position: #12 (US), #2 (US Easy Listening), #11 (UK).

It sold over 7 millions copies worldwide.

Written by: Fabian Andre (born January 8, 1910, died March 30, 1960,) Wilbur Schwandt and Gus Kahn (lyrics) in 1931.

Kahn also wrote lyrics for such songs as "Makin' Whoopie", "Ain't We Got Fun", and "It Had To Be You".

Also by: Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald; Zooey Deschanel; Doris Day; Michael Bublé.

Originally by: Ozzie Nelson (star of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet and father of Ricky Nelson) and his Orchestra with vocal by Nelson on February 16, 1931 for Brunswick Records.

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