Early career Cass Elliot

cass elliot tim rose , james hendricks part of big 3

after leaving high school pursue entertainment career in new york, elliot toured in musical music man in 1962, lost part of miss marmelstein in can wholesale barbra streisand. elliot sing while working cloakroom attendant @ showplace in greenwich village, did not pursue singing career until moved washington, d.c. area attend american university (not swarthmore college, mentioned in biographical song creeque alley ).

america s folk music scene on rise when elliot met banjoist , singer tim rose , singer john brown, , 3 began performing triumvirate. in 1963, james hendricks replaced brown, , trio renamed big 3. elliot s first recording big 3 winkin , blinkin , nod , released fm records in 1963. in 1964, group appeared on open mic night @ bitter end in greenwich village, billed cass elliot , big 3 , followed onstage folk singer jim fosso , bluegrass banjoist eric weissberg (who became famous 8 years later performing dueling banjos on soundtrack deliverance (1972)).

tim rose left big 3 in 1964, , elliot , hendricks teamed canadians zal yanovsky , denny doherty form mugwumps. group lasted 8 months, after cass performed solo act while. in meantime, yanovsky , john sebastian co-founded lovin spoonful, while doherty joined new journeymen, group included john phillips , wife michelle. in 1965, doherty persuaded phillips elliot should join group, did while , group members vacationing in virgin islands.

a popular legend elliot vocal range improved 3 notes after hit on head copper tubing while walking through construction site behind bar new journeymen playing in virgin islands. elliot confirmed story in 1968 interview rolling stone magazine, saying,

it s true, did hit on head pipe fell down , range increased 3 notes. tearing club apart in islands, revamping it, putting in dance floor. workmen dropped thin metal plumbing pipe , hit me on head , knocked me ground. had concussion , went hospital. had bad headache 2 weeks , of sudden singing higher. s true. honest god.

however, friends later said pipe story less embarrassing explanation why john phillips had kept out of group long, real reason being considered heavy.