June 4: Michelle Phillips of the Mamas & The Papas, is 69-years-old today.

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Michelle Phillips was born Holly Michelle Gilliam in Long Beach, California on June 4, 1944. She met John Phillips while he was touring California with his band the Journeymen. He divorced his then-wife and married Michelle on December 31, 1962, when she was 18.

In 1968, she gave birth to their daughter, Chynna Phillips, vocalist of the 1990s pop trio Wilson Phillips. Michelle and John divorced in 1970.

While a member of The Mamas & the Papas, Phillips co-wrote some of the band's hits, including "Creeque Alley" and "California Dreamin'.” The band broke up in 1968. During 1970, Phillips sang backup vocals on a Leonard Cohen tour. That year, Phillips married actor Dennis Hopper. The marriage lasted eight days.

In 1973, Phillips recorded vocals as a cheerleader along with Darlene Love, for the Cheech & Chong single "Basketball Jones" which peaked at No.15 on the Billboard singles chart.

In 1975 Phillips signed a solo recording contract with A&M Records and released a promo single, "Aloha Louie,” that she wrote with ex-husband John Phillips. Phillips released her first solo single in 1976, "No Love Today,” on the Mother, Jugs & Speed movie soundtrack.

Phillips began acting in the 1970s and continues to act in movies and in television. Phillips starred for several seasons on Knots Landing as Anne Matheson Sumner, the mother of star Nicollette Sheridan's character Paige Matheson.

In 1986, Michelle wrote an autobiography, California Dreamin': The True Story of the Mamas and Papas. On January 12, 1998, Phillips was inducted in New York City to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with her bandmates. For the first time in over two decades Michelle performed California Dreamin live with Denny Doherty and John Phillips. She was later inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000 for The Mamas & the Papas, and performed live with Denny Doherty, but without John, who died in March 2001. Mama Cass had died yeasrs earlier. She is the last surviving original member of the Mamas & The Papas.

 

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