RIP Margaret Ross

"Margaret Ross was still in high school when she joined her cousin Dorothy Jones and their friend Earl-Jean McRea in the Cookies, a vocal group from Coney Island who became the favourites of the hit-making songwriters in Aldon Music's Brill Building offices in the early '60s. They sang on countless demos and provided backup on many hits by other artists."

"I saw the news of her death at the age of 83 today on Titelman's Facebook page, which shows how long some old loyalties last. In the same year as "I Never Dreamed", Margaret also sang lead on two almost equally fine records released under the fictitious name of the Cinderellas: "Baby Baby (I Still Love You)" and "Please Don't Wake Me", both written by Titelman with Cynthia Weil, and produced by Titelman with Barry Mann, Weil's husband and usual writing partner."

"But Margaret Ross had something special: she could capture the innocence that people like Goffin, Weil and Ellie Greenwich wrote into their stories of young love. She, above all, sounds like a teenager singing on behalf of other teenagers - but with a fine vocal technique that, when matched with the other members of the group, explained their popularity with the writers. "Their ears were so good," said Neil Sedaka, for whom they sang the background to "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do"."

Margaret Ross joined the Cookies while still in high school alongside Dorothy Jones and Earl-Jean McRea; the Coney Island trio became favourites of Aldon Music's Brill Building songwriters. The Cookies sang on countless demos, provided backing vocals on many hits, and shared lead duties on records like "Chains", "Don't Say Nothing Bad About My Baby" and "Girls Grow Up (Faster Than Boys)". In 1964 Ross sang lead on "I Never Dreamed", written by Gerry Goffin and Russ Titelman, arranged by Carole King and produced by Goffin and Titelman. That year she also sang lead on two records issued as the Cinderellas, written and produced by Titelman with Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann. Ross captured the teenage innocence central to Goffin, Weil and Ellie Greenwich's songs, combining that quality with a refined vocal technique praised by peers. News of her death at age 83 appeared on Russ Titelman's Facebook page, indicating enduring loyalties.

Read at thebluemoment.com