Lesley Gore, the singer/songwriter who was best known for her infectious 1963 hit "It's My Party," passed away today at the age 68.
Gore recorded "Party" when she was just 16, and though she's commonly regarded as a flash-in-the-pan pop star, she used her early success to build a widely-respected songwriting career, even earning an Academy Award nomination for her work on the film Fame in 1980.
Gore recorded several other hits throughout her career, including the feminist anthem "You Don't Own Me," and the bouncy Marvin Hamlisch classic "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows."
Despite all of her success, however, "It's My Party" has remained Gore's signature hit throughout her career.
The song was the first hit for legendary producer Quincy Jones. Following its initial release, "Party" remained at number one on the Billboard charts for four weeks. A sequel entitled "Judy's Turn to Cry" also reached the top five.
The song's chorus ("It's my party and I'll cry if I want to/You would cry too, if it happened to you") continues to be popularly quoted more than 50 years after the record first hit stores.
In recent years, Gore's work has been featured in television shows such as The L Word and CSI: Miami.
Gore was openly gay and is survived by her longtime partner, Lois Sasson. Gore reportedly died in a New York City hospital after a long battle with cancer.
ESPN's Stuart Scott (1965-2015) will forever be missed. The beloved anchor and personality passed away after a long battle with cancer in January at the age of 49.
