Celebrity Graveland

August 30, 1935 – March 18, 2001

Look, life is complicated.

Greenwich Village in New York City in the early 1960s was a hotbed for musical creativity and countercultural movements. Nearly two decades into the influential American Folk Revolution, a new generation of singers and musicians all gravitated toward the lower east side of Manhattan. It was in this incubator, that a young singer-songwriter from Virginia named John Phillips met Denny Doherty and Cass Elliot.

Phillips had moved to New York with his band, the Journeymen, and soon-to-be wife, Michelle Gilliam, in search of a record deal. The Journeymen recorded 3 albums with Capitol Records and gained a fair following. Phillps married Michelle, the British Invasion started getting ALL the attention and the Journeymen quietly fell apart. John and Michelle continued to perform as a duo in and around the Village. In 1964, Denny Doherty – fresh off the breakup of his own group, the Mugwumps – joined them. Shortly thereafter, fellow Mugwump, Cass Elliot, also joined and the Mamas & the Papas was born.

Papa John served as the primary songwriter and arranger for the group through their meteoric and turbulent rise through pop music. The group charted six Top 10 hits including “California Dreamin'”, “Monday, Monday” and “Dedicated to the One I Love” – and three of their five albums are certified gold – with their 1966 debut, If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears, going platinum.

The drama surrounding the Mamas & the Papas was legendary and extremely public. Affairs, infighting, substance abuse, jealously and emotional trauma all came to define the quartet. John could be as controlling as he was cruel and, despite the group’s highs, they inevitably broke up in 1968.

John and Michelle divorced in 1969. Phillips was married a total of four times and had five children, including actresses Mackenzie and Bijou and singer Chynna. His solo career never matched the success he had with the Mamas & the Papas, but he became a successful producer and continued to be prolific songwriter. Later in his career, he reformed the NEW Mamas & the Papas with Doherty. He also got REALLY into heavy drugs. In 1981, Phillips was convicted of trafficking drugs. His oldest daughter, Mackenzie – from his first marriage, shared her father’s penchant for drugs. More on her later.

A lifetime of substance addiction and abuse led to a number of health issues. After a liver transplant in the 1990s, he was said to have given up alcohol, but tabloid photos and his own admission refuted that claim. John Phillips died of heart failure shortly after recording his final album in Los Angeles. He was only 65 years old.

Several years after his death, Phillips’ daughter, Mackenzie, released a bombshell memoir claiming that not only did she share drugs with her father, but that were involved in a decade-long abusive and incestuous relationship. His family continues to be split on whether or not the allegations have any merit. Like I said…complicated.

Burial

Forest Lawn Memorial Park – Cathedral City, CA

Specific Location

Faith & Hope, Crypt 12E, Space A; South facing wall of this cross-shaped section, first space from the cross aisle, 4th row up.

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