Lesley Gore, 'It's My Party' Singer, Dies of Lung Cancer
Celebrity

The 68-year-old singer-songwriter, who is best known with her pop hit 'It's My Party', 'Judy's Turn to Cry' and 'You Don't Own Me', passed away on Monday, February 16.

AceShowbiz - Lesley Gore, the singer-songwriter who shot to fame in 1963 with her hit song "It's My Party", died on Monday, February 16 at New York University Langone Medical Center in Manhattan. She was 68.

According to her partner of 33 years, Lois Sasson, Lesley passed away of lung cancer. "She was a wonderful human being - caring, giving, a great feminist, great woman, great human being, great humanitarian," Lois told The Associated Press.

Singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka remembered Lesley in a Facebook post, writing, "I am saddened to hear about the loss of my friend Lesley Gore. I fondly remember attending her Sweet Sixteen party in New Jersey. She was a great person and a phenomenal talent, who had opened for me on many occasions. She recorded a few of my songs ('Magic Colors' and 'Summer Symphony') and was a great songwriter in her own right. I'm glad I had the chance of knowing her."

Lesley was born on May 2, 1946 in Brooklyn, New York City. Besides "It's My Party", her hits included "Judy's Turn to Cry", "You Don't Own Me", "She's a Fool", "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows", "That's the Way Boys Are" and "Maybe I Know". She also played Catwoman's sidekick in 1960s TV comedy "Batman".

Lesley received an Academy Award nomination for song "Out Here on My Own" from the movie "Fame", which she co-wrote with her brother Michael.

In 2004, she began hosting an LGBT-oriented public TV show "In the Life". A year later she officially came out as a lesbian, revealing that she had been living with Lois for more than 23 years.

In addition to Lois, Lesley is survived by her brother and her mother. Her funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 19 at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home on Madison Avenue.

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