Legacy of ‘Mama’ Cass Elliot’s Health Misinformation Addressed by Daughter in New Memoir

The daughter of Cass Elliot, known as ‘Mama’ from the famed The Mamas and The Papas, is speaking out to dispel longstanding misinformation surrounding her mother’s death. In her forthcoming memoir titled My Mama, Cass: A Memoir, Owen Elliot-Kugell debunks the prevalent myth associated with Elliot’s passing.

Elliot-Kugell’s revelation challenges the widely circulated story that her mother choked on a ham sandwich, shedding light on the real events surrounding Elliot’s tragic demise. She emphatically states, «There was a ham sandwich, but she didn’t eat it and she didn’t choke on it. So enough with the jokes.»

Cass Elliot, celebrated for hits like California Dreamin’, Monday Monday, and Dream a Little Dream, tragically passed away in her London Palladium flat following a strenuous performance stint in 1974.

Elliot-Kugell’s recount of the events leading up to her mother’s passing portrays a different narrative from the ham sandwich myth. Detailing the exhaustive schedule Elliot endured, including a final show at the Palladium and staying awake for 36 hours, sheds new light on the circumstances.

The memoir delves into the origins of the ham sandwich tale, a revelation triggered during a lunch chat with Elliot’s close friend, Sue Cameron, a journalist intimately connected to the story. Cameron disclosed her role in fabricating the ham sandwich narrative to quell speculations immediately after Elliot’s demise.

Further insights from Elliot-Kugell reveal that Elliot’s manager at the time, Allan Carr, played a pivotal role in perpetuating the misleading sandwich story to safeguard Elliot’s image, given the rampant drug-related deaths among her peers. The revelation from Cameron provided closure to Elliot-Kugell, who now understands the motive behind the misinformation.

The memoir, My Mama, Cass: A Memoir by Owen Elliot-Kugell, is set for release on May 9th, offering a fresh perspective on the legacy of the iconic singer and unraveling the truths behind her untimely passing.