Leslie Sue Gore is the full name of a famous American singer-songwriter. When they talk about the areas of activity of Lesley Gore, they also add the words: actress, activist and famous public figure.
As the author of the hits It's My Party, Judy's Turn to Cry and others, Leslie became involved in women's rights activism, which also received wide publicity. Over the entire career of the singer, 7 records hit the Billboard 200 chart (maximum occupied the 24th position).
The beginning of Lesley Gore's musical career
Native American Lesley Gore was born on May 2, 1946 in Brooklyn, New York. Her father is Leo Gore, he was a manufacturer of a well-known children's clothing brand. Therefore, the family was very wealthy. Already in her teens, the girl began to dream of a career as a singer and began to try to write her first songs.
Her attempts were crowned with success already in 1963 (at that time the girl was only 16 years old), when the first single It's My Party was recorded. The song became a hit almost instantly. By June, she topped the main American Billboard Hot 100 chart. More than 1 million copies of the single were sold, which was an incredible result for a 16-year-old singer. Subsequently, the composition was nominated for one of the most prestigious Grammy music awards.
The song It's My Party was recorded with famous producer Quincy Jones (also known as the main producer of Michael Jackson's best-selling Thriller album), a multiple Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and other winner.
The girl did not stop there and recorded several more singles, each of which hit the chart. Among these were the songs: You Don't Own Me, She's a Fool, Judy's Turn To Cry and at least 5 other songs. Some of them were also nominated for a Grammy Award and almost all of them hit the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 1965, the well-known American comedy Girls on the Beach was released, in which Leslie participated. Here she performed three compositions, which also significantly increased her popularity in US pop culture.
Life after the peak of popularity Lesley Gore
The period of maximum activity was in the 1960s. A significant number of singles were recorded, which were well received by listeners and critics. Gore has appeared in TV shows, films and has given numerous interviews. In the 1970s, the activity of the singer decreased. Between 1970 and 1989 she recorded only three records. However, her popularity was still "floating". At this time, the singer actively participated in television programs, radio stations and gave concerts in different cities.
In the mid-1980s and 1990s, Gore took a break from music. As it became known in 2005, since 1982, Leslie lived with her girlfriend, jewelry designer Loise Sasson. Some observers attributed the break in their musical career to being busy in their personal lives.
The return of Leslie Gore and the protection of the rights of LGBT communities
Nevertheless, in 2005, Leslie returned to the show business arena and released her first album in 30 years, Ever Since. Critics praised the disc, as well as the audience, who were happy about the return of the popular singer. During the same period, Leslie admitted that she was a lesbian and recounted in detail about the relationship with her partner.
In 2004, Gore became an active advocate for the rights of the LGBT community. She devoted her activist work to the theme of feminism. The song You Don't Own Me eventually became a real hit and the anthem of feminists around the world. The song, recorded in the mid-1960s, according to the author, has not lost its relevance after many years.
Gore stated in one of her video messages that "we still continue to fight for our rights" (this is a reference to the lyrics of the song, which refers to the fact that a woman is not the property of a man and has the right to dispose of her body independently).
Leslie has released numerous video messages. In them, she agitated her fans to vote "for" or "against" certain laws adopted in the country. She called for a vote against the abolition of health care reform and the protection of the country's patients. Among the changes that the singer opposed was also the abolition of funding for birth planning programs. This included the abolition of the inclusion of contraceptives in insurance and educational activities on this topic.
The Last Years of Leslie Gore
In the last years of her life, Gore struggled with lung cancer. She continued to live with her girlfriend Loise Sasson. In total, they lived together for 33 years - until the death of Leslie. There have been no new records since Ever Since. Basically, Leslie was engaged in supporting LGBT rights and "promoting" the topic of feminism. On February 16, 2015, the singer died after battling an illness. It happened at the New York Medical Center at Langon University (Manhattan).
After the incident, her partner wrote an obituary dedicated to Gore. In it, she noted the talent of the singer, and also called her an influential feminist and an inspiring example for many people.
