The Shangri-Las

1960s American Girl Group

The Shangri-Las were an American pop girl group that achieved fame in the 1960s. Comprised of two sets of sisters, Mary and Betty Weiss, and identical twins Marge and Mary Ann Ganser, the group hailed from Queens, New York. They are best known for their dramatic teen melodramas, and their music was characterized by its blend of pop and rhythm and blues. The Shangri-Las gained widespread recognition with their hit song "Leader of the Pack," which went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1964. Their image was distinctively styled with a slightly rebellious, tough-girl attitude that set them apart from other girl groups of the era. Despite their relatively short career—they were most active between 1963 and 1968—their music has had a lasting impact on the genre, influencing many artists who followed.