Report: 'It's My Party' singer Lesley Gore dies at 68

Singer-songwriter Lesley Gore, who topped the charts in 1963 with "It’s My Party," died Monday, The Associated Press reported. She was 68.

Gore died of cancer at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, her partner of 33 years, Lois Sasson, told the AP.

"She was a wonderful human being -- caring, giving, a great feminist, great woman, great human being, great humanitarian," said Sasson, a jewelry designer.

Gore was born in Brooklyn and raised in New Jersey. She was discovered by Quincy Jones as a teenager and signed to Mercury Records, AP reported.

Gore's other hits include "She's A Fool," "That's the Way Boys Are" and "Maybe I Know." She co-wrote with her brother, Michael, the Academy Award-nominated "Out Here On My Own" from the film "Fame."

Published on Jul 29, 2014

Not much needs to be said about this blockbuster late spring and summer party number from 1963. One of the '60's greatest female singers, Lesley Gore, scored a #1 hit with "It's My Party" for two weeks during the first half of June, followed by three more weeks at #2, dropping to #8 on July 6, #11 on July 11 and not leaving the Top 40 altogether until August 3 (#54). It charted for a total of 14 weeks, spending most of those weeks in the Top 20. Produced by Quincy Jones, it was also his first #1 hit single on the pop and R&B charts.

Despite the fact that the song is about an adolescent girl discovering that her boyfriend Johnny has dumped her for a girl named Judy at her birthday party, the song was a major dance hit, and far too bouncy a number for listeners to dwell too seriously on the heartbreak-nature of the lyrics. My video focuses largely on Lesley Gore the singer and also on the song's irresistible dance party appeal.

• Music

  • "It's My Party" by Lesley Gore (Google Play • iTunes • AmazonMP3)