Mamas and Papas Founder Dies at 65

L O S  A N G E L E S, March 18, 2001 -- Songwriter John Phillips, who as a member ofthe Mamas and the Papas penned "California Dreamin"' and otherhits by the 1960s pop group, died this morning. He was 65.

Phillips died of heart failure at the University of California,Los Angeles Medical Center, a spokesman for the hospital said.

"His personality is going to be sorely missed," said HarveyGoldberg, a longtime friend and producer. "His music is going tobe sorely missed."

Phillips was the principal songwriter for the Mamas and thePapas, writing hits including "I Saw Her Again Last Night" and"Creeque Alley." In 1966, the band won a Grammy for bestcontemporary group performance for the single "Monday Monday."

Helped Introduce Hendrix, The Who to U.S. Audiences

He also helped organize 1967's seminal Monterey Pop Festival,which introduced Jimi Hendrix and The Who to American audiences.

Phillips also wrote for other groups, including the GratefulDead, Beach Boys and Scott MacKenzie, who debuted his "SanFrancisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair)" atMonterey.

Goldberg said that just before entering the hospital, Phillipshad completed work on a solo album, tentatively titled "SlowStarter." An album he began work on 25 years ago with Mick Jaggerand Keith Richards called "Pay, Pack and Follow" is set forrelease in May.

Phillips was born John Edmund Andrew Phillips on Aug. 30, 1935,in Parris Island, S.C. In high school, he played in several bands.He later moved to New York City, where he formed The Journeymen.

When Cass Elliot joined the group now known as the Mamas and thePapas, the band moved to Los Angeles, where they were signed in1965.

"They were really the American band that ended the BritishInvasion," Goldberg said.

Span of Hits Crammed into Two Years

The Mamas and the Papas' debut single, "California Dreamin',"was released in 1966. "Monday, Monday" and a string of other hitssoon followed until the band broke up in 1968. Two decades later,the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

"There was an intelligence to his lyrics but not to the pointof highbrow," Goldberg said. "It was something that everyonecould relate to."

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Took a Toll

The songwriter received a liver transplant in 1992 after yearsof abusing alcohol and illegal drugs had taken its toll.

"It's like having a new lease on life," Phillips said at thetime of the transplant, which came six months after he stoppeddrinking. He had talked and written about his former drugaddictions, saying he had weaned himself from drugs in arehabilitation clinic after a 1980 arrest.

Phillips is survived by his wife, Farnaz, daughters Mackenzie,Chynna and Bijou, sons Jeffrey and Tamerlane and stepdaughtersAtoosa and Sanaz.

Funeral arrangements were pending.