Michelle was a working model in her late teens when she met John Phillips, who was the singer/songwriter and guitarist for a folk trio called The Journeymen. Not as widely-remembered, they had a folk sound similar to the Kingston Trio, (a group which John was once offered a part). He continued recording and touring in his group and met the lovely Michelle, though married and with two young children. Soon, John divorced his first wife, and married Michelle.
The original Journeymen group split, and John and Michelle formed the New Journeymen. Due to the success of The Beatles and other British Invasion artists, the folk scene was winding down. A latter member of the New Journeymen group was Canadian singer Denny Doherty. The three would add fourth member Cass Eliott and begin working on material in early 1965 for what would become their next project, The Mamas And The Papas.
Being nine years younger than John, free-spirited and attract, she began to have affairs, both with Denny and famously with Byrds’ singer Gene Clark. They group was quite successful, having reached #1 with “Monday, Monday,” and earning a Grammy Award for Best Vocal Group.
Nonetheless, Michelle was fired by the band in early Summer of 1966, while they were recording and preparing to tour. Her replacement would be Jill Gibson, the girlfriend of producer Lou Adler, who had previously recorded with Jan and Dean. Jill’s time in the group only lasted through the summer, and Michelle was reinstated, remaining with the group for the remainder of their career. She and John would have a daughter, Chynna, who would later grow up to be a member of Wilson Phillips.
Following the demise of the group, Michelle became an actress, appearing in several films and television series.
I was watching a doco about the band once. The narrator waxed rhapsodic about how “sexy” she was as a teen, and 😬
I LOVE her. Her photo’s from her younger years are stunning. She is just so beautiful. The epitome of the 60’s for me.
Michelle was a working model in her late teens when she met John Phillips, who was the singer/songwriter and guitarist for a folk trio called The Journeymen. Not as widely-remembered, they had a folk sound similar to the Kingston Trio, (a group which John was once offered a part). He continued recording and touring in his group and met the lovely Michelle, though married and with two young children. Soon, John divorced his first wife, and married Michelle.
The original Journeymen group split, and John and Michelle formed the New Journeymen. Due to the success of The Beatles and other British Invasion artists, the folk scene was winding down. A latter member of the New Journeymen group was Canadian singer Denny Doherty. The three would add fourth member Cass Eliott and begin working on material in early 1965 for what would become their next project, The Mamas And The Papas.
Being nine years younger than John, free-spirited and attract, she began to have affairs, both with Denny and famously with Byrds’ singer Gene Clark. They group was quite successful, having reached #1 with “Monday, Monday,” and earning a Grammy Award for Best Vocal Group.
Nonetheless, Michelle was fired by the band in early Summer of 1966, while they were recording and preparing to tour. Her replacement would be Jill Gibson, the girlfriend of producer Lou Adler, who had previously recorded with Jan and Dean. Jill’s time in the group only lasted through the summer, and Michelle was reinstated, remaining with the group for the remainder of their career. She and John would have a daughter, Chynna, who would later grow up to be a member of Wilson Phillips.
Following the demise of the group, Michelle became an actress, appearing in several films and television series.