The Mamas and the Papas were a group that started up in the heyday of the ‘60s. They were the band to represent their era, without a doubt. The group's line up consisted of ‘Mama' Cass Elliot, John Phillips, Denny Doherty, and Michelle Phillips. The group was a melding of artists from various bands who became friends, fell in love with each other, sometimes fell in love with each other's spouses, and then moved on. They were glamour, they were grand, and they were the American group of the moment. Even when they were struggling internally, it seemed like there was nothing that they could not do, musically speaking.John Phillips was the founder of the group, born on August 30, 1935 in Paris Island, South Carolina, he was also the oldest member of the group. Even though he hailed from the Elvis era, his later start in music put him in the hippie days and he certainly rose to the occasion. Cassandra Elliot, known as Cassie or Cass was the key female singer of the group, her powerful alto voice was something to behold. Born Ellen Naomi Cohen on September 19, 1941, in Baltimore, Maryland, she had a larger-than-life personality really took the stage by storm. There is no knowing what heights she might have climbed to if she had not died so young.Michelle Phillips was the youngest member of the group, born Holly Michelle Gilliam on June 4, 1944 in Long Beach, California. She married John Phillips at the age of 17 and joined the group as it was getting started. Her rocky marriage with Phillips was definitely a thing of the ‘60s. Including her affair with the final member of the group, Denny Doherty, who died recently in 2007. Married to Cassie for a while, he was the most low-key member of the group, but still managed to make a name for himself as well.