Lesley Sue Goldstein, born in Brooklyn, New York City, to Ronny and Leo Goldstein, a manufacturer of children's clothes and swimwear, grew up in a Jewish family in Tenafly, New Jersey. At the age of 17, she burst onto the music scene in 1963 with the iconic teen anthem "It's My Party", discovered by legendary producer Quincy Jones, who signed her to Mercury Records and produced the hit single.
This marked the beginning of a string of hits, including "Judy's Turn to Cry", "She's a Fool", "That's the Way Boys Are", and the groundbreaking "You Don't Own Me", a surprisingly feminist-oriented song for its time. Gore's music career was not limited to recording, as she also began appearing on stage in summer stock productions and made appearances in movies and television shows, including a notable appearance on the popular TV series Batman in 1966, which was produced by her uncle Howie Horwitz.
In 1981, Gore was nominated for an Academy Award alongside her brother Michael Gore for Best Song for the film Fame, with "Out Here on My Own" competing against the theme song from the same film, also written by her brother and Dean Pitchford. Although they did not take home the award, Gore continued to tour, record, and appear in summer stock productions throughout her later life.
Sadly, Lesley Gore passed away at the age of 68, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneering female musician and a trailblazer in the music industry.
