Trivia

Inspired a storyline for the movie Grace of My Heart (1996) in which a 1960s bubble-gum singer is shown to be a closet lesbian. Coincidentally, Lesley helped with music for the movie, and in the movie the closet lesbian singer records a song Lesley herself recorded, "Secret Love".

She was the only female solo act to perform on the star-studded The T.A.M.I. Show (1964), one of the first big rock venues of the 1960s. Her million-seller "You Don't Own Me", which she performed on that show, predated the era of Women's lib. That song has gained a new life recently, with its inclusion in a women's sportswear commercial.

Discovered by producer Quincy Jones while singing at a hotel in Manhattan. He went on to produce her most successful recordings, including "It's My Party", which spent two weeks at #1 on Billboard's "Hot 100" chart and three weeks on its R&B chart (USA) in June 1963.

She died of lung cancer at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, NYC. She was diagnosed with a tumor on her spine in January 2015.

She was survived by Lois Sasson, her partner of 33 years.

When she was 11 years old her parents took her to her first Broadway musical, "My Fair Lady". She loved it so much that she asked her parents to see it again and again.

Studied literature and drama at Sarah Lawrence College.

As a recording artist, had four consecutive Top 10 hits on Billboard's Hot 100 chart starting in 1963.

Is mentioned in the song "Life Is a Rock But the Radio Rolled Me" by Reunion.

She was inducted into the 2021 New Jersey Hall of Fame in the performing arts category.

Lesley Gore released 45 RPM single records on the following record labels: Mercury (1963-69), Crewe (1970-71), MoWest (1972-73), A&M (1975-76), and Manhattan (1986).

Cousin of Alan Dean Foster and Jana Howard.

Older sister of Michael Gore.

She was inducted into the 2024 New Jersey Hall of Fame in the Performing Arts & Entertainment category.

Cousin-in-law of Neil Bagg.

Second cousin of Olivia Bagg and August Bagg.

At the time of her passing in 2015 she had a pet dog named Billie.