Lesley Gore

Birth Name: Lesley Sue Goldstein

Date of Birth: May 2, 1946

Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.

Date of Death: February 16, 2015

Place of Death: Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Lesley Gore was an American singer, songwriter, actress, television personality, and LGBT activist. She is known for her songs “It’s My Party,” “Judy’s Turn to Cry,” and “You Don’t Own Me.” She hosted editions of the show In the Life.

Lesley was the daughter of Ronny Gore and Leo Goldstein. Her father owned Peter Pan, a children’s swimwear and underwear manufacturer, and was a leading brand licensing agent in the apparel industry. Her brother was composer Michael Gore, and the two composed songs for the 1980 film Fame. She was a cousin of writer Alan Dean Foster and television producer Howie Horwitz. Lesley was raised in Tenafly, New Jersey.