The Mamas & the Papas star's 'cruel' cause of death rumor 'another fat joke,' author says: 'Simply not true'

"Mama" Cass Elliot of The Mamas & the Papas died on July 29, 1974, in London. She was 32. For years, rumors persisted that the late singer choked on a ham sandwich.

"They were lightning in a bottle," Shea told Fox News Digital. "And the level of dysfunction was incredible. The band was together for a very short period. And when they got a big recording deal and became superstars, they also reached a level of dysfunction and really what I deemed as resting on their laurels." Stephanie Nolasco covers entertainment at Foxnews.com.

John Phillips and his wife Michelle Phillips originally started the band and called themselves the New Journeymen, People magazine reported. In 1965, Denny Doherty joined the husband-and-wife duo after leaving his band, The Mugwumps. The outlet noted that Elliot, who was Doherty’s former bandmate in the aforementioned group, was the last to join.

According to legend, Elliot was only allowed to join the band after she was hit on the head with a metal pipe to alter her vocal range. She seemingly confirmed the incident to Rolling Stone in 1968.