Rock n' Roll Myths: Mama Cass Choked on a Ham Sandwich

The Mamas & the Papas were one of the most successful singing group in the 1960s, with the larger than life "Mama" Cass Elliot providing one of the biggest voices in Rock n' Roll at the time. Of course, Mama Cass was always known for her large stature as for her impressive vocals.

When she died at the age of 32 after two weeks of sold out solo performances at The London Palladium, the cause of death was ruled to be a heart attack. However, when police reported that a partially eaten sandwich was found nearby, tabloids seized upon the opportunity to make a mountain out of a molehill, and quickly began reporting that it was the ham sandwich that actually brought upon Elliot's demise.

So is there any merit to the story? The singer did struggle with her weight, and a sandwich was discovered by her body, so could there be any truth behind this legend? Well we've looked into our magic 8-Ball and the answer is Don't count on it. Again, the coroner's report stated that a heart attack was to blame for Mama Cass's death, which, given her health and the pressures of a sold-out touring schedule, aren't that illogical. What's more, when the coroner performed an autopsy on the famous singer, her trachea was found to be clean and free of any obstructions, which confirmed that it was indeed a heart attack that ended her life.

Unfortunately, in this case it appears that the lasting legend is one not founded in any truth, but the giddy speculations of overzealous gossip columnists. Perhaps one day there will be a Mama Cass biopic to finally clear up the myth for the general public, but until then, her legacy remains tarnished by this infantile story.

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Justin Starling for Citadel Digital © 2010