John Phillips, Cass Elliott, Denny Doherty and Michelle Phillips formed the group after several folk groups failed. They hit it big immediately after forming the Mamas & the Papas with "California Dreamin'", still their most recognizable and enduring song. Romantic and drug-related problems soon tore the band apart, however, and the band had broken up by 1971.
John and Michelle's daughter, McKensie Phillips would go on to play a teenager in the 1970s TV series One Day at a Time.