Leah Kunkel Leah Kunkel Leah Kunkel (born June 15, 1948) is an American singer, songwriter and entertainment law attorney. Leah Kunkel was born Leah Cohen on June 15, 1948 in Baltimore, Maryland. She is the younger sister of Cass Elliot from the folk rock vocal group The Mamas & the Papas. In 1968 she married American drummer and music producer Russ Kunkel. Following her sister's death in 1974, Kunkel was given custody of Cass Elliot's daughter, Owen. The couple also raised their son, Nathaniel, an Emmy Award winning sound engineer. After being signed to Dunhill records, Kunkel recorded her first record "Billy"
People Like Us (The Mamas & the Papas album) had to produce one more album, or else be in breach of contract and subject to possible fines. The album is considered a disappointment by fans and critics. Nevertheless, it sold moderately well (#84 on the Billboard Pop Albums Chart). It was produced by John Phillips. Michelle Phillips would later write in the liner note of a Mamas & Papas CD compilation that the album "sounded like what it was, four people trying to avoid a lawsuit". All tracks except "I Wanna Be a Star" (co-written by Michelle) were written by John, making "People Like Us" The Mamas and the