 NEW YORK (AP) — Singer-songwriter Lesley Gore, who topped the charts in 1963 at age 16 with her epic song of teenage angst, "It's My Party," and followed it up with the hits "Judy's Turn to Cry," and the feminist anthem "You Don't Own Me," died Monday. She was 68. The singer broke out into the music scene in 1963 with “It’s My Party,” which raced to No. That song was followed by others, including the vengeful sequel "Judy’s Turn to Cry," the resigned "Maybe I Know" and the upbeat "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows," as well as the one that irrevocably linked her to the feminist movement: "You Don’t Own Me." "She was a wonderful human being — caring, giving, a great feminist, great woman, great human being, great humanitarian," Lois Sasson, Gore’s partner of more than three decades, told the Associated Press. Recalling her teenage years, he said in a statement: "Lesley was an incredibly soulful singer/songwriter even at that young and that was why the world embraced her songs the way it did." In addition to Sasson, Gore is survived by her brother and mother, Ronny. Gore was nominated for an Oscar, along with her brother Michael, for co-writing “Out Here on My Own” from 1980’s “Fame.” Her other film work includes co-writing “My Secret Love” for Allison Anders’ 1996 film “Grace of My Heart.” 
 
 She also appeared on Broadway, having a role in “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” in the late ’90s. Gore also dabbled in television acting, playing the role of Pussycat in the cult 1960s show "Batman." Born in 1946, Gore grew up in Tenafly, N.J. After high school, she slowed the breakneck pace of her music career as she earned a bachelor’s degree in English and American literature at Sarah Lawrence College, then hit the nightclub circuit. A couple of years later, she appeared in "Smokey Joe's Cafe" on Broadway. She officially came out to the public when she hosted several episodes of the PBS series, "In The Life," which dealt with gay and lesbian issues. Her most recent album, her first in 30 years, came in 2005 with “Ever Since.” Near the end of her life, Gore had been working on a stage adaptation of her life.
– Lesley Gore, the singer-songwriter who scored a huge hit as a 16-year-old with "It's My Party" in 1963, has died at the age of 68. Gore, who grew up in New Jersey and was discovered by Quincy Jones, followed up the Grammy-nominated chart-topper with hits including "She's a Fool," "Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows," and "You Don't Own Me," which became a feminist anthem, reports the Los Angeles Times. Gore and her brother Michael were nominated for an Oscar for writing "Out Here on My Own" for 1980's Fame. She released Ever Since, her first album in 30 years, in 2005 and had been working on a stage adaptation of her life, Variety reports. She also played Catwoman's sidekick Pussycat in the 1960s Batman TV series. ECR Music Group chief Blake Morgan, who produced Gore's last album, says he had known her since his childhood. "Lesley was like my rock 'n' roll godmother," he tells the Times. "It was a very courageous record for her to make, and a very defiant one." Gore came out as a lesbian when she hosted a few episodes of the PBS series In the Life, which dealt with gay and lesbian issues. "She was a wonderful human being—caring, giving, a great feminist, great woman, great human being, great humanitarian," Lois Sasson, her partner of 33 years, tells the AP. Sasson says Gore, a nonsmoker, died of lung cancer yesterday at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan.