McFarlane, Elaine (1942–)

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McFarlane, Elaine (1942–)

American singer. Name variations: Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane, Spanky, Mama Spanky, Spanky and Our Gang. Born June 19, 1942, in Peoria, IL.

Sang with band, the New Wine Singers (early 1960s); became lead singer for folk-pop group, Spanky and Our Gang (1966), which had several hit songs, including "Sunday Will Never Be the Same" (1967) and "Like to Get to Know You" (1968); with group, spawned controversy with protest song, "Give a Damn" (1969), which was banned on numerous radio stations but later became part of public service announcement campaign; joined group, Mamas and Papas (1981); later sang with new lineup in Spanky and Our Gang.

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