Scott Mckenzie Dies

The star passed away in Los Angeles on Saturday (18Aug12). No further details were available as WENN went to press.

Born Philip Blondheim, the singer decided to change his name after fans struggled to pronounce his birth moniker.

MCKenzie found fame with doo wop band The Abstracts, which became The Smoothies, and later formed The Journeymen with John Phillips and DICk Weissman.

They disbanded in the 1960s and MCKenzie declined an offer from Phillips to join his new group - The Mamas & the Papas.

MCKenzie, who is perhaps best known for his 1967 hit single San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair), started singing with a new version of The Mamas & the Papas in the 1980s.