Lesley Gore

Birthdate: May 2, 1946
Location: New York
Occupation: singer

As a teenager, Lesley was a role model for female empowerment (sort of) with her hit singles It's My Party, Judy's Turn To Cry, and You Don't Own Me (although her best single of the sixties, Maybe I Know, has more of a mixed message). Later she would win an Oscar for co-writing Out Here On My Own for the movie Fame, and now, twenty-five years later, she just issued her first album in a long, long time. It's torchy, and she sounds more like Marianne Faithfull than the chipper bird who would cry if she wanted to. And, following in the footsteps of Ms. Faithfull, along with Nancy Sinatra and Loretta Lynn, the album's really great.

We put Lesley on the list because she's been a lesbian longer than just about anyone else.

More!: Official website