Patricia Bennett jumped from high school to international stardom as a member of the all-female soul-pop vocal group the Chiffons.

She was born April 7, 1947, in the Bronx, N.Y. Bennett met Barbara Lee and Judy Craig in school, where they began singing together. In 1960 they signed a record deal and had a minor hit with a take on the Shirelles' "Tonight's the Night."

In 1962, Sylvia Peterson joined and made the Chiffons a quartet. The hits began coming: the #1 "He's so Fine" — penned by Ronald Mack (their manager) — "One Fine Day" and "Sweet Talkin' Guy." The latter was re-released in 1974 in the UK, where it became a top-five smash.

Former Beatles guitarist George Harrison lost a 1976 court ruling that found that his #1 1970 hit, "My Sweet Lord," unknowingly plagiarized "He's So Fine." In 1975, the Chiffons cut their take on "My Sweet Lord."

The sassy-yet-sweet Chiffons continued touring into the '80s.

Other birthdays on Friday:

Charlie Thomas (the Drifters), 63; Carol Douglas, 52; John Oates (Hall & Oates), 51; Mark Kibble (Take 6), 36; and Billie Holiday, 1915–1959.