The Ronettes
trio included the Bennett sisters, Estelle and Veronica, and their cousin Nedra Talley. Veronica would eventually be known as Ronnie Spector, and the group’s leading lady.The group had several hits, including “(The Best Part of) Breaking Up,” “Walking in the Rain,” and “Be My Baby.” Ronnie Spector’s “woh-oh-ohs” originally heard on “Be My Baby” one of their most popular songs, became her trademark.
The Ronettes were an American girl group from Washington Heights, Manhattan, New York City. The group consisted of lead singer Veronica Bennett (later known as Ronnie Spector), her older sister Estelle Bennett, and their cousin Nedra Talley. They had sung together since they were teenagers, then known as “The Darling Sisters”. Signed first by Colpix Records in 1961, they moved to Phil Spector’s Philles Records in March 1963 and changed their name to “The Ronettes”.The Ronettes placed nine songs on the Billboard Hot 100, six of which became Top 40 hits. Among their hit songs are “Be My Baby”, which peaked at No. 2, and their only contemporary top 10 hits, are “Baby, I Love You”, “(The Best Part of) Breakin’ Up” and “Walking in the Rain”. In 1964, the group released their only studio album, Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica. That year, the Rolling Stones were their opening act when they toured the UK.
The Ronettes opened for the Beatles on their 1966 US tour, becoming the only girl group to tour with them, before splitting up in 1967. In the 1970s, the group was briefly revived as Ronnie Spector and the Ronettes. Ronnie Spector’s name changed to Spector when she married Phil Spector in 1968. Their song “Be My Baby” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. Rolling Stone ranked their album Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica No. 422 on its list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The Ronettes were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004, and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. The group also holds the record for the longest gap between top ten hits in Billboard history, with a just over 58-year gap.
On February 11, 2009, Estelle died of colon cancer at the age of 67 in Englewood, New Jersey.
Ronnie died on January 12, 2022, following a brief battle with cancer at the age of 78, leaving Nedra Talley the last surviving original member of the trio.
The Ronettes were nominated for a Grammy Award in 1965 for “Walking in the Rain”. They were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for “Be My Baby” in 1999. The Ronettes were also inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004 and the People’s Hall of Rock and Roll Legends in 2010. The Ronettes’ influence on music was significant. In addition to Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, Billy Joel, and Bruce Springsteen have both cited Ronnie Bennett as an influence. The Ronettes’ fashion style was emulated by British musician Amy Winehouse.
It was reported that Phil Spector, in his capacity as a member of the Board of Governors, prevented the Ronettes from being nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, although they had been eligible for a considerable length of time. In a letter obtained by Ronnie’s lawyers, addressed to the Rock Hall’s nominating committee, Phil claimed that, apart from Ronnie, the group members did not appear on their records, and that they did not make the contribution required for induction.[65] While he was awaiting trial on a murder charge, the Ronettes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 12, 2007, at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. They were inducted by Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards.[66] Ronnie and Nedra performed “Baby, I Love You”, “Walking in the Rain”, and “Be My Baby”. Estelle was present to accept her award but was not well enough to perform, so Tricia Scotti (a regular backup singer with Ronnie) took her place behind the microphone