L-R: Nedra Talley, Veronica Bennett (Ronnie Spector), Estelle Bennett
Veronica Yvette Greenfield (née Bennett) aka Ronnie Spector (b. 8/10/43 – d. 1/12/22) was an American singer who co-founded and fronted the girl group the Ronettes. She is sometimes referred to as the original “bad girl of rock and roll.” Ronnie formed the singing group with her older sister, Estelle Bennett, and their cousin, Nedra Talley, in the late 1950s.
Early Life:
Ronnie was born in East Harlem, New York City, and grew up in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan. She was the daughter of Beatrice and Louis Bennett, a subway worker. Her mother was African American and Cherokee, and her father was Irish.
Musical Beginnings:
Ronnie and her sister, Estelle (1941–2009) were encouraged to sing by their large family, as was their cousin Nedra Talley (born 1946.) The trio formed the Darling Sisters, known later as the Ronettes. They performed locally while attending George Washington High School in Washington Heights. Their look was fashioned by Estelle, who had a job at Macy’s on the cosmetics counter. They sang at school events, and had a residency at the Peppermint Lounge, a nightspot in Manhattan, the birthplace of the Twist and go-go dancing.
Discography:
|
The Ronettes discography |
|
|---|---|
|
Studio albums |
1 |
|
Compilation albums |
11 |
|
Singles |
15 |
|
Other albums |
8 |
Solo work
Albums = 4
EPs = 3
Singles = 8
In 1986, Ronnie enjoyed a resurgence of popular radio airplay as the featured vocalist on Eddie Money’s Top 5 hit, “Take Me Home Tonight“, in which she answers Money’s chorus lyric, “just like Ronnie sang”, with, “be my little baby.” The song’s music video was one of the top videos of the year and in heavy rotation on MTV.
In December 2021, the Ronettes returned to the Top 10 for the first time in 58 years with their 1963 recording of “Sleigh Ride.”
Some things to share:
During the Summer of 1964, the Ronettes spent a lot of time hanging out at Odine’s, an exclusive East Side club on Fifty-Ninth Street in Manhattan… where the Ronettes were first introduced to Jimi Hendrix, who was an unknown guitarist there at the time. Ronnie used to get up and sing along with Hendrix as he played guitar. After running into Hendrix again at a party in 1969, Estelle and Ronnie were invited into the studio to do backing vocals on Hendrix’s “Earth Blues” song. Their work on the backing vocals earned The Ronettes a credit on Hendrix’s posthumously released LP Rainbow Bridge, released in October 1971.
In 1990, Ronnie published a memoir, Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, Or, My Life as a Fabulous Ronette. An updated version titled Be My Baby: A Memoir was completed in late 2021, just two months before her death, and was released in May 2022.
She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Ronettes in 2007. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked her at number 70 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.
In 1988, the Ronettes sued Phil Spector, producer and Ronnie’s ex-husband, for $10 million in damages, rescission of the contract, the return of the masters, and recoupment of money received from the sale of Ronettes masters. It took 10 years for the case to make it to trial. After a prolonged legal battle, the court ruled that their contract gave Phil unconditional rights to the recordings but Ronnie was entitled to her share of royalties. There were other complications, which you can read about at wiki or elsewhere.
Official website: here
SORRY FOR THE LATE POSTING. I SET THE TIME FOR 3PM BY MISTAKE. JUST GOT UP.
Source: wikipedia
Tao Talk 
What a great tribute and some fun facts I didn’t know about, Li! Great songs and talent❣️
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Thanks much, Cindy :)
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Out of all of the female groups of the sixties..The Ronettes were my favorite. Again with the voice…but you could pick Ronnie Spector’s voice out of a lineup. She was the complete package…she had everything…except a decent husband…at least with Spector.
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Can’t add a thing to what you just said, Max. I was thrilled when she did the Eddie Money song. Something crazy phil couldn’t control.
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Yes…that brought her back and her name back up again.
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Certainly an important group in those days and despite PS, Ronnie persevered. Had not heard Padre before, good song wonder why they didn’t release it the time.
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She is lucky she lived through it, seriously. I wonder also why Padre wasn’t released at the time.
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Classic ‘60s girl group music – that said, their only song I could name was “Be My Baby!”
I was also aware of and love the Eddie Money song “Take Me Home Tonight” and knew Ronnie Spector sang on it. In fact, it was because of that song I got Money’s “Can’t Hold Back” Album on CD at the time.
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Cool, Christian. We used to use that song in one of our aerobics routines.
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Once again, thanks for the history. She often did Christmas shows in the city, not sure if they were every year, but I remember hearing them advertised. Phil was really a piece of work–Ronnie deserved better, both from him and from the courts. (K)
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Oh that’s right you would know more about her as she is from your town. Agreed on crazy phil and the court. The masters are where the $$ is!
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You think 60s girl singing groups, and they are it. She is lucky to have made it out alive from Spector. The first eight beats of Be My Baby are maybe the most recognizable kick to any rock song ever made. It sure got Brian Wilsons attention.
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Thanks for reading and your comment.
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good artist! Thanks Lisa for sharing the music!
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My pleasure, Carol Anne!
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Ronnie Spector had a unique voice that stood out from most all-girl groups of the 60s.
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Agreed, Glyn. There is an aspect to her voice that is irresistible :)
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This is so fab! Who doesn’t love Ronnie and the Ronettes? What great memories, Lisa.
If I may add something here, this is a song written by George Harrison for Ronnie. It knocks me out and you can hear the George influence. This is Tandoori Chicken:
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Thank you!!!!! :) Nancy, I am so glad you included the 45 pic as it has so much good info on it. It says Apple but you can “Harrisongs, Ltd” in upper right corner. I can here Geo in her but that almost muffling “spector wall of sound” also. Not sure if you saw the comment at YouTube about it:
Tandoori Chicken” came about after Spector sent Beatles aide Mal Evans to get food during the session.] Just over two minutes in length,[ the song is in the rockabilly style of Carl Perkins, with Spector playing blues piano[ and Harrison on overdubbed dobro. Harrison said the performance was recorded in a single take, with “a lot of improvised scat singing in the middle”.[50] Lennon was rumoured to have made an unspecified contribution on “Tandoori Chicken”.
Ronnie Spector – vocals (1971 single)
George Harrison – acoustic guitar; vocals (1973 release)
Leon Russell – piano
Gary Wright – electric piano
Pete Ham – acoustic guitar
Klaus Voormann – bass
Jim Gordon – drums, tambourine
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Of course YOU would find a like between a Beatle and Ronnie ;-)
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I do what needs to be done to keep my peeps informed 😂
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🤣💞😂
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<3
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A lot of big talent on that one little record!
So glad you enjoyed it, Lisa. It’s one of my favorite fun pieces.
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What a wonderful choice!
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Happy Ronnie and Kin please you :)
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Indeed!
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