The Ronettes | |
|---|---|
 The Ronettes in 1966 L–R: Nedra Talley, Veronica Bennett and Estelle Bennett | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as |
|
| Origin | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1959–1967, 1973–1974 |
| Labels | |
| Past members |
|
The Ronettes were an American girl group from Washington Heights, Manhattan, New York City.[1] The group consisted of the 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, their only contemporary top 10 hit, "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. Veronica Bennett 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.[2]
- ^ "Ronnie Spector Biography". Ronniespector.com. November 9, 2010. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
- ^ "Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 12, 2012.