Ronnie Spector | |
|---|---|
 Spector in 1971 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Veronica Yvette Bennett |
| Also known as |
|
| Born | August 10, 1943 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | January 12, 2022 (aged 78) Danbury, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1959–2022 |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of | The Ronettes |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 3 |
| Website | ronniespector |
Veronica Yvette Greenfield[1] (previously Spector, née Bennett; August 10, 1943 – January 12, 2022) 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".[2][3]
Ronnie formed the singing group with her older sister, Estelle Bennett, and their cousin, Nedra Talley, in the late 1950s. They were signed to Phil Spector's Philles label in 1963 and he produced the majority of their recording output. The Ronettes had a string of hits in the 1960s, including "Be My Baby" (1963), "Baby, I Love You" (1963), "(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up" (1964), "Do I Love You?" (1964), and "Walking in the Rain" (1964). Ronnie married Phil in 1968. Following the couple's divorce in 1974, Ronnie re-formed the Ronettes and began performing again.
In 1980, Spector released her debut solo album Siren. Her career revived when she was featured on Eddie Money's song and video "Take Me Home Tonight" in 1986, a Billboard top five single. She went on to release the albums Unfinished Business (1987), Something's Gonna Happen (2003), Last of the Rock Stars (2006) and English Heart (2016). She also recorded one extended play, She Talks to Rainbows (1999). In 1990, Ronnie Spector published a memoir, Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, Or, My Life as a Fabulous Ronette.[4] She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Ronettes in 2007.[5] In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Spector at number 70 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.[6]
- ^ "1 No. 114: Ronnie Greenfield, et al. V. Philles Records, Inc., et al". October 17, 2002.
- ^ Donovan, Patrick (April 12, 2006). "The Last of the Rock Stars". The Age. Australia.
- ^ "The Ronettes – Inductees". The Vocal Group Hall of Fame Foundation. 2004. Archived from the original on March 20, 2007.
- ^ Cateforis, Theo (2013). The Rock History Reader. Routledge. p. 43. ISBN 9780415892124. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
- ^ "The Ronettes". Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
- ^ "The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time". Rolling Stone. January 1, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.