RONNIE SPECTOR. Star of the 1960s with the group The Ronettes, singer Ronnie Spector died at the age of 78 on Wednesday January 12, 2022.
[Mis à jour le 13 janvier 2022 à 17h34] She was an icon of the 1960s: singer Ronnie Spector died at age 78, Wednesday January 12, 2022, her family announced in a press release. “Ronnie lived her life with a sparkle in her eyes, a brave demeanor, a squeaky sense of humor and a smile on her face. She was filled with love and gratitude,” read the relayed document. by several American media, including CNN. Ronnie Spector was battling disease. “Our beloved angel, Ronnie, peacefully left this world today after a brief battle with cancer,” added his relatives in their statement.
Born Veronica Yvette Bennett on August 10, 1943, Ronnie Spector had made a name for himself with one of the very first girl bands in history, The Ronettes, propelled by hits like Baby i love you, Walking in the Rain, I Can Hear Music and Be my baby. This song was immortalized in the credits of the cult 1980s film, Dirty Dancing.
Veronica Greenfield, who would later become Ronnie Spector, was born on August 10, 1943, in New York City. Her mother was African American and Native American, her father of Irish descent. Very quickly, with her sister Estelle Bennett (died in 2009) and their cousin Nedra Talley, they launched into music, pushed by their family. Together, they first formed the Darling Sisters, then Ronnie and the Relatives when they performed in clubs, before becoming the girl bands that propelled them onto the world music scene, The Ronettes.
The group The Ronettes became famous at the very beginning of the 1960s, in the New York region. In 1964, a year after signing a contract with the legendary producer Phil Spector, the three young women performed for example in the United Kingdom alongside the Rolling Stones. That same year, the Ronettes unveiled Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica, their first album, of which five of the twelve titles will reach the Billboard, the American classification of the greatest successes in music. The group broke up in 1967. After this breakup, Ronnie Spector continued in music, and released three albums, Unfinished Business (1987), The Last of the Rock Star (2006) which has collaborations with Keith Richards or Patti Smith and English Heart (2016).
In 1963, therefore, The Ronettes signed with producer Phil Spector. A year after the separation of the group, Ronnie Spector marries it and takes its name. In 1969, the couple adopted a son, Donté Phillip, before welcoming also adopted twins, Louis and Gary, “offered” by surprise for Christmas by the producer. Years later, in her autobiography, the singer denounced a toxic relationship, notably accusing Phil Spector of having sabotaged his career and of having forced him to live as a recluse in his home in Beverly Hills, California. The couple divorced in 1974. In 1982, Ronnie Spector remarried with Jonathan Greenfield. Phil Spector died on January 16, 2021.