Ronnie spector born veronica yvette bennett, 10 august 1943, in new york city was the lead singer of the 1960s girl group the ronettes, who most famously sang be my baby. Ronnie spector reunites with original ronettes bandmate nedra ross onstage at virginia concert ronnie. Ronnie spector and the ronettes to headline 20th annual. Subsequently, ronnie spector launched her solo career and has since released five studio. The ronettes werent the most commercially successful girl group, but their music was some of the most groundbreaking in the field, thanks to their association with the legendary wall of sound producer phil spector. Subsequently, ronnie spector launched her solo career and has since released five studio albums siren 1980, unfinished business. Bad girl sounds bgs170002 ronnie spectors best christmas ever. Since the ronettes versions of frosty the snowman and sleigh bells appeared in 1963 on their producer phil spectors album a christmas gift for you, ronnies aching voice. Ronnie spectors anguished vocal longing and unforgettable allure remains deeply moving and distinguished, with no other vocalist of the rock era matching her angelic leads. For ronettes singer, a life of struggle and squalor. On ronnie spectors new album, dont let her be misunderstood you might know her as the leader of the ronettes, but spector has seen and done a lot since the days of baby, i love you. Anyway, my interest in the ronettes was rekindled with the rereleases of be my baby. Ronnie spector and the ronettesthe legacy continues. Ronnie and phil spector made music history with the ronettes, but as phils.
Veronica yvette spector is an american singer who fronted the girl group the ronettes with her older sister estelle bennett and their cousin nedra talley. He became increasingly reclusive and violent, and ronnie s life became a constant battle to fend off madnessboth his and her own. After the ronettes broke up, in 1966, and ronnie married mr. Spector born veronica bennett survived an abusive marriage to hitmaker phil spector, whom she met when he took her band the ronettes ronnie, sister estelle bennett and cousin nedra talley. Filled with revealing personal glimpses of david bowie, john lennon, and other rockets. Spector still looks every bit the part on stage, in headtotoe black and a mightily teased bouffant. This performance inspired me to order this recent cd release which contains most of the repertoire of the concert. Enveloped by phil spectors epic production, each song on this compilation is swathed in sweeping vastness and melancholic intensity, creating an entirely singular.
I had the pleasure of seeing ronnie spector live last month in fort lauderdale. Ronnie spector became an icon at the age of 19, when she rose to fame as lead singer of the ronettes, the influential girl group responsible for a string of hits that included baby i love you, walking in the rain, and be my baby, which brian wilson has called the greatest record ever made. She recounts the exhiliration of being on stage and the nightmare as her career crashed to halt. George harrison vs ronnie spector try some, buy some everest sound mix by. The trio from spanish harlem, new york, consisted of lead singer veronica bennett, her older sister estelle bennett, and their cousin nedra talley. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Under the watchful genius of her record producer, bronxborn phil. Rolling stones guitarist richards and singer spector had a passionate romance when his group the rolling stones and her group the ronettes toured together in 1964. I personally borrowed this book from my local library. Ronnie spector biography, albums, streaming links allmusic. On a thursday not long ago, the singer ronnie spector and her husband of twentynine years, jonathan greenfield, drove from their home in connecticut into. Ronnie spector and the ronettes were one of the premier girl groups of the sixties. Spector was the lead singer of the rockpop vocal girl group the ronettes, who had a string of hits during the early to mid1960s such as be my baby, baby, i love you and the best part of breakin up. Be my baby by ronnie spector, 9781942570028, available at book.
How i survived mascara, miniskirts, and madness, or, my life as a fabulous ronette is a memoir by ronnie spector written with vince waldron. Be my baby featuring the ronettes, ronnie spector, the wall of sound and the wrecking crew steven thornton. The ronettes were an american girl group from new york city. Ronnie, darlene love, tina turner, and cher, are the last and foremost singers in the business. The book is the autobiography of ronette, ronnie spector and her very crazy life. The ronettes the best of the ronettes releases discogs. But with joey ramone behind spectors newest outing, its no mistake that this is among the greatest music she has. This new single, featuring the incomparable ronnie with her late sister estelles daughter singing on the backgrounds works so well.
The very best of the ronettes and phil spector presents the philles album collection cds and that brought me to be my baby. Ronnie spector on childhood hero, sobriety, life with phil. Pop legend ronnie spector reveals the story of her dreamlike rise from the streets of harlem to the pinnacle of rock stardom as lead singer of the ronettes, and her nightmare descent into madness as the wife of phil spector, the pop hitmaker who kept her a virtual prisoner behind the locked doors of his darkened beverly hills mansion. Ronnie spector on the ronettes iconic fashion sense and. Their biggest hit, be my baby, is widely regarded as one of the crowning achievements of spectors oeuvre, and of girlgroup pop in general. In her book, spector recounted several abortive attempts to recapture mainstream success throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, during which time she. This song was written by barry mann, cynthia weil, and phil spector, with ronnies vocals done in one studio take. Seth cohen pr during one comeback show at madison square garden in the mid70s, a teenager named jonathan greenfield was smitten by her smoldering stage presence.
Ronnies christmas party is a raucous, rocking blend of her christmas classics, ronettes hits including be my baby named by billboard magazine. Even a solo career in the years following their divorce floundered. As the effervescent lead singer of the ronettes, one of the most popular girl groups of the 1960s, ronnie spector enlivened the group with her powerful voice and distinctive, sultry vibrato. When i was growing up, my mom, beatrice bennett, waitressed at kings donuts, a harlem luncheonette next door to the apollo theater. One of the most popular groups of the 1960s, they placed nine songs on the billboard hot 100, five of which became top 40 hits. Iconic lead singer with classic girl group the ronettes, and a key influence on female rockers. In her book, spector recounted several abortive attempts to recapture mainstream success throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, during which time she was widely perceived as an oldies act. How i survived mascara, miniskirts, and madness, or. One of the lasting icons of the girl group era and a key influence on generations of female rockers, ronnie spector, born veronica bennett on august 10, 1943, in new york, new york, became famous as a member of the ronettes, a girl group featuring her sister estelle bennett and cousin nedra talley. After the ronettes broke up, in 1966, and ronnie married spector, in 1968, estelle was. Ronnie spector and the ronettes ring in the holidays with. For ronettes singer, a life of struggle and squalor the. Before the ronettesbefore everythingwhen i was 14, i. Ronnie and phil spector made music history with the ronettes, but as phi.
Overview v biography v discography v songs v credits v related v. A life of troubles followed estelle bennetts burst of. This week i read the book be my baby by ronnie spector. Favorite add to the ronettes original vinyl etduramater. Its time to recognize the ronettes as rock and roll. Ronnie spector tells what it was really like to be lead singer in the fabulous ronettes in the 60s. Ronnie spectors journey from 60s icon to rock n roll. Ronnie spector, lead singer of the legendary ronettes, on her life, music, and message of love. Its time to recognize the ronettes as rock and roll pioneers long island woman cover story inspirer. In the early to mid1970s, spector briefly reformed the ronettes as ronnie spector and the ronettes with two new members chip fields hurd, the mother of actress kim fields, and diane linton. In november 1964, spector and the ronettes released their fifth single, a dramatic ballad titled, walking in the rain. Though ronnie spector rose to prominence with the ronettes, her 1966 marriage to their producer, phil spector, seemed to doom her career.
Ronnie spector be my baby plus interview letterman show. Be my baby featuring the ronettes, ronnie spector, the. Together, they had a string of hits during the early to mid1960s, such as be my baby, baby, i love you, and the best part of breakin up. Kept a near prisoner by phil spector throughout her teens and 20s, she eventually left the abusive relationship to raise her son, and reestablish her languishing. She made several failed attempts at a solo career, and when ronnie spector. Shop for vinyl, cds and more from ronnie spector at the discogs marketplace.
The more phil tried to destroy me, the stronger i got imprisoned by her husband, ronnie spector has now turned her tale of survival into a stage show. Rock icon ronnie spector reveals the story of her dreamlike rise from the. Ronnie spector recalls the time exhusband phil spector. Love power by ronnie spector and the ronettes on amazon. Ronnie and phil spector made music history with the ronettes, but as phils creative powers began to wane, their marriage soured.
Spector, who spoke to terry gross in 1988, was part of the 1960s girl group that gave us be my baby. Subsequently, spector launched a solo career and has since released five studio. How i survived mascara, miniskirts, and madness, or my life as a fabulous ronette by ronnie spector and vince waldron. The groups debut album, presenting the fabulous ronettes featuring veronica, was released in 1964, when veronica ronnie bennett, her sister estelle bennett and their cousin nedra talley were. Ronnie performed beautifully complete with original hair do. The ronettes ronnie spector girl groups phil spector adamtpopart. How i survived mascara, miniskirts, and madness or my life as a fabulous ronette.
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