The Ronettes
Encyclopedia
The Ronettes were a 1960s girl group
from New York City, best known for their work with producer
Phil Spector
. The group consisted of lead singer Veronica Bennett
(later known as Ronnie Spector); her older sister, Estelle Bennett
; and their cousin Nedra Talley
. The group began singing as teenagers in Spanish Harlem, where they grew up, with their official recording career beginning at Colpix Records
in 1961.
In March 1963 the group was signed by Phil Spector's Philles Records
, where they reached the peak of their success.
Becoming one of the most popular girl groups of the 1960s, they placed a total of eight songs on the Billboard Top 100, five of which became top forty-hits. Some of the group's most famous songs include "Be My Baby
", "Baby, I Love You
", "(The Best Part Of) Breakin' Up
", and "Walking in the Rain
."
In late 1964 the group released their only studio album, the now classic Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica
, which ranked number 427 on Rolling Stone's
"Five-Hundred Greatest Albums of All Time."
. According to Nedra Talley, the girls started singing during their childhood visits to their grandmother's home. "Estelle and Veronica are sisters," she said in a later interview. "I'm their cousin. Our mothers are sisters. We came out of a family that, on Saturday nights, home for us was at our grandmother's, entertaining each other."
"By the time I was eight, I was already working up whole numbers for our family's little weekend shows," Ronnie Spector later recalled. "Then Estelle would get up onstage and do a song, or she'd join Nedra or my cousin Elaine and me in a number we'd worked out in three-part harmony."
Furthering their interest in show business, Estelle was enrolled at Startime, a popular dancing school in the 1950s, while Ronnie became fascinated with Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers.
In 1957, Ronnie formed the group which would later become known as The Ronettes. Composed of Ronnie, her sister Estelle, and their cousins Nedra, Diane, and Elaine, the five girls learned how to perfect their harmonies first at their grandmother's house, and they became proficient in songs such as “Goodnight Sweetheart” and “Red Red Robin”. Emulating Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, the girls added their male cousin Ira to the group, and were signed up for a Wednesday-night amateur show at the Apollo Theatre
by a friend of Ronnie and Estelle's mother. The show started out as a disaster; when the house band started playing Frankie Lymon's "Why Do Fools Fall in Love," Ira didn't sing a word, so Ronnie took over. "I strutted out across the stage, singing as loud as I could," Ronnie later recalled. "When I finally heard a few hands of scattered applause, I sang even louder. That brought a little more applause, which was all I needed."
After their night at the Apollo, Ira, Elaine, and Diane left the group, and Ronnie, Estelle, and Nedra began taking singing lessons two afternoons a week. The group also became known as Ronnie and the Relatives, and started singing at local bar mitzvahs and sock hops. It was at this time they were introduced to Phil Halikus, who introduced the girls to Stu Phillips, a producer at Colpix Records
.
While both singles failed to chart on the Billboard Top 100, the group continued to further their success. It was in 1961 when Ronnie and the Relatives made their first appearance at the Peppermint Lounge
in New York City. It was the height of the Twist Craze, and Nedra and Ronnie needed to disguise themselves to get into the club, since they were still underage. The girls' mothers showed them how to apply make-up and fix their hair so they would be perceived as being at least twenty-three years of age. When they first arrived at the club, the manager came outside looking for the group of girls who were supposed to be dancing for Joey Dee and the Starliters. The manager accidentally mistook Ronnie, Estelle, and Nedra for the group he was looking for, and they followed him in where they were brought up on stage to dance while the band played. During the show, David Brigati, one of the Starliters, handed the microphone over to Ronnie as she started to sing Ray Charles'
"What'd I Say
."
After that night Ronnie and the Relatives became a permanent act at the Peppermint Lounge, earning $10 a night per girl to dance the Twist, and usually sing a song at some point during the show. It was during this time the group also changed their name from Ronnie and the Relatives to the Ronettes.
As the Ronettes, they were flown down to Miami to open up the Florida
branch of the Peppermint Lounge. Through May, a subsidiary of Colpix Records, the label issued the first two singles credited to the Ronettes, "Silhouettes," and a re-issue of "I'm Gonna Quit While I'm Ahead" released in April and June 1962, respectively. Both singles failed to chart.
After the opening night of the Miami Peppermint Lounge, radio host Murray the K came backstage and introduced himself to the Ronettes. He wanted the girls to begin appearing at his shows at the Brooklyn Fox in New York, which they did, in 1962. The Ronettes steadily became a fixture at the Brooklyn Fox, starting off as Murray the K's "Dancing Girls," then moving into doing back-up singing for the other acts, then, eventually, doing their own performances by late 1962.
It was during their days at the Brooklyn Fox where the Ronettes coined their now-iconic look. They started using exaggerated eye make-up, and teasing their hair to unreasonable proportions. "We'd look pretty wild by the time we got out onstage," Ronnie later recalled, "and the kids loved it,"
Colpix issued one final single by the Ronettes on the company's May label in March 1963. The song, "Good Girls," failed to chart. Tired of their lack of success at Colpix Records, the girls decided it was time to look elsewhere for studio work.
, telling him of the Ronettes, and how they would like to audition for him. Spector agreed, and met the girls soon after at Mira Sound Studios in New York City. It would be later that Spector told Ronnie that he had seen them at the Brooklyn Fox several times, and was impressed with their performances. At the audition, Spector sat at a piano while the group began singing "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" when he suddenly jumped up from his seat and shouted "That's it! That's it! That's the voice I've been looking for!"
After their successful audition, Spector decided to sign the group. Originally, he wanted to sign Ronnie as a solo act, until her mother told him either he signed the Ronettes as a group or it was no deal. He agreed to sign the group, and instructed Ronnie's mother to inform Colpix Records that the girls had "given up" on show business, in order for the studio to let them out of their contract. By March 1963, the group was officially signed to Spector's Philles Records.
The first song the Ronettes rehearsed and recorded with Phil Spector was a song by Spector, Jeff Barry
, and Ellie Greenwich
called "Why Don't They Let Us Fall in Love?" They were brought out to California to make the record, but, once it was complete, Spector refused to release it. They recorded more songs for Spector, including covers of "The Twist," "The Wah Watusi," "Mashed Potato Time," and "Hot Pastrami." These four songs were released, but were credited to the Crystals on their 1963 Philles LP "The Crystals Sing The Greatest Hits, Volume 1."
." The Ronettes recorded "Be My Baby" in July 1963, and it was released in August. By the fall of that year, it had become a top ten hit, peaking at number two on the Billboard Top 100. "Our lives were turned upside down," Ronnie later recalled. "All the things I'd ever dreamed about were finally coming true."
"Be My Baby" turned out to be a huge record for the Ronettes; radio stations constantly played the song throughout the fall of 1963, and the Ronettes were invited to tour the country with Dick Clark on his "Caravan of Stars" tour. "Be My Baby" inspired a legion of Ronettes fans, including Brian Wilson
of The Beach Boys
, who wrote "Don't Worry Baby
" as a tribute to the group.
The song is also notable for being the first recording work done by Cher
, who performed back-up vocals with Estelle and Nedra on the song. The girlfriend of Sonny Bono
at the time (who was then working for Phil Spector), she was asked to join the back-up singers when one of them didn't show up for the recording that day. "'Be My Baby' was the first record I ever sang on," Cher later wrote. "...I went out and stood in front of this big speaker and sang 'be my, be my baby' with the Ronettes and all these other singers."
After "Be My Baby," Cher became a permanent backup singer for songs recorded by the Ronettes, along with other songs Phil Spector produced until "You've Lost That Loving Feeling."
" again with Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, and urged the Ronettes to leave New York for California to record the song at Spector's Gold Star Studios. A problem came about due to the fact that the Ronettes were scheduled to leave for Dick Clark's "Caravan of Stars" tour across the United States. In lieu of having the Ronettes skip the Dick Clark tour, Spector decided to have Estelle and Nedra do the tour with their cousin, Elaine, who was a former member of the group. Ronnie left for California to record "Baby, I Love You" with Darlene Love and Cher substituting for Estelle and Nedra on the backing vocals.
"Baby, I Love You", had an even denser arrangement, featuring Leon Russell
on piano. The song was recorded in the early fall of 1963 and released in November of that year. It was slightly less successful, reaching #24 Pop, #6 R&B in the United States and #11 in the United Kingdom.
In his desire for absolute perfection on the album, Spector pushed his artists to belt out their lyrics as powerful as they could. "The Christmas album was the one where I'd thought I'd lost it mentally." Nedra later said. "I heard the parts. I swore I'd put them down, but they said it wasn't on the tape."
Unfortunately, the album was not a success upon its initial release, but has considerably become popular since.
On their first night in England, the Ronettes were brought to a party at Tony Hall's house where they were introduced to The Beatles
. After a brief romance together, Ronnie and John Lennon became friendly until Lennon's death. Estelle also dated George Harrison. But for Ronnie, one of the biggest thrills was meeting Keith Richards
of The Rolling Stones
, who were the opening act for the Ronettes on their UK tour. The feeling was mutually shared by Richards, who wrote of his relationship with Ronnie: "The first time I ever went to heaven was when I awoke with Ronnie (later Spector!) Bennett asleep with a smile on her face. We were kids. It doesn't get any better than that."
When the Ronettes returned home from their English Tour, they went right back into the studio to record "Keep on Dancing" and "Girls Can Tell," two songs written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector. The group's recording of "Keep on Dancing" is notable mostly because it featured Ronnie, Nedra, and Estelle singing in unison, but Spector refused to release the single. Around this time, The Crystals also recorded a version of "Girls Can Tell," which also went unreleased.
"(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up" was subsequently recorded by the Ronettes. According to Ronnie, Phil Spector was especially enthusiastic about the song. "When Phil loved a song as much as he loved '(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up,'" she later wrote, "he could work on it for days without ever getting tired." Released in April 1964, the song didn't fare as well as the group's previous two singles, though it did manage to briefly break into Billboard Top 40.
In June 1964, the group's following single, "Do I Love You?" was released, also breaking into the Top 40, beating their previous single by five positions. The song is most notable for its powerful instrumental opening, accompanied by finger snapping and hand clapping.
Throughout 1964, the Ronettes appeared on numerous television shows such as American Bandstand, Hullabaloo, and England's Ready, Steady, Go. As the popularity of other groups---such as The Crystals, The Marvelettes, and The Angels---began to wane, that of the Ronettes continued to grow.
In the summer of 1964, Ronnie went into the studio to record her lead on the group's next single, "Walking in the Rain
." She later recalled that the writers---Phil Spector, Barry Mann, and Cynthia Weil---were still adjusting the lyrics right up to the minute she recorded it. Ronnie recalled Phil placing headphones on her and telling her to listen closely. "Everything was quiet," she later wrote, "Then all of a sudden I heard a low rumble, like there was thunder coming from every corner of the room." The thunder was used for the introduction, and was featured prominently throughout the remainder of the song, the only one of which Ronnie recorded in a single take.
"Walking in the Rain
" became the group's most successful single since "Be My Baby" had been released over a year earlier, peaking at number twenty-three on the Billboard 100. It was also the only song produced by Phil Spector to win a Grammy Award.
Following the successful release of "Walking in the Rain
," Philles Records released the group's first studio album, "Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes featuring Veronica" in late 1964. The album proved to be a moderate success, peaking at number 96 on the Billboard charts, but it is notable for being the first evidence of Phil Spector publicly promoting lead singer Veronica "Ronnie" Bennett over Estelle Bennett and Nedra Talley. Every Ronettes single after this referred to the group as "The Ronettes featuring Veronica" on the record labels.
," the popularity of the group had clearly peaked. In February 1965, Philles Records released the group's next single, "Born to Be Together," which peaked only at number fifty-two on the Billboard 100.
Over the course of the next year, the Ronettes recorded a whole catalog of songs which Phil Spector refused to release once they were completed. Many attribute this to Spector's insecurities and his love for the group's lead singer, Ronnie. As the popularity of the Ronettes became greater and greater, the relationship between Spector and Ronnie became more serious, to the point of which they were basically living together. Spector then decided he didn't want Ronnie and the Ronettes to become too popular, in fear they would one day outgrow him. So he tried to reverse the whole star-making process by not releasing the records the Ronettes were contractually obligated to make. This allowed for Motown group The Supremes
to rise in popularity, and eclipse the Ronettes as the most popular girl group in the music industry.
Among the songs the Ronettes recorded during this time which went unreleased were "Paradise," "Everything Under the Sun," and "I Wish I Never Saw the Sun Shine." All three songs individually have since been covered by other artists such as The Shangri-Las, The Supremes, and Ike and Tina Turner, among others.
Perhaps their biggest loss was the Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich song "Chapel of Love
," which the Ronettes recorded in early 1964. They were the first to record their version of the song, but Spector refused to release it as a single. Their version of the song eventually did come out of their Philles LP, but by then The Dixie Cups had already achieved mainstream notoriety for it. "We thought it was such a great record that we practically begged [Phil Spector] to put it out," Ronnie Spector later wrote. "Then the Dixie Cups' version came out and it was a smash! It was so depressing."
In June 1965, the Ronettes' next single, "Is This What I Get For Loving You?" was released, becoming only a minor hit, reaching only 75 on the Billboard 100. The song was popular enough the for group to make appearances on the popular TV shows Hullabaloo and Shivaree, but it was a failed attempt to get the Ronettes another top ten hit, especially when The Supremes scored their fifth consecutive number one record with "Back in My Arms Again."
"Is This What I Get For Loving You?" is mentionable because it was the first single by the Ronettes to have a theme of heartbreak, and the depression which sets in after the ending of an intimate relationship. The group's previous singles had all previously been positive, up-beat love songs with catchy lyrics. This was viewed as an attempt to give the Ronettes a more adult, mature image. Unfortunately, it was an idea which didn't go over as well as it should have.
Some have also attributed the decline of the Ronettes' recording career to the fact Phil Spector wasn't enthusiastic over his promotion of the group, which stemmed from his insecurities about his intimate relationship with Ronnie.
There were also some problems within the group. "You also have to remember that Nedra and Estelle stood in the background while I got to bask in the spotlight," Ronnie later wrote. "I was the one who flew out to California and sang lead on all our records. I was the one deejays wanted to talk to. And I was the one our producer was in love with, which meant I get the preferential treatment in all kinds of other ways which drove them crazy."
"I hated the 'dog-eat-dog' side of show-business," Nedra Talley later commented. "I hated pushing for the next record and the feeling of failure if we didn't get it. There was a continual demand on us to produce that I thought was unfair. My personality didn't like that." Nedra's disdain for show business also became partly fueled by her desire to marry and settle down with her boyfriend, DJ Scott Ross.
", written by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich, was issued in October 1966, barely making it into the Billboard 100 by peaking at number 100 for exactly one week before it fell off the charts. The song was covered by The Beach Boys
in 1969 with great success.
Even without a recent hit, the group continued to make appearances at popular night clubs, on television shows, grace the covers of music magazines and be featured on The Big TNT Show, which was produced by Phil Spector as a concert that was filmed and released as a TV movie.
In August, 1966, the Ronettes teamed up with The Beatles for a fourteen-city tour across America. Phil Spector became so enraged when Ronnie expressed a desire to accompany Estelle and Nedra on the tour, that she was forced to remain in California with him while the girls' cousin Elaine, who had previously been in the group, filled her open slot on the tour. A picture published in the November 1966 issue of Ebony Magazine showed Nedra Talley singing lead, while Estelle and Elaine stood behind her singing harmony.
According to her accounts, Phil Spector kept Ronnie a near-prisoner in their twenty-three room mansion in California. He brought her into the studio only once during their marriage. During this session, which took place in early 1969 at A&M Records, she recorded "You Came, You Saw, You Conquered!" The song was released in March 1969, failing to make an impact on the radio stations which were now playing the music in the style of Janis Joplin
and Grace Slick
.
Later in 1969, Ronnie and Estelle were invited into the studio by Jimi Hendrix
to record backing vocals on "Earth Blues." Their work on the song earned The Ronettes a credit on the LP Rainbow Bridge.
The stint at Buddha Records did not prove to be successful, though the group made several tours together throughout the 1970s. By the end of the decade, however, Ronnie had abandoned the idea of continuing the Ronettes, and decided to begin her solo career.
of the Beach Boys, Billy Joel
and Bruce Springsteen
have both cited Ronnie Bennett as an influence. Recently, their fashion style was emulated popularly by British musician Amy Winehouse
.
The Ronettes were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame
in 2004 and the People's Hall of Rock and Roll Legends in 2010.
It was believed that Phil Spector, in his capacity as a member of the Board of Governors, deliberately prevented The Ronettes (and Darlene Love
) from being nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
, although they had been eligible for a considerable time. The alleged reasons included the acrimonious divorce of Ronnie and Spector, in addition to the group's having unsuccessfully sued Spector for back royalties. While Spector was awaiting trial on a murder charge and out on $1 million bail, the Ronettes were finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 12, 2007, at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel
in New York City. Keith Richards
, a longtime fan, inducted the trio. Ronnie Bennett (Spector) and Nedra Talley performed "Baby I Love You", "(Walking) In the Rain
", and "Be My Baby". Estelle Bennett was present to accept her award but chose not to perform.
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
from New York City, best known for their work with producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
. The group consisted of lead singer Veronica Bennett
Ronnie Spector
Veronica Yvette "Ronnie" Spector is an American rock and roll and popular music vocalist, and was the lead singer of the 1960s hit-making girl group, The Ronettes, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. She is known as the "original bad girl of rock and roll."-Personal...
(later known as Ronnie Spector); her older sister, Estelle Bennett
Estelle Bennett
Estelle Bennett was a member of the girl group The Ronettes, along with her sister Ronnie Spector and cousin Nedra Talley....
; and their cousin Nedra Talley
Nedra Talley
Nedra Talley, now Nedra Talley Ross , was a member of the girl group The Ronettes, along with her cousins Ronnie Spector and Estelle Bennett. She is of African-American, Native American and Puerto Rican descents...
. The group began singing as teenagers in Spanish Harlem, where they grew up, with their official recording career beginning at Colpix Records
Colpix Records
Colpix Records was the first recording company for Columbia Pictures–Screen Gems. Colpix got its name from combining Columbia and Pictures . It was founded by Jonie Taps and Harry Cohn in 1958, and was based in New York City. Paul Wexler headed the label. Stu Phillips was in charge of A&R...
in 1961.
In March 1963 the group was signed by Phil Spector's Philles Records
Philles Records
Philles Records was a record label formed in 1961 by Phil Spector and Lester Sill, the label taking its name from a hybrid of their first names. Initially, the label was distributed by Jamie/Guyden in Philadelphia...
, where they reached the peak of their success.
Becoming one of the most popular girl groups of the 1960s, they placed a total of eight songs on the Billboard Top 100, five of which became top forty-hits. Some of the group's most famous songs include "Be My Baby
Be My Baby
"Be My Baby" is a 1963 single written by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich, performed by The Ronettes and produced by Spector. When released as a single, the song reached #2 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Singles Chart and #4 on the UK's Record Retailer...
", "Baby, I Love You
Baby, I Love You
"Baby, I Love You" is a pop song written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector, produced by Spector, and originally recorded in 1963 by The Ronettes...
", "(The Best Part Of) Breakin' Up
(The Best Part Of) Breakin' Up
" Breaking Up" is a song written by Phil Spector, Pete Andreoli and Vince Poncia. It was first recorded by The Ronettes, produced by Phil Spector with Ronnie Spector on lead vocals and with backing vocals by Nedra Talley and Estelle Bennett...
", and "Walking in the Rain
Walking in the Rain (The Ronettes song)
"Walking in the Rain" is a song written by Barry Mann, Phil Spector, and Cynthia Weil and was recorded by The Ronettes in 1964. The song reached #23 on The Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. The song also reached #28 on the R&B Singles chart in 1965. The song is the only Phil Spector produced song to win...
."
In late 1964 the group released their only studio album, the now classic Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica
Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica
Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica is an album by the girl group The Ronettes, produced by Phil Spector, Philles 4006 , and 4006S , released in 1964...
, which ranked number 427 on Rolling Stone's
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
"Five-Hundred Greatest Albums of All Time."
The Early Years (1950–1961)
The Ronettes began as a family act where the girls grew up in Washington Heights, ManhattanWashington Heights, Manhattan
Washington Heights is a New York City neighborhood in the northern reaches of the borough of Manhattan. It is named for Fort Washington, a fortification constructed at the highest point on Manhattan island by Continental Army troops during the American Revolutionary War, to defend the area from the...
. According to Nedra Talley, the girls started singing during their childhood visits to their grandmother's home. "Estelle and Veronica are sisters," she said in a later interview. "I'm their cousin. Our mothers are sisters. We came out of a family that, on Saturday nights, home for us was at our grandmother's, entertaining each other."
"By the time I was eight, I was already working up whole numbers for our family's little weekend shows," Ronnie Spector later recalled. "Then Estelle would get up onstage and do a song, or she'd join Nedra or my cousin Elaine and me in a number we'd worked out in three-part harmony."
Furthering their interest in show business, Estelle was enrolled at Startime, a popular dancing school in the 1950s, while Ronnie became fascinated with Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers.
In 1957, Ronnie formed the group which would later become known as The Ronettes. Composed of Ronnie, her sister Estelle, and their cousins Nedra, Diane, and Elaine, the five girls learned how to perfect their harmonies first at their grandmother's house, and they became proficient in songs such as “Goodnight Sweetheart” and “Red Red Robin”. Emulating Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, the girls added their male cousin Ira to the group, and were signed up for a Wednesday-night amateur show at the Apollo Theatre
Apollo Theatre
The Apollo Theatre is a Grade II listed West End theatre, on Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster. Designed by architect Lewin Sharp for owner Henry Lowenfield, and the fourth legitimate theatre to be constructed on the street, its doors opened on 21 February 1901 with the American...
by a friend of Ronnie and Estelle's mother. The show started out as a disaster; when the house band started playing Frankie Lymon's "Why Do Fools Fall in Love," Ira didn't sing a word, so Ronnie took over. "I strutted out across the stage, singing as loud as I could," Ronnie later recalled. "When I finally heard a few hands of scattered applause, I sang even louder. That brought a little more applause, which was all I needed."
After their night at the Apollo, Ira, Elaine, and Diane left the group, and Ronnie, Estelle, and Nedra began taking singing lessons two afternoons a week. The group also became known as Ronnie and the Relatives, and started singing at local bar mitzvahs and sock hops. It was at this time they were introduced to Phil Halikus, who introduced the girls to Stu Phillips, a producer at Colpix Records
Colpix Records
Colpix Records was the first recording company for Columbia Pictures–Screen Gems. Colpix got its name from combining Columbia and Pictures . It was founded by Jonie Taps and Harry Cohn in 1958, and was based in New York City. Paul Wexler headed the label. Stu Phillips was in charge of A&R...
.
Colpix Records and The Peppermint Lounge (1961–1963)
Ronnie, Estelle, and Nedra were introduced to Stu Phillips of Colpix Records in 1961. According to Ronnie, he played the piano while they auditioned for him, singing "What's So Sweet About Sweet Sixteen." After succeeding at the audition, the girls were first brought into the studio in June 1961, where they recorded four tracks: "I Want a Boy," "What's So Sweet About Sweet Sixteen," "I'm Gonna Quit While I'm Ahead," "and "My Guiding Angel." Two of those songs, "I Want a Boy," released in August 1961, and "I'm Gonna Quit While I'm Ahead," released in January 1962, were issued by Colpix as the group's first two singles, credited to Ronnie and the Relatives.While both singles failed to chart on the Billboard Top 100, the group continued to further their success. It was in 1961 when Ronnie and the Relatives made their first appearance at the Peppermint Lounge
Peppermint Lounge
The Peppermint Lounge was a popular discotheque located at 128 West 45th Street in New York City that was open from 1958 to 1965. It was the launchpad for the global Twist craze in the early 1960s, and also where Go-Go dancing originated....
in New York City. It was the height of the Twist Craze, and Nedra and Ronnie needed to disguise themselves to get into the club, since they were still underage. The girls' mothers showed them how to apply make-up and fix their hair so they would be perceived as being at least twenty-three years of age. When they first arrived at the club, the manager came outside looking for the group of girls who were supposed to be dancing for Joey Dee and the Starliters. The manager accidentally mistook Ronnie, Estelle, and Nedra for the group he was looking for, and they followed him in where they were brought up on stage to dance while the band played. During the show, David Brigati, one of the Starliters, handed the microphone over to Ronnie as she started to sing Ray Charles'
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
"What'd I Say
What'd I Say
According to Charles' autobiography, "What'd I Say" was accidental when he improvised it to fill time at the end of a concert in December 1958. He asserts that he never tested songs on audiences before recording them, but "What'd I Say" is an exception...
."
After that night Ronnie and the Relatives became a permanent act at the Peppermint Lounge, earning $10 a night per girl to dance the Twist, and usually sing a song at some point during the show. It was during this time the group also changed their name from Ronnie and the Relatives to the Ronettes.
As the Ronettes, they were flown down to Miami to open up the Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
branch of the Peppermint Lounge. Through May, a subsidiary of Colpix Records, the label issued the first two singles credited to the Ronettes, "Silhouettes," and a re-issue of "I'm Gonna Quit While I'm Ahead" released in April and June 1962, respectively. Both singles failed to chart.
After the opening night of the Miami Peppermint Lounge, radio host Murray the K came backstage and introduced himself to the Ronettes. He wanted the girls to begin appearing at his shows at the Brooklyn Fox in New York, which they did, in 1962. The Ronettes steadily became a fixture at the Brooklyn Fox, starting off as Murray the K's "Dancing Girls," then moving into doing back-up singing for the other acts, then, eventually, doing their own performances by late 1962.
It was during their days at the Brooklyn Fox where the Ronettes coined their now-iconic look. They started using exaggerated eye make-up, and teasing their hair to unreasonable proportions. "We'd look pretty wild by the time we got out onstage," Ronnie later recalled, "and the kids loved it,"
Colpix issued one final single by the Ronettes on the company's May label in March 1963. The song, "Good Girls," failed to chart. Tired of their lack of success at Colpix Records, the girls decided it was time to look elsewhere for studio work.
Phil Spector and Philles Records (1963–1966)
In early 1963, fed up with Colpix Records and the group's lack of success, Estelle placed a phone call to producer Phil SpectorPhil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
, telling him of the Ronettes, and how they would like to audition for him. Spector agreed, and met the girls soon after at Mira Sound Studios in New York City. It would be later that Spector told Ronnie that he had seen them at the Brooklyn Fox several times, and was impressed with their performances. At the audition, Spector sat at a piano while the group began singing "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" when he suddenly jumped up from his seat and shouted "That's it! That's it! That's the voice I've been looking for!"
After their successful audition, Spector decided to sign the group. Originally, he wanted to sign Ronnie as a solo act, until her mother told him either he signed the Ronettes as a group or it was no deal. He agreed to sign the group, and instructed Ronnie's mother to inform Colpix Records that the girls had "given up" on show business, in order for the studio to let them out of their contract. By March 1963, the group was officially signed to Spector's Philles Records.
The first song the Ronettes rehearsed and recorded with Phil Spector was a song by Spector, Jeff Barry
Jeff Barry
Jeff Barry is an American pop music songwriter, singer, and record producer.-Early career:...
, and Ellie Greenwich
Ellie Greenwich
Eleanor Louise "Ellie" Greenwich was an American pop music singer, songwriter, and record producer. She wrote or co-wrote "Be My Baby", "Christmas ", "Da Doo Ron Ron", "Leader of the Pack", "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", and "River Deep, Mountain High", among many others...
called "Why Don't They Let Us Fall in Love?" They were brought out to California to make the record, but, once it was complete, Spector refused to release it. They recorded more songs for Spector, including covers of "The Twist," "The Wah Watusi," "Mashed Potato Time," and "Hot Pastrami." These four songs were released, but were credited to the Crystals on their 1963 Philles LP "The Crystals Sing The Greatest Hits, Volume 1."
"Be My Baby"
After being denied a release of their first recording, and having the credit for their next four recordings going to another group, the Ronettes went to work on the Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich song "Be My BabyBe My Baby
"Be My Baby" is a 1963 single written by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich, performed by The Ronettes and produced by Spector. When released as a single, the song reached #2 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Singles Chart and #4 on the UK's Record Retailer...
." The Ronettes recorded "Be My Baby" in July 1963, and it was released in August. By the fall of that year, it had become a top ten hit, peaking at number two on the Billboard Top 100. "Our lives were turned upside down," Ronnie later recalled. "All the things I'd ever dreamed about were finally coming true."
"Be My Baby" turned out to be a huge record for the Ronettes; radio stations constantly played the song throughout the fall of 1963, and the Ronettes were invited to tour the country with Dick Clark on his "Caravan of Stars" tour. "Be My Baby" inspired a legion of Ronettes fans, including Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
of The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
, who wrote "Don't Worry Baby
Don't Worry Baby
"Don’t Worry Baby" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Roger Christian, produced by Wilson and first recorded by the Beach Boys. The band's version, a tender ballad with falsetto lead vocal by Brian, was first released on their 1964 album Shut Down Volume 2. It was also released as the B-side of...
" as a tribute to the group.
The song is also notable for being the first recording work done by Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
, who performed back-up vocals with Estelle and Nedra on the song. The girlfriend of Sonny Bono
Sonny Bono
Salvatore Phillip "Sonny" Bono was an American recording artist, record producer, actor, and politician whose career spanned over three decades.-Early life:...
at the time (who was then working for Phil Spector), she was asked to join the back-up singers when one of them didn't show up for the recording that day. "'Be My Baby' was the first record I ever sang on," Cher later wrote. "...I went out and stood in front of this big speaker and sang 'be my, be my baby' with the Ronettes and all these other singers."
After "Be My Baby," Cher became a permanent backup singer for songs recorded by the Ronettes, along with other songs Phil Spector produced until "You've Lost That Loving Feeling."
"Baby, I Love You"
After the overnight success of their first Phil Spector single, Spector was eager to do a follow-up with the Ronettes. He wrote "Baby, I Love YouBaby, I Love You
"Baby, I Love You" is a pop song written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector, produced by Spector, and originally recorded in 1963 by The Ronettes...
" again with Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, and urged the Ronettes to leave New York for California to record the song at Spector's Gold Star Studios. A problem came about due to the fact that the Ronettes were scheduled to leave for Dick Clark's "Caravan of Stars" tour across the United States. In lieu of having the Ronettes skip the Dick Clark tour, Spector decided to have Estelle and Nedra do the tour with their cousin, Elaine, who was a former member of the group. Ronnie left for California to record "Baby, I Love You" with Darlene Love and Cher substituting for Estelle and Nedra on the backing vocals.
"Baby, I Love You", had an even denser arrangement, featuring Leon Russell
Leon Russell
Claude Russell Bridges , known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career in music....
on piano. The song was recorded in the early fall of 1963 and released in November of that year. It was slightly less successful, reaching #24 Pop, #6 R&B in the United States and #11 in the United Kingdom.
"A Christmas For You"
All three Ronettes, along with every other artist who was signed with Phil Spector in 1963, helped him complete his now-classic Christmas LP A Christmas Gift for You. The Ronettes recorded three songs for the album: "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," "Sleigh Ride," and "Frosty the Snowman." All of the artists sang on the album's finale, "Silent Night," which opened with a spoken message from Phil Spector, thanking everyone for buying the record.In his desire for absolute perfection on the album, Spector pushed his artists to belt out their lyrics as powerful as they could. "The Christmas album was the one where I'd thought I'd lost it mentally." Nedra later said. "I heard the parts. I swore I'd put them down, but they said it wasn't on the tape."
Unfortunately, the album was not a success upon its initial release, but has considerably become popular since.
Tour of England, "Breakin' Up," & "Do I Love You?"
The Ronettes left for their first tour of England in January 1964, where they made a strong impact from the very beginning. "We must have been quite a sight in the Heathrow waiting room," Ronnie Spector later recalled, "three black American girls sitting with their legs all crossed the same way, our three identical, enormous hairdos piled a foot or so over our heads. When our young chaperon finally showed up, he was all smiles."On their first night in England, the Ronettes were brought to a party at Tony Hall's house where they were introduced to The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. After a brief romance together, Ronnie and John Lennon became friendly until Lennon's death. Estelle also dated George Harrison. But for Ronnie, one of the biggest thrills was meeting Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
of The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
, who were the opening act for the Ronettes on their UK tour. The feeling was mutually shared by Richards, who wrote of his relationship with Ronnie: "The first time I ever went to heaven was when I awoke with Ronnie (later Spector!) Bennett asleep with a smile on her face. We were kids. It doesn't get any better than that."
When the Ronettes returned home from their English Tour, they went right back into the studio to record "Keep on Dancing" and "Girls Can Tell," two songs written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector. The group's recording of "Keep on Dancing" is notable mostly because it featured Ronnie, Nedra, and Estelle singing in unison, but Spector refused to release the single. Around this time, The Crystals also recorded a version of "Girls Can Tell," which also went unreleased.
"(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up" was subsequently recorded by the Ronettes. According to Ronnie, Phil Spector was especially enthusiastic about the song. "When Phil loved a song as much as he loved '(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up,'" she later wrote, "he could work on it for days without ever getting tired." Released in April 1964, the song didn't fare as well as the group's previous two singles, though it did manage to briefly break into Billboard Top 40.
In June 1964, the group's following single, "Do I Love You?" was released, also breaking into the Top 40, beating their previous single by five positions. The song is most notable for its powerful instrumental opening, accompanied by finger snapping and hand clapping.
"Walking In The Rain"
As the British Invasion took full force on the American music scene in 1964, the Ronettes were one of few groups which were able to maintain their relevance. The group had made friends with the Beatles when they first toured England in January 1964. The Ronettes had even been asked by John Lennon to accompany the Beatles on their flight to America on February 7, 1964, but Phil Spector denied the Ronettes the opportunity to do so.Throughout 1964, the Ronettes appeared on numerous television shows such as American Bandstand, Hullabaloo, and England's Ready, Steady, Go. As the popularity of other groups---such as The Crystals, The Marvelettes, and The Angels---began to wane, that of the Ronettes continued to grow.
In the summer of 1964, Ronnie went into the studio to record her lead on the group's next single, "Walking in the Rain
Walking in the Rain (The Ronettes song)
"Walking in the Rain" is a song written by Barry Mann, Phil Spector, and Cynthia Weil and was recorded by The Ronettes in 1964. The song reached #23 on The Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. The song also reached #28 on the R&B Singles chart in 1965. The song is the only Phil Spector produced song to win...
." She later recalled that the writers---Phil Spector, Barry Mann, and Cynthia Weil---were still adjusting the lyrics right up to the minute she recorded it. Ronnie recalled Phil placing headphones on her and telling her to listen closely. "Everything was quiet," she later wrote, "Then all of a sudden I heard a low rumble, like there was thunder coming from every corner of the room." The thunder was used for the introduction, and was featured prominently throughout the remainder of the song, the only one of which Ronnie recorded in a single take.
"Walking in the Rain
Walking in the Rain (The Ronettes song)
"Walking in the Rain" is a song written by Barry Mann, Phil Spector, and Cynthia Weil and was recorded by The Ronettes in 1964. The song reached #23 on The Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. The song also reached #28 on the R&B Singles chart in 1965. The song is the only Phil Spector produced song to win...
" became the group's most successful single since "Be My Baby" had been released over a year earlier, peaking at number twenty-three on the Billboard 100. It was also the only song produced by Phil Spector to win a Grammy Award.
Following the successful release of "Walking in the Rain
Walking in the Rain (The Ronettes song)
"Walking in the Rain" is a song written by Barry Mann, Phil Spector, and Cynthia Weil and was recorded by The Ronettes in 1964. The song reached #23 on The Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. The song also reached #28 on the R&B Singles chart in 1965. The song is the only Phil Spector produced song to win...
," Philles Records released the group's first studio album, "Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes featuring Veronica" in late 1964. The album proved to be a moderate success, peaking at number 96 on the Billboard charts, but it is notable for being the first evidence of Phil Spector publicly promoting lead singer Veronica "Ronnie" Bennett over Estelle Bennett and Nedra Talley. Every Ronettes single after this referred to the group as "The Ronettes featuring Veronica" on the record labels.
Decline in Popularity
With the success of "Walking in the RainWalking in the Rain (The Ronettes song)
"Walking in the Rain" is a song written by Barry Mann, Phil Spector, and Cynthia Weil and was recorded by The Ronettes in 1964. The song reached #23 on The Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. The song also reached #28 on the R&B Singles chart in 1965. The song is the only Phil Spector produced song to win...
," the popularity of the group had clearly peaked. In February 1965, Philles Records released the group's next single, "Born to Be Together," which peaked only at number fifty-two on the Billboard 100.
Over the course of the next year, the Ronettes recorded a whole catalog of songs which Phil Spector refused to release once they were completed. Many attribute this to Spector's insecurities and his love for the group's lead singer, Ronnie. As the popularity of the Ronettes became greater and greater, the relationship between Spector and Ronnie became more serious, to the point of which they were basically living together. Spector then decided he didn't want Ronnie and the Ronettes to become too popular, in fear they would one day outgrow him. So he tried to reverse the whole star-making process by not releasing the records the Ronettes were contractually obligated to make. This allowed for Motown group The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
to rise in popularity, and eclipse the Ronettes as the most popular girl group in the music industry.
Among the songs the Ronettes recorded during this time which went unreleased were "Paradise," "Everything Under the Sun," and "I Wish I Never Saw the Sun Shine." All three songs individually have since been covered by other artists such as The Shangri-Las, The Supremes, and Ike and Tina Turner, among others.
Perhaps their biggest loss was the Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich song "Chapel of Love
Chapel of Love
"Chapel of Love" is a song written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector, and made famous by The Dixie Cups in 1964, spending three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. There have also been many other versions of this song...
," which the Ronettes recorded in early 1964. They were the first to record their version of the song, but Spector refused to release it as a single. Their version of the song eventually did come out of their Philles LP, but by then The Dixie Cups had already achieved mainstream notoriety for it. "We thought it was such a great record that we practically begged [Phil Spector] to put it out," Ronnie Spector later wrote. "Then the Dixie Cups' version came out and it was a smash! It was so depressing."
In June 1965, the Ronettes' next single, "Is This What I Get For Loving You?" was released, becoming only a minor hit, reaching only 75 on the Billboard 100. The song was popular enough the for group to make appearances on the popular TV shows Hullabaloo and Shivaree, but it was a failed attempt to get the Ronettes another top ten hit, especially when The Supremes scored their fifth consecutive number one record with "Back in My Arms Again."
"Is This What I Get For Loving You?" is mentionable because it was the first single by the Ronettes to have a theme of heartbreak, and the depression which sets in after the ending of an intimate relationship. The group's previous singles had all previously been positive, up-beat love songs with catchy lyrics. This was viewed as an attempt to give the Ronettes a more adult, mature image. Unfortunately, it was an idea which didn't go over as well as it should have.
Some have also attributed the decline of the Ronettes' recording career to the fact Phil Spector wasn't enthusiastic over his promotion of the group, which stemmed from his insecurities about his intimate relationship with Ronnie.
There were also some problems within the group. "You also have to remember that Nedra and Estelle stood in the background while I got to bask in the spotlight," Ronnie later wrote. "I was the one who flew out to California and sang lead on all our records. I was the one deejays wanted to talk to. And I was the one our producer was in love with, which meant I get the preferential treatment in all kinds of other ways which drove them crazy."
"I hated the 'dog-eat-dog' side of show-business," Nedra Talley later commented. "I hated pushing for the next record and the feeling of failure if we didn't get it. There was a continual demand on us to produce that I thought was unfair. My personality didn't like that." Nedra's disdain for show business also became partly fueled by her desire to marry and settle down with her boyfriend, DJ Scott Ross.
Opening for The Beatles
After "Is This What I Get for Loving You?" was released in June 1965, over a year passed before the group's next single was released. "I Can Hear MusicI Can Hear Music
"I Can Hear Music" is a song written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector. It was originally performed by the Ronettes in 1966, and later covered by the Beach Boys in 1969, by Larry Lurex in 1973, by José Hoebee in 1983, and by She & Him in 2010.-Beach Boys version:"I Can Hear Music"...
", written by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich, was issued in October 1966, barely making it into the Billboard 100 by peaking at number 100 for exactly one week before it fell off the charts. The song was covered by The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
in 1969 with great success.
Even without a recent hit, the group continued to make appearances at popular night clubs, on television shows, grace the covers of music magazines and be featured on The Big TNT Show, which was produced by Phil Spector as a concert that was filmed and released as a TV movie.
In August, 1966, the Ronettes teamed up with The Beatles for a fourteen-city tour across America. Phil Spector became so enraged when Ronnie expressed a desire to accompany Estelle and Nedra on the tour, that she was forced to remain in California with him while the girls' cousin Elaine, who had previously been in the group, filled her open slot on the tour. A picture published in the November 1966 issue of Ebony Magazine showed Nedra Talley singing lead, while Estelle and Elaine stood behind her singing harmony.
The Group's Initial Break-Up
After their tour with the Beatles ended and "I Can Hear Music" failed to make an impact, the Ronettes left for a tour in Germany in early 1967, after which they agreed to break up and go their separate ways. Soon afterward Nedra Talley married her boyfriend Scott Ross, Ronnie married Phil Spector, and Estelle Bennett settled down with Joe Dong, a long-time boyfriend.According to her accounts, Phil Spector kept Ronnie a near-prisoner in their twenty-three room mansion in California. He brought her into the studio only once during their marriage. During this session, which took place in early 1969 at A&M Records, she recorded "You Came, You Saw, You Conquered!" The song was released in March 1969, failing to make an impact on the radio stations which were now playing the music in the style of Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin was an American singer, songwriter, painter, dancer and music arranger. She rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company and later as a solo artist with her backing groups, The Kozmic Blues Band and The Full Tilt Boogie Band...
and Grace Slick
Grace Slick
Grace Slick is an American singer and songwriter, who was one of the lead singers of the rock groups The Great Society, Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, and Starship, and was a solo artist, for nearly three decades, from the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s...
.
Later in 1969, Ronnie and Estelle were invited into the studio by Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
to record backing vocals on "Earth Blues." Their work on the song earned The Ronettes a credit on the LP Rainbow Bridge.
Rainbow Bridge (album)
-Non album tracks that appear in the film:*"Bleeding Heart" Released on War Heroes in 1972....
The Ronettes Briefly Return
Ronnie left Phil on June 12, 1972, and divorced him soon afterward. As she made an attempt to restore her career, she decided to reform the Ronettes. Unfortunately, Nedra had no interest in returning to the group, and Estelle mentally could no longer handle the burden of performing. Ronnie then replaced them with Chip Fields and Denise Edwards. Ronnie, Chip, and Denise recorded some songs for Buddha Records in the mid '70's, one of which was a cover of "I Wish I Never Saw the Sun Shine", a song Ronnie had first done in 1965, though Phil Spector had refused to release it.The stint at Buddha Records did not prove to be successful, though the group made several tours together throughout the 1970s. By the end of the decade, however, Ronnie had abandoned the idea of continuing the Ronettes, and decided to begin her solo career.
Later events
In 1988, the original Ronettes sued Spector for nonpayment of royalties. In 2001, a New York court announced a verdict in favor of The Ronettes, ordering Spector to pay nearly three million dollars in back royalties. The judgment was overturned on appeal in 2002 and remanded back to the Supreme Court.Awards and recognition
The Ronettes' influence on music was significant. In addition to Brian WilsonBrian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
of the Beach Boys, Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
and Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
have both cited Ronnie Bennett as an influence. Recently, their fashion style was emulated popularly by British musician Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize...
.
The Ronettes were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame
Vocal Group Hall of Fame
The Vocal Group Hall of Fame was organized to honor outstanding vocal groups throughout the world. It is headquartered in Sharon, Pennsylvania, United States. It includes a theater and a museum....
in 2004 and the People's Hall of Rock and Roll Legends in 2010.
It was believed that Phil Spector, in his capacity as a member of the Board of Governors, deliberately prevented The Ronettes (and Darlene Love
Darlene Love
Darlene Love is an American popular music singer and actress. She gained prominence in the 1960s for the song "He's a Rebel," a #1 American single in 1962, and was part of the Phil Spector stable that produced a celebrated Christmas album in 1963....
) from being nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
, although they had been eligible for a considerable time. The alleged reasons included the acrimonious divorce of Ronnie and Spector, in addition to the group's having unsuccessfully sued Spector for back royalties. While Spector was awaiting trial on a murder charge and out on $1 million bail, the Ronettes were finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 12, 2007, at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel
The Waldorf-Astoria is a luxury hotel in New York. It has been housed in two historic landmark buildings in New York City. The first, designed by architect Henry J. Hardenbergh, was on the Fifth Avenue site of the Empire State Building. The present building at 301 Park Avenue in Manhattan is a...
in New York City. Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
, a longtime fan, inducted the trio. Ronnie Bennett (Spector) and Nedra Talley performed "Baby I Love You", "(Walking) In the Rain
Walking in the Rain (The Ronettes song)
"Walking in the Rain" is a song written by Barry Mann, Phil Spector, and Cynthia Weil and was recorded by The Ronettes in 1964. The song reached #23 on The Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. The song also reached #28 on the R&B Singles chart in 1965. The song is the only Phil Spector produced song to win...
", and "Be My Baby". Estelle Bennett was present to accept her award but chose not to perform.
Pop references
- Ronnette is the name of one of the girl group-inspired street urchin characters in the musical Little Shop of HorrorsLittle Shop of Horrors (musical)Little Shop of Horrors is a rock musical, by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood. The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman...
, along with ChiffonThe ChiffonsThe Chiffons was an all girl group originating from the Bronx area of New York in 1960.-Biography:The Chiffons were one of the top girl groups of the early 1960s...
and CrystalThe CrystalsThe Crystals are an American vocal group based in New York, considered one of the defining acts of the girl group era of the first half of the 1960s. Their 1961–1964 chart hits, including "Uptown", "He's a Rebel", "Da Doo Ron Ron " and "Then He Kissed Me", featured three successive female lead...
.
- Ronnie SpectorRonnie SpectorVeronica Yvette "Ronnie" Spector is an American rock and roll and popular music vocalist, and was the lead singer of the 1960s hit-making girl group, The Ronettes, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. She is known as the "original bad girl of rock and roll."-Personal...
accompanied Eddie MoneyEddie MoneyEddie Money is an American rock guitarist, saxophonist and singer-songwriter who found success in the 1970s and 1980s with a string of Top 40 hits and platinum albums...
on the 1986 hit song "Take Me Home TonightTake Me Home Tonight"Take Me Home Tonight" is a song by American rock singer Eddie Money, from his album Can't Hold Back, released in 1986. It was released as a single and reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks...
". She sang the title line from "Be My Baby" and is also name-checked in the song's lyrics.
- Austin, TexasAustin, TexasAustin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
pop band, The Sour NotesThe Sour NotesThe Sour Notes are an American independent rock band.Based in Austin, Texas, The Sour Notes consists of members Jared Boulanger, Chris Page, Amarah Ulghani, Elaine Greer & Andrew Stevens...
, have been known to cover The Ronettes' song "When I Saw You" during live performances and cite them as a major influence.
- British bands Official Secrets ActOfficial Secrets ActThe Official Secrets Act is a stock short title used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, India and Malaysia and formerly in New Zealand for legislation that provides for the protection of state secrets and official information, mainly related to national security.-United Kingdom:*The Official Secrets...
and GlasvegasGlasvegasGlasvegas are a Scottish indie rock band from Glasgow. The band consists of James Allan , Rab Allan , Paul Donoghue and Jonna Löfgren . The band received critical acclaim for their debut album Glasvegas which was released in September 2008, reaching No...
regularly cover "Be My Baby" when performing live.
- California girl group, MillionairesMillionaires (band)Millionaires is a group consisting of two sisters, Melissa Marie and Allison Green, from Orange County, California. The group, formed in August 2007, was widely known for mixing heavily explicit lyrics with a bubbly electropop sound. Their image and lyrics have generated considerable controversy,...
, covered "Be My Baby" on their Youtube, which followed their first single "Stay The Night".
- In an interview, the Danish band The RaveonettesThe RaveonettesThe Raveonettes are a Danish indie rock duo, consisting of Sune Rose Wagner on guitar, instruments, and vocals, and Sharin Foo on bass, guitar and vocals...
stated that their name is "a complete direct reference to The Ronettes and Buddy HollyBuddy HollyCharles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
Rave On!." They invited Ronnie Spector to sing with them on their third album Pretty in BlackPretty in BlackPretty in Black is the second full-length album by The Raveonettes. The album release is led by first single, "Love in a Trashcan" on March 15, 2005....
, on a song named "Ode to L.A."
External links
- 'The Ronettes' Vocal Group Hall of Fame Page
- Ronettes' Profits Limited by 1963 Contract, New York Law Journal, October 21, 2002
- A Sad Song for the Ronettes: Court Reverses Royalty Rights