In the 1960s, The Ronettes with singer Ronnie Spector, one of the icons of pop, were one of the most popular groups and the only girl group to go on tour with The Beatles, ensuring their premiere. left in 1966.
Ronnie Spector, who has just died at the age of 78, was born Veronica Greenfield, on August 10, 1943, in New York, to an African-American and Native American mother and a father of Irish descent, in the Spanish Harlem neighborhood.
She had formed the Ronettes with her sister, Estelle Bennett and her cousin Nedra Talley.
“Our beloved angel, Ronnie, peacefully left this world today after a brief battle with cancer,” loved ones said, adding,
“
Ronnie lived his life with a sparkle in his eye, an attitude full of love .
lively, a fierce sense of humor and a smile on his face.
"
Initially, this group made a name for itself in the New York region, with its soulful love songs, before signing in 1963 with the legendary producer Phil Spector, soon to be Ronnie's husband.
From then on, with their XXL hairstyle and their skirts above the knees, the Ronettes string together hits like "Baby, I love you", "(The Best Part of) Breakin'Up", or even "Be My Baby" which was inducted in 1999 into the Grammy Hall of Fame, one of the supreme awards.
"The voice"
Ladies and Gentlemen Ronnie Spector.
RIP.
Icon.
pic.twitter.com/I4JpyxnpWu
- Don Winslow (@donwinslow) January 12, 2022
In addition, the song, emblematic of Phil Spector's symphonic production style, known as "Wall of Sound" has also been used as a soundtrack in films like "Mean Streets" by Martin Scorsese (1973) or "Dirty Dancing ”(1987).
When the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards remembered opening their act in the 1960s. nothing.
They touched my heart at that moment and they still touch it, ”he said.
#RonnieSpector ⚘
Can't help but think of Phil, paying homage to Ronnie🙏https: //t.co/967tboM2Ie
- Yell⭕ (@ yello777) January 12, 2022
The Ronettes separated in 1967 and the following year Ronnie married Phil Spector, known to have been one of the greatest rock'n'roll producers in history, but jailed for murder in 2009. The couple divorced in 1974. Ronnie Spector recounted in an autobiography the years of suffering and abuse she suffered with her former husband.
After the Ronettes, Ronnie Spector continued a solo career, punctuated by several collaborations with artists such as Eddie Money and Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band.
His 2006 album, "The Last of the Rock Stars" included collaborations with Keith Richards and Patti Smith.
