American singer Ronnie Spector, frontman of The Ronettes, died Wednesday January 12 at the age of 78. “Our beloved angel Ronnie passed away peacefully today after a brief battle with cancer., announced his relatives in a press release. Ronnie lived his life with a twinkle in his eye, a spirited attitude, a fierce sense of humor and a smile on his face.”
Ronnie Spector, born Veronica Greenfield, was born on August 10, 1943 in the New York neighborhood of Spanish Harlem. She had formed The Ronettes with her sister, Estelle Bennett, and cousin Nedra Talley. The group had made a name for themselves in the New York area with their soulful love songs, before signing in 1963 with legendary producer Phil Spector, later married to Ronnie.
The Ronettes had unrolled a series of hits in the early 1960s, including Baby, I love you, (The Best Part of) Breakin’ Up Where Be my baby. The song, emblematic of Phil Spector’s symphonic production style, has been used as the soundtrack in films like MeanStreets by Martin Scorsese (1973) or Dirty Dancing (1987).
Along with the Supremes, the Ronettes have been one of the most popular bands in sixties and the only girl band to tour with the Beatles, opening for them in 1966. The trio broke up in 1967, and the following year Ronnie married Phil Spector. After their divorce in 1974, the singer recounted in an autobiography the years of suffering and abuse that the producer had subjected her to. The latter was imprisoned in 2009 for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson.
After the disbandment of his group, Ronnie Spector continued his solo career, punctuated by several collaborations with artists such as Eddie Money and Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. His album released in 2006, The Last of the Rock Stars, included collaborations with Keith Richards and Patti Smith. A year later, the Ronettes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.