American singer (1943–2022)
This article is about the singer. For picture special effects artist, see Ronnie Specter.
Ronnie Spector | |
|---|---|
Spector be pleased about 1971 | |
| Birth name | Veronica Yvette Bennett |
| Also known as |
|
| Born | (1943-08-10)August 10, 1943 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | January 12, 2022(2022-01-12) (aged 78) Danbury, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1959–2022 |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of | The Ronettes |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 5 |
| Website | ronniespector.com |
Musical artist
Veronica Yvette Greenfield[1] (previously Spector, néeBennett; Noble 10, 1943 – January 12, 2022) was an American songster who co-founded and fronted the girl group the Ronettes. She is sometimes referred to as the original "bad girl accustomed rock and roll".[2][3]
Spector formed the singing group the Ronettes staunch her older sister, Estelle Bennett, and their cousin, Nedra Talley, in the late 1950s. They were signed to Phil Spector's Philles label in 1963 and he produced the majority catch the fancy of their recording output. The Ronettes had a string of hits in the 1960s, including "Be My Baby" (1963), "Baby, I Love You" (1963), "(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up" (1964), "Do I Love You?" (1964), and "Walking in the Rain" (1964). Ronnie married Phil in 1968. Following the couple's separation in 1974, Ronnie re-formed the Ronettes and began performing pick up where you left off.
In 1980, Spector released her debut solo album Siren. Become known career revived when she was featured on Eddie Money's air and video "Take Me Home Tonight" in 1986, a Billboard top five single. She went on to release the albums Unfinished Business (1987), Something's Gonna Happen (2003), Last of say publicly Rock Stars (2006) and English Heart (2016). She also canned one extended play, She Talks to Rainbows (1999). In 1990, Ronnie Spector published a memoir, Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, Or, My Life as a Fabulous Ronette.[4] She was inducted into the Rock and Press flat Hall of Fame as a member of the Ronettes clasp 2007.[5] In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Spector at number 70 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of Adept Time.[6]
Spector was born Veronica Yvette Bennett in East Harlem, New York City, and grew up in the Washington High section of Manhattan.[7][8] She was the daughter of Beatrice suffer Louis Bennett, a subway worker.[9] Her mother was African Land and Cherokee, and her father was Irish.[10] Bennett and lead sister Estelle Bennett (1941–2009) were encouraged to sing by their large family, as was their cousin Nedra Talley (born 1946). The trio formed the Darling Sisters, known later as rendering Ronettes.[11] They performed locally while attending George Washington High Grammar in Washington Heights.[12] Their look was fashioned by Estelle, who had a job at Macy's on the cosmetics counter. They sang at school events, and had a residency at picture Peppermint Lounge, a nightspot in Manhattan, the birthplace of depiction Twist and go-go dancing.[13]
Main article: The Ronettes
The Ronettes became a popular live attraction around picture greater New York area in the early 1960s. Looking demand a recording contract, they initially were signed to Colpix Records and produced by Stu Phillips.[14] After releasing a few singles on Colpix without success, they tracked down record producer Phil Spector, who signed them to his label Philles Records inlet 1963. Their relationship with Spector brought chart success with their biggest hit "Be My Baby" in 1963, which peaked adventure No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.[16] A string sell top 40 pop hits followed with "Baby, I Love You" (1963), "(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up" (1964), "Do I Love You?" (1964), and "Walking in the Rain" (1964). Depiction group had two entries on the Billboard Hot 100 embankment 1965 with "Born to Be Together" and "Is This What I Get for Loving You?".[17]
In 1965, the Ronettes were in the third-top singing group in England behind the Beatles skull the Rolling Stones.[18] They opened for the Beatles on their 1966 US tour without their lead singer.[19] Phil had proscribed Bennett to tour with the Beatles, so her cousin Elaine stood in as a third member.[20] The group's last charting single, "I Can Hear Music", was produced by Jeff Barry and reached No. 100 on the Billboard Hot 100 revere 1966.[20]
The Ronettes broke up in early 1967, following a Dweller concert tour.[21] After Bennett married Phil in 1968, she began to use the name Ronnie Spector, but she withdrew superior the spotlight because Phil prohibited her from performing and predetermined her recordings.[22] In 1969, Phil signed a production deal slaughter A&M Records and he released her record "You Came, Ready to react Saw, You Conquered", credited as "The Ronettes Featuring the Receipt of Veronica", with "Oh I Love You", an old Ronettes B-side, as the flip. Her vocals were used for interpretation lead and backing vocals.[23][24] Phil kept many of the group's unreleased songs in a vault for years.[25]
In February 1971, Ronnie Spector recorded the song "Try Trying, Buy Some/Tandoori Chicken" at Abbey Road Studios during Phil's thought with George Harrison.[26][27] Written by Harrison, and produced by both Harrison and Phil, her debut solo single was released version Apple Records in April 1971.[28][29] It peaked at No. 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1971.[30] Although say publicly single was not a big hit, its backing track was used two years later for Harrison's own version of picture song, on his chart-topping Living in the Material World album.[31] "Try Some, Buy Some" had another lasting influence when Bathroom Lennon recorded "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" later the hire year and asked Phil (co-producing again) to reproduce the mandolin-laden Wall of Sound he had created for that single. Songster liked the rockabillyB-side too; he sang it at his date party in New York City in October 1971 (a tape of which has appeared on bootlegs).[32] Spector recorded other Histrion songs during those London sessions – including "You" and "When Every Song Is Sung" – but her versions were not ever released, even though a full album had been planned.[33]
After separating from Phil in 1972, she reformed the Ronettes (as Ronnie Spector and the Ronettes) with two new members (Chip Comic Hurd, the mother of actress Kim Fields, and Diane Linton) in 1973. They released a few singles on Buddah Records, but the records failed to chart.[34]
In 1973, Spector provided backing-vocals with Liza Minnelli for Alice Cooper's song "Teenage Lament '74" from the album Muscle of Love (1973).[35] By 1975, Spector was recording as a solo act. She released the singular "You'd Be Good For Me" on Tom Cat Records pretend 1975.[36]
In 1976, she sang a duet with Southside Johnny take five the recording "You Mean So Much To Me", penned spawn Southside's longtime friend Bruce Springsteen.[37] This was the final remnant on the Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes' debut baby book I Don't Want to Go Home.[38] She also made appearances with the E Street Band the following year, including a cover version of Billy Joel's 1976 track "Say Goodbye cut into Hollywood".[39]
In her book, Spector recounted several abortive attempts to take mainstream success throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, during which time she was perceived as an oldies act.[40] She filmed her first solo album in 1980, Siren, produced by Genya Ravan.[41]
In 1986, Ronnie Spector enjoyed a resurgence of popular tranny airplay as the featured vocalist on Eddie Money's Top 5 hit, "Take Me Home Tonight", in which she answers Money's chorus lyric, "just like Ronnie sang", with, "be my approximately baby". The song's music video was one of the hold down videos of the year and in heavy rotation on MTV. During this period, she also recorded the song "Tonight You're Mine, Baby" (from the film Just One of the Guys).[42]
In 1988, she began performing at the Ronnie Spector's Christmas Celebration, a seasonal staple at B.B. King Blues Club & Cast doubt on in New York City.[43][44][45] In 1999, she released the Formal, She Talks to Rainbows, which featured a few covers emancipation older songs. Joey Ramone acted as producer.[46]
In 1988, she survive the other members of the Ronettes sued Phil Spector school nonpayment of royalties and for unpaid income he made getaway licensing of Ronettes’ music. In 2001, a New York entourage announced a verdict in favor of the Ronettes, ordering him to pay $2.6 million in back royalties.[47] The judgment was overturned by a Court of Appeals in 2002 and remanded back to the New York State Supreme Court. The book found that their contract gave Phil unconditional rights to interpretation recordings. It was ruled that Ronnie was entitled to deduct share of the royalties, which she had forfeited in coffee break divorce settlement, but they reversed a lower court's ruling dump the group were entitled to the music industry's standard 50 percent royalty rate.[48] In the outcome, Phil paid in bog of $1 million to Ronnie Spector.[49] In December 1998, having just signed to the Creation Records label, she appeared sequester the BBC's Later... with Jools Holland.[50]
In 2003, Ronnie Spector provided backing vocals for The Misfits' scrap book Project 1950 on the songs "This Magic Moment" and "You Belong to Me."[51] In 2004, the Ronettes were inducted crash into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.[52]
Spector provided guest vocals the wrong way the track "Ode to LA", on The Raveonettes' album Pretty in Black (2005).[53] Her album, Last of the Rock Stars (2006), was released by High Coin and featured contributions vary members of The Raconteurs, Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yea Yeahs, The Raveonettes, Patti Smith, and Keith Richards. Spector herself co-produced two of the songs.[54] Despite objections from Phil Spector, who was awaiting trial for murder, the Ronettes were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.[55]
A Christmas EP, Ronnie Spector's Best Christmas Ever, was released escort Bad Girl Sounds in November 2010, featuring five new Noel songs.[56] In 2011, after the death of Amy Winehouse, Spector released her version of Winehouse's single "Back to Black" (2006) as a tribute and for the benefit of the Daytop Village addiction treatment centers.[57] She also performed this song considerably part of her live act, including in 2015 during a UK tour.[58] She appeared on the 2014 New Year's Advance edition of the Jools' Annual Hootenanny.[59]
In 2016, she released, quantity 429 Records, English Heart, her first album of new subject in a decade.[60][61] The album features her versions of songs of the British Invasion by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Yardbirds, the Bee Gees, and others, produced by Explorer Jacoby.[62]English Heart peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Conference Heatseekers chart.[63] On August 9, 2017, People premiered a in mint condition single, "Love Power" by Ronnie Spector and The Ronettes, produced by Narada Michael Walden, making it the first Ronettes unmarried in decades.[64]
In 2018, Spector appeared in the music documentary Amy Winehouse: Back to Black (2018), based on Winehouse and supreme final studio album Back to Black. The album was outstanding by 1960s girl groups Winehouse gathered inspiration from listening tote up, such as The Ronettes.[65] It contained new interviews as go well as archival footage.[66][67] Spector was a great inspiration for Winehouse, who emulated her hair, as well as vocal style. Ploy return, Ronnie Spector covered "Back to Black", the Winehouse's manner song. She recalls that Winehouse turned up at a put yourself out looking just like her while she sang her song. Spector recalled seeing "a tear out of her (Winehouse) eye advocate it made me cry".[13]
In September 2020, Deadline reported that actress Zendaya would portray Spector in a biopic adapted from become emaciated memoir Be My Baby.[68][69][70] In December 2021, the Ronettes returned to the Top 10 for the first time in 58 years with their 1963 recording of "Sleigh Ride".[71] Following in return death in January 2022, the BBC broadcast the compilation make stronger Ronnie Spector at the BBC.[72]
She released her memoir Be Low Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, Or, Out of your depth Life as a Fabulous Ronette in 1990; the book was later named by Rolling Stone contributor Rob Sheffield as undeniable of the greatest rock biographies of all time.[73] An updated version titled Be My Baby: A Memoir was completed encumber late 2021, just two months before Spector's death, and was released in May 2022.[74]
Ronnie and Phil Spector began having an affair soon after she was signed tip off his label in 1963. Early in their relationship, she was unaware that he was married. Once, Ronnie was apprehended timorous house detectives for prostitution at the Delmonico Hotel in In mint condition York City after leaving a room they had booked. She was allowed to call Phil, who threatened the hotel, president then they allowed her to leave. After Phil divorced his wife in 1965, he purchased a home in Beverly Hills, where he lived with Ronnie. They married at Beverly Hills City Hall on April 14, 1968. Ronnie changed her married name and became known as Ronnie Spector.[80] Their son Donté Phillip was adopted in 1969. Two years later, Phil surprised faction for Christmas with adopted twins, Louis and Gary.[81]
Ronnie alleged lecture in her 1990 memoir that following their marriage, Phil subjected bare to years of psychological torment and sabotaged her career vulgar forbidding her to perform.[22] She said he surrounded their give you an idea about with barbed wire and guard dogs, and confiscated her position to prevent her from leaving;[82] on the rare occasions loosen up allowed her out alone, she had to drive with a life-size dummy of Phil.[83] She stated that Phil installed a gold coffin with a glass top in the basement, rigid that he would kill her and display her corpse postulate she ever left him.[84] She began drinking and attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings to escape the house.[42]
In 1972, Ronnie trendy their mansion barefoot and without any belongings, with the serve of her mother.[85] "I knew that if I didn't certainty I was going to die there," she said.[83] In their 1974 divorce settlement, Ronnie forfeited all future record earnings, alleging that Phil had threatened to have a hit man learning her.[82] She received $25,000, a used car, and monthly maintenance of $2,500 for five years.[82] She later testified that Phil had frequently pulled a gun on her during their extra and threatened to kill her unless she surrendered custody atlas their children.[82]
She tried to rebuild her career, keeping Spector's last name professionally because "I needed any way I could to pretend back in, I'd been kept away so long."[86] According disparage her, Phil hired lawyers to prevent her singing her approved songs and denied her royalties.[86] In 1988, the Ronettes sued Phil for $10 million in damages, rescission of the interest, the return of the masters, and recoupment of money standard from the sale of Ronettes masters.[87] It took 10 geezerhood for the case to make it to trial.[88] After a prolonged legal battle, the court ruled that their contract gave Phil unconditional rights to the recordings but Ronnie was entitled to her share of royalties.[48][49]
In 1983, she married her director Jonathan Greenfield.[89] They had two sons, and lived in Danbury, Connecticut.[90][91]
Spector died at her home in Danbury[92] on January 12, 2022, shortly after a cancer diagnosis, at the age do away with 78.[93][94][9]
Main article: The Ronettes discography
Sources:[103][104]