Ronnie Spector

Indelibly linked with the groundbreaking "Wall of Sound" productions of her former husband Phil Spector, Ronnie Spector first came to fame as lead singer with 1960s hitmakers The Ronettes, in many ways defining the era with her beehive hairdo, tight skirts and the sensual innocence of her striking vocals. Raised in a large mixed race family in New York and, inspired by doo-wop groups Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers and Little Anthony And The Imperials, Ronnie formed the Darling Sisters with her sister Estelle Bennett and cousin Nedra Talley. Changing their name to Ronnie & the Relatives and then the Ronettes, they released their first singles You Bet I Would, Silhouettes and He Did It on the small Colpix label on 1961 before being discovered by famous DJ Murray The K performing at New York's Peppermint Lounge. Phil Spector signed them to his Philles label and wrote their breakthrough hit Be My Baby (with Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich) specifically for tthe group. More hits Baby I Love You, (The Best Part Of) Breaking Up and Walking In The Rain followed but in 1968 Ronnie married Phil Spector and The Ronettes disbanded. Little more was heard of Ronnie until her split with Phil Spector in 1973, her 1990 autobiography Be My Baby revealing shocking details of their marriage. Whilst singing backing vocals with Southside Johnny And The Asbury Jukes, she also worked with and Eddie Money and in 1999 released the well-received She Talks To Rainbows album, produced by Joey Ramone. Other solo albums, Something's Gonna Happen (2003) and Last Of The Rock Stars (2009) followed.