Ronnie Spector, Girl Group Icon and Leader of the Ronettes, Dies at 78

Variety ^ | 1/12/22 | Chris Morris

[CrosscutSaw]

Ronnie Spector, whose hard-edged yet tremulous voice soared on the Ronettes’ girl-group hits of the early ‘60s, died on Wednesday of cancer. She was 78.

“Our beloved earth angel, Ronnie, peacefully left this world today after a brief battle with cancer. She was with family and in the arms of her husband, Jonathan,” reads a statement on Spector’s official website. “Ronnie lived her life with a twinkle in her eye, a spunky attitude, a wicked sense of humor and a smile on her face. She was filled with love and gratitude. Her joyful sound, playful nature and magical presence will live on in all who knew, heard or saw her.”

Née Veronica Bennett, she forged an enduring “bad girl” image with her older sister Estelle Bennett and cousin Nedra Talley – towering teased beehive hairdos, canopies of mascara and eyeliner and tight-fitting slit skirts – that rubbed against the aching romanticism of the Ronettes’ Philles Records hits of 1963-66.

[freedomjusticeruleoflaw]

They die every day now. This one makes me sad.

[llevrok]

Black musicians of her era did so much for breaking down racial barriers. As a 14 year old lilly white PNW logging town kid who had never seen a black person, I had the biggest crush on Diana Ross and her.

[blam]

Brian Wilson (Beach Boys) had a thing for Ronnie...see here

Here's the Beach Boys doing Ronnie's song: I Can Hear Music

Here's Kathy Troccili doing the same song.(IMO the best version)

[Steve_Seattle]

In my early teens, I was in love with the Ronettes. Ronnie stayed active many years, and I was supposed to hear her in concert about three or four years ago, but she cancelled for some reason.

The Ronettes kind of embodied the understated sexuality described by Jerry Lee Lewis: "Honey, just stand in one spot and wiggle around just a little bit. That's when you got it." A far cry from the twerking and simulated on-stage sex we see now.

[wjcsux]

I believe that clip was from American Bandstand. I have to admit that that brought tears to my eyes, that was a great time in our nation’s history. Life was great and we were a very optimistic country. Tears over what we have lost.

[wjcsux]

Ronnie,you were one of the greatest singers of my youth. You were a very classy lady. Rest In Peace with our Lord and Savior.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

RIP - I still listen to Ronnie every year come Christmas time.

[dfwgator]

Wish they would play Ronnie instead of that damned Mariah Carey song ad nauseum, every Christmas.

[newfreep]

Wiki...

“I Can Hear Music” is a song written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector for American girl group the Ronettes in 1966.

[CrosscutSaw]

Wow! That’s great! No mistaking Ronnie’s voice.

[CrosscutSaw]

Here’s the song that really did it for me:

“When I Saw You”
https://youtu.be/ihc11FnsuHo

[novemberslady]

Ronnie was the best of the best
Her voice always made me smile

[fidelis]

I really miss all of the Motown sounds

She wasn’t with Motown but, yeah, what a great voice she had.

[A Navy Vet]

Bummer. I loved the Ronettes most of all the early 60’s girls groups.

[novemberslady]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aJvIFK9-xk

[gnarledmaw]

The blonde on the right riser stole the act.

[CatHerd]

Songs As Attributed To The Crystals, But Really By The Ronettes:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5tGrqiuxenY

RIP, Ronnie.

[dfwgator]

Yep, thanks to Eddie, a new generation got to discover her.

RIP Eddie and Ronnie.

[norcal joe]

My favorite Ronettes song: Do I Love You?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL7LaOVIyXU

[Liz]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV4DHumSJEM