About The Ronettes
The Ronettes weren't the most commercially successful girl group, but their music was some of the most groundbreaking in the field, thanks to their association with the legendary Wall of Sound producer Phil Spector. Their biggest hit, "Be My Baby," is widely regarded as one of the crowning achievements of Spector's oeuvre, and of girl-group pop in general. In fact, many critics have deemed it one of the most supremely romantic records of the rock & roll era; Spector's production frames the song's yearning lyrics and Ronnie Bennett's sweetly sultry vocals in a sweeping, near-symphonic level of emotion. Even though the Ronettes never managed another hit as big as "Be My Baby," many of their subsequent singles boasted the same kind of creative synergy between Spector and Bennett. It apparently carried over into real life as well, since the two were married in 1968, not long after Bennett went solo. Unfortunately, the union was an unhappy one, as Spector soon turned reclusive and controlling, largely preventing her from recording (or even leaving the house). After their divorce, she recorded sporadically without much success, but became something of a female rock icon when she published her survivor's-tale autobiography.
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The Ronettes were formed in the Washington Heights/Spanish Harlem area of New York City. Sisters Veronica (aka Ronnie) and Estelle Bennett and their cousin Nedra Talley first started harmonizing together as teenagers in 1959, inspired by doo wop groups like Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers and Little Anthony & the Imperials. First calling themselves the Darling Sisters, the trio also worked on their dance moves, and won the famed amateur talent contest at the Apollo Theater; afterward, they began formal vocal training. In 1961, they were standing in line to get into the Peppermint Lounge -- epicenter of the twist dance craze -- when a manager mistook them for an act he'd booked. They performed to great response, and were quickly hired as regulars. Later that year, they appeared in the film Twist Around the Clock, and danced in shows staged by disc jockey Murray the K. They also got a record deal with the Colpix label, issuing their debut single "I Want a Boy" as Ronnie & the Relatives that year. Follow-up singles credited the group as the Ronettes, including "I'm on the Wagon," "Silhouettes," and "Good Girls," but none were anything more than regionally popular.
The Ronettes caught their big break when they met Phil Spector, who saw in them talent he could mold to his specifications; he was already tiring of his association with the Crystals, substituting outside singer Darlene Love on several records credited to them. Spector signed the Ronettes to his Philles label, where they were given a more defined image than most female artists of the time. They were still sweet and feminine, to be sure, but they had hints of attitude -- they were photographed with tall hairdos, heavy eyeliner, and tight skirts. Moreover, their songs dared to address the objects of their affection directly ("I love you" as opposed to "I love him"), even -- on a subliminal level -- seductively. Spector lavished all his attention on his new protégées, collaborating on material with some of the top Brill Building songwriting teams. Their first Philles single was "Be My Baby," a tune Spector co-wrote with Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich especially as a showcase for Ronnie Bennett. Right from the often-imitated drum kick that opened the song, "Be My Baby" announced itself as a pop classic; Spector's lush arrangement seemed to echo into infinity, while Bennett's sweet vulnerability captured the hearts of enough teenage male listeners to send the song to number two on the pop charts and number four R&B. It also became the all-time favorite record of Beach Boy Brian Wilson, who was directly inspired to emulate Spector's arsenal of production innovations; he also penned "Don't Worry Baby" for the Ronettes in tribute, but when Spector refused the song, the Beach Boys recorded it themselves for a hit.
None of the Ronettes' other singles even managed to make the Top 20, but they continued to turn out high-quality work over the next two years. Their next hit, 1964's "Baby, I Love You," featured Leon Russell as the session pianist, as well as backup vocal support from Darlene Love and a young Cher. Subsequent singles like "(The Best Part Of) Breakin' Up," "Do I Love You?," "Walking in the Rain," and "Is This What I Get for Loving You?" still rank as all-time girl-group classics; "Walking in the Rain" went on to win a Grammy for Best Sound Effects, the only one Spector ever received. Meanwhile, Spector was testing the waters for Bennett as a solo artist; she recorded a song under the name Veronica, "So Young," which nonetheless included backup harmonies by the other two Ronettes (it was withdrawn not long after release).
With his attention consumed by Tina Turner in early 1966, Spector put the Ronettes on the back burner; one of his final sides with the group, the lovely "I Wish I Never Saw the Sunshine," was never even released. Jeff Barry produced the final Ronettes single for Philles, "I Can Hear Music," in late 1966. Shattered by the cool reception afforded his magnum opus, the Ike & Tina Turner single "River Deep-Mountain High," Spector soon shut down the Philles label, and the Ronettes disbanded. Spector left his wife to marry Bennett in 1968, and the two lived together in Spector's L.A. mansion. However, his behavior grew increasingly erratic and controlling. In spite of Ronnie's ambitions for a solo career, Spector took pains to ensure that she remained at home -- not just refusing to book recording sessions, but not even allowing her to leave the house without his permission. He became psychologically abusive, allegedly threatening to kill her, monitoring her phone calls, and forbidding her to read books or see friends. When the couple failed to conceive children, Spector adopted three -- the last two without even consulting his wife -- which ensured that she was kept busy at home. Even amid all of this, two singles made their way to release -- 1969's aptly titled "You Came, You Saw, You Conquered" (which was credited to the Ronettes Featuring the Voice of Veronica), and 1971's "Try Some, Buy Some," issued on the Beatles' Apple label.
Ronnie left her husband in 1973, and their divorce was finalized the following year; reportedly, Spector made a substantial alimony payment by sending Ronnie a truckload of dimes. Nonetheless, Ronnie kept his last name, and formed a new version of the Ronettes with Denise Edwards and Chip Fields; they recorded a couple of singles for Buddah over 1973-1974, but none charted. Ronnie Spector released several solo records during the late '70s without much success; she did return to the spotlight as a guest vocalist on rocker Eddie Money's Top Five hit "Take Me Home Tonight" in 1986. Two years later, on the heels of a "Be My Baby" revival in the film Dirty Dancing, the three original Ronettes sued Spector for nonpayment of royalties; the case dragged on for years and years. In 1990, Ronnie published her autobiography -Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness; the book was a sensation thanks to its detailed account of her bizarre relationship with Spector, though she maintained that she had been genuinely in love with him at the start, and that he was never physically abusive to her. In late 2001, a New York court announced a verdict in favor of the Ronettes, ordering Spector to pay nearly three million dollars in back royalties; the judgment was later overturned on appeal, but part of the case was sent back to a lower court, renewing the group's hopes. Steve Huey, Rovi
Ronettes Facts & Trivia The Ronettes were one of the first American acts to be featured on
the original BBC version of "Au Go Go" broadcast in the UK (this Classic
Oldies Video Juke Box feature is from a kinescope of that show). From the
applauding, screaming audience that never stopped throughout their performance,
it is obvious the great reception they received in Britain. In fact, this show
was the highest rated in the weekly series four year run.
Although their 1963 hit single "Be My Baby" was their only top-ten hit, the song made the Ronettes pop music icons. Producer and svengali Phil Spector turned the three New York City girls into stars with songs from the legendary Brill Building stable of writers. The Ronettes broke the 1960's girl-group mold with their bad-girl style and lead singer Ronnie Spector's trademark hard-but-sweet voice. Sadly, the story turned sour for the Ronettes and they disbanded in 1966, but they remain a fixture in pop-music history.
Sisters Veronica ("Ronnie") and Estelle Bennett began dancing and singing with their cousin Nedra Talley when they were schoolgirls in New York City's Washington Heights/Spanish Harlem area. They took their musical cues from popular doo-wop groups like Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers and Little Anthony & the Imperials. Calling themselves the Darling Sisters, the girls won the amateur talent contest at Harlem's famed Apollo Theater while they were all still teenagers.
The Peppermint Lounge, home of the twist dance craze, was New York's place to be in 1961. The three girls were standing in line waiting to get into the club one night when the man at the door waved to them and hurried them into the building. "Girls, you're late," he said. He'd mistaken them for that night's entertainment, and none of the three was going to tell him any different. They took the stage, and ended up becoming a regular act at the trendy club. They also appeared in the film Twist around the Clock. By the time they released their first single "I Want A Boy" later that year, they'd become Ronnie & the Relatives. Not long after, when they released their follow-up single, 1962's "Silhouettes," they had streamlined their name to the Ronettes.
As the Ronettes, the group recorded four singles for the Colpix/May record label and appeared live on the popular radio show Live from the Brooklyn Fox hosted by deejay Murray the K. What happened next is unclear. Some sources claim that Estelle misdialed a phone number and ended up calling producer Phil Spector. Others say that a magazine writer introduced Spector to the Ronettes when he was in New York looking for new acts.
Whichever way the story really is, Spector and the Ronettes began working together and wound up making rock history. In the Ronettes--especially Ronnie's sweet-but-tough voice--Spector found an act with more attitude and personality than usual. Typical girl groups of the 1960s were promoted as little more than pretty faces. On the Ronettes' record covers, the girls wore high bouffants, inches-thick mascara, and microminis. They also referred to the object of their affections directly in their lyrics. These were not the girls next door.
The Ronettes signed with Spector's Philles record label, and went to work in the recording studio. In July of 1963 they released the single "Be My Baby," which showcased both Spector's production talents and Ronnie's voice in the catchy "woh-oh-oh-oh" refrain. Just three months later, the song peaked at number two on the Billboard charts. The trio became an international success as well when the song reached number four on the British charts. This first single--the group's biggest hit--would become a pop classic.
The Ronettes' next single, "Baby I Love You," featured the dense orchestration and dozens of backing vocalists that would become trademarks of the Spector "wall of sound." After the wild success of "Be My Baby," "Baby I Love You" was a comparative disappointment, topping out at only 20 on the American charts. It fared better in Britain, however, where it once again reached number four.
Despite their lack of hit singles, the Ronettes became a landmark group. Their most popular singles include "Do I Love You?," "Walking in the Rain," and "Is This What I Get for Loving You?" Spector built his name as a producer with the group, mastering songs written by the now-legendary Brill Building songwriters. He received the only Grammy Award of his career (for Best Sound Effects) for "Walking in the Rain."
The Ronettes' final single was "I Can Hear Music," released in late 1966. Soon after, Spector closed the Philles label and the group disbanded. Ronnie Bennett had long been the focus of Spector's attention, and he wanted to produce her as a solo artist. Her debut solo single, "So Young," released under the name Veronica, was a solo effort in name only--the two remaining Ronettes sang backup. The single did not do well, and was pulled from stores before too long.
Ronnie's relationship with Spector went well beyond the recording studio--Spector left his wife for her in 1968. After they were married, the two set up house in Spector's Los Angeles mansion, but his behavior became extremely controlling. He refused to let her leave the house without his permission, nor was she allowed to make phone calls, see friends, or even read books. This effectively ended her recording career. The two separated in 1973 and later divorced. Ronnie later wrote about her turbulent marriage in her 1990 autobiography Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness.
Two singles were released during the marriage, "You Came, You Saw, You Conquered," which was released under the name The Ronettes: Featuring the Voice of Veronica, and "Try Some, Buy Some." Ronnie formed a new version of the Ronettes in the mid-1970s, and released several solo records later in the decade, neither with any success.
"Be My Baby" became a hit again in 1987 when it was included on the Dirty Dancing soundtrack. The three original Ronettes sued Spector for unpaid royalties in 1990, but it wasn't until 2001 that a New York court awarded the group nearly $3 million. The verdict was later overturned on appeal.
The Ronettes's Group formed as the Darling Sisters in New York, NY, 1959; performed at the Peppermint Lounge, 1961; appeared in film Twist around the Clock, 1961; signed a deal with Colpix record label and released their first single, "I Want a Boy" as Ronnie & the Relatives, 1961; released regionally popular singles "I'm on the Wagon," "Silhouettes," and "Good Girls" as the Ronettes; signed with Phil Spector's Philles label and released number-two single "Be My Baby," 1963; disbanded January of 1966; sued Spector for $3 million in unpaid royalties, 1990.
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