Veronica (Ronnie) Bennett, Estelle Bennett, and Nedra Talley formed a group called The Darling Sisters in 1961, later becoming Ronnie and the Relatives, then finally The Ronettes. The two sisters and cousin Nedra grew up in Washington Heights in a musical family, and in 1961 they signed with Colpix and recorded several tracks. None went anywhere.
Then, in early 1963, they met Phil Spector, who was hooked on Ronnie’s voice as soon as he heard it and wanted Ronnie as a solo act. But the group remained together, making some singles and reaching the Top Ten in 1963 with Be My Baby, a Spector record with his iconic Wall of Sound, chorus and Wrecking Crew, from writers Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich.
Brian Wilson, who called Be My Baby his favorite record, wrote Don’t Worry Baby as an homage to the group. It was also the first record that Cher ever sang on. Spector then wrote Baby, I Love You (again with Barry and Greenwich), and urged the Ronettes to leave New York for California.
In September 1963 I saw the Ronettes (backed by Spector and the Wrecking Crew) play the Cow Palace Surf Party.
All three Ronettes, along with every other Phil Spector artist in 1963, were featured on A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector. They recorded three songs: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman, and Sleigh Ride. Then they left for a tour of the UK in January 1964.
At this point, some girl groups were fading, but not The Ronettes or The Supremes. The Ronettes’ next hit was the only record for which Spector received an award—for sound effects.
An LP, Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes featuring Veronica, was released later in the year, and Spector was in love with Ronnie and her voice (which was sexy and warbly with lots of vibrato). Every single after this referred to the group as “The Ronettes featuring Veronica” on the record labels.
The next singles didn’t chart as high and in 1965 the group’s popularity began to wane.
With Ronnie as the “star,” the other Ronettes were becoming unhappy with her preferential treatment. Is This What I Get for Loving You was not a great hit on Billboard, but proved popular on TV shows like Hullabaloo, Hollywood a Go-Go and Shivaree.
While The Supremes were charting, The Ronettes weren’t. Their last record to chart was covered two years later (and with more success) by The Beach Boys.
In August 1966, The Ronettes teamed up with The Beatles for a 14-city tour across America, but Spector wouldn’t let Ronnie go, so her cousin Elaine went in her place. Ronnie married Spector in 1968 (they divorced in 1974) and he took her to the studio only once during their marriage to record.
Ronnie did get to cut a record in 1971 with George Harrison as writer/producer.
Ronnie tried to re-form the Ronettes after her divorce but it didn’t work and she continued as a solo. She sued Spector for millions in back royalties, but eventually lost the suit. She continued to make music, most notably with a Billy Joel song she cut in 1977.
Ronnie influenced Bruce Sringsteen, Brian Wilson, Eddie Money and Amy Winehouse.
- Here Today Gone Tomorrow
- Settin’ The Woods On Fire
- Take Me Home Tonight (with Eddie Money)
- Don’t Worry Baby
The following was posted on Ronnie’s website on the day of her death, January 12, 2022: “Her joyful sound, playful nature and magical presence will live on in all who knew, heard or saw her.“