My Guiding Angel... A goodbye to music icon Ronnie Spector

The world lost a music icon this week when The Ronettes singer Ronnie Spector died. The legendary vocalist left the world at the age of 78 following a short battle with cancer. Although, Ronnie is gone, songs such as 'Be My Baby', 'Walking in the Rain' and 'Baby, I Love You' mean she will never be forgotten. Here is a look back at the unforgettable life and career of Ronnie Spector...

Before she was Ronnie Spector, the future star was born Veronica Yvette Bennett in Washington Heights, Manhattan, on August 10, 1943. Veronica’s mother was of African-American and Cherokee descent, whilst her father was Irish–American. She and her sister Estelle Bennett were encouraged to sing by her family setting the wheels in motion for her future career.

With their clear music talent, Ronnie and her sister Estelle and their Nedra Talley formed the girl group The Darling Sisters as teenagers. They first signed to Colpix Records in 1961 before moving to Phil Spector's Philles Records in March 1963 when they changed their name to The Ronettes and changed their lives. Phil initially only wanted to sign Ronnie as a solo act but her mother said they only came as a trio.

The trio recorded ‘Be My Baby’ – written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector - in July 1963. Following the release of the track in August that same year, the record became a smash hit for the girls, peaking at number two on the Billboard Top 100. They followed it up with more hits, such as ‘Do I Love You’, ‘Baby, I Love You’ and ‘Walking in the Rain’, and toured the UK following chart success across the pond.

Ronnie and producer Phil Spector began a relationship soon after The Ronettes signed to his label in 1963, although she was unaware he was already married at the time to Annette Merar, lead vocalist of the Spectors Three. Phil eventually divorced his wife in 1965 and he purchased a home in Beverly Hills to set up home with Ronnie. They married at Beverly Hills City Hall on April 14, 1968. And they adopted three children, son Donté Phillip in 1969, and then twins Louis and Gary two years later, who Phil presented to his wife as a Christmas surprise.

Despite touring across America with The Beatles in 1966, The Ronettes popularity began to decline in the late ‘60s, with Motown act The Supremes becoming the most popular all-female group. They disbanded in 1967, with all three members settling down with the men in their lives. However, Ronnie’s life with husband Phil was far from idyllic. In her 1990 memoir ‘Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness’, Ronnie said her musical genius spouse was vindictive, psychologically abusive and violent and kept her locked away at their California mansion, even keeping a gold coffin in their basement which he said was for her if she ever tried to leave him. In 1972, with the help of her mother, Ronnie fled the home bare foot and never looked back. She wrote in her book: “I can only say that when I left in the early ’70s, I knew that if I didn’t leave at that time, I was going to die there.”

After fleeing Phil and getting her divorce finalized in 1974, Ronnie relaunched The Ronettes but without her cousin Nedra and sister Estelle. Chip Fields and Denise Edwards joined her in the group releasing several songs for Buddah Records in 1973, one of which was a cover of ‘I Wish I Never Saw the Sun Shine’, a song Ronnie had first laid down in 1965 but Phil had refused to release. The releases were not successful and Ronnie disbanded the new Ronettes and launched a live career as a solo singer.

Ronnie found love with her manager Jonathan Greenfield. The pair married in 1982 and enjoyed a happy life in Danbury, Connecticut, with their two sons, Austin Drew and Jason Charles until the day of her passing. A love story with a happy ending for Ronnie.

In 1988, the three original Ronettes members sued Phil Spector for $11 million over unpaid royalties and for unpaid income he made from licensing of their songs, alleging they had not been paid anything for their work since the ‘60s. The case took over 10 years to make it to court, but in June 2000 Judge Paula Omansky ordered producer Phil to pay $2.6 million in back royalties and interest to Ronnie, Estelle and Nedra. The judge ruled that Phil had used The Ronettes' music in ways not authorized by his contract with the group, including licensing it for use on television, in movies and on compilation albums. Speaking after the verdict, Ronnie said: “I worked very, very hard making those records in the '60s. I just didn't know I'd have to wait 37 years to get paid for my efforts.”

Ronnie and The Ronettes’ immense contribution to music was recognized in 2007 when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007 along with Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, R.E.M, Patti Smith, Van Halen, The Dave Clark Five and Leonard Cohen. Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards was given the honor of inducting the trio. Their induction angered Phil Spector, who ranted: “My first objection to The Ronettes is that they did not record! Of all the recordings they made, only the lead singer appeared. The group behind her, as you no doubt know, consisted of any number of hundreds of singers I used for that purpose. “Secondly, I do not think they made the contribution required of some to be in the HALL OF FAME, nor do they have the body of work that would qualify them for induction.”

The music world was in mourning when it was revealed on January 12, 2022, that Ronnie had died from cancer at the age of 78. A statement posted to RonnieSpector.com confirmed the tragic news, and read: "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. "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.” Ronnie's passing came almost a year to the day that her ex-husband Phil Spector passed away aged 81.