US singer Ronnie Spector dies at the age of 78
Ronnie Spector performing in Barcelona in 2018
Quelle: Redferns / Jordi Vidal
As the lead singer of the trio The Ronettes, she said goodbye to the innocent image of many pop colleagues: Ronnie Spector, known for hits like “Be My Baby” or “Baby, I Love You”, is dead. She died “after a short fight against the Cancer”.
Dhe American singer Ronnie Spector died at the age of 78. “Our beloved earth angel Ronnie left this world today after a short battle against cancer,” said the family on the artist’s website. Numerous US media such as the “New York Times“Quoted from the statement.
“Ronnie lived her life with a wink, a courageous attitude, a biting sense of humor and a smile on her face. She was filled with love and gratitude, “it said.
Spector was born as Veronica Bennett in New York and appeared with her older sister Estelle and her cousin Nedra Talley as Ronnie and the Relatives in various clubs, where they stood out not least for their daring cosmetics. “The louder they clapped, the more mascara we’ll put on next time,” she wrote later.
1990 veröffentlichte sie ihre Autobiografie: „Be My Baby. How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, or My Life as a Fabulous Ronette“
Source: Redferns / Gilles Petard
The trio later called themselves The Ronettes. Spector became known with songs like “Be My Baby” or “Baby, I Love You”. In doing so, she put an end to the innocent demeanor of many of her pop colleagues and embodied a rather wicked image.
“Be My Baby”, produced by Phil Spector and equipped with his legendary “Wall of Sound”, landed at number two on the US charts in 1963. In 1968 she married the music producer. However, he locked her in her house. She described the abuse in her autobiography. The marriage was divorced in 1974.
“Be My Baby” can also be heard at the beginning of “Dirty Dancing”
Quelle: Getty Images/Michael Putland
The Ronettes broke up in 1967 after a European tour. After the breakup, Spector continued her solo career. In 2007 the trio was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Ronnie Spector influenced many colleagues. Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson was obsessed with Be My Baby, Billy Joel wrote Say Goodbye to Hollywood in Spector’s honor, and Amy Winehouse has often referred to Spector as her idol. Director Martin Scorsese opened his 1973 film “Hexenkessel” with “Be My Baby”. The piece can also be heard in the title sequence of “Dirty Dancing”.
Ronnie Spector leaves behind her husband, Jonathan Greenfield, and two sons.
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