Ronnie
Spector and her sister Estelle Bennett began singing around 1950. The Ronettes
formed in 1957 with their cousins. Eventually, the group whittled down to three
including Ronnie, Estelle, and Nedra Talley. They began recording in the early
60s.
Their
singles flopped and they began playing the Peppermint Lounge. They were
successful at the club level, but were frustrated with their label. So, they
called Phil Spector, who signed the group.
Their
breakthrough hit (with Cher on backing vocals):
The
Ronettes began a steady decline as music changed. They did, however, open for
The Beatles in 1965.
The
Ronettes went through fits and starts, but eventually split. They reformed
after Ronnie's divorce from Phil, but eventually broke up again.
Ronnie
reemerged in 1986 with Eddie Money:
In 2001,
they won a judgment against Phil Spector for unpaid royalties.
After Amy
Winehouse's OD, Ronnie played a tribute...
Back to Black
(2011): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTdE9Zd3zQM
