How Phil Spector Related To Ronnie Spector? The Ronettes’ Lead Singer Dies Aged 78
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AP Photo/peter Kramer, File
Ronnie Spector, the voice of immortal hits like “Be My Baby” and “Walking in the Rain” dies at the age of 78. As revealed by her family, the singer passed away on Wednesday after a brief battle with cancer. The frontwoman of the Ronettes is among the most influential names in American pop.
Ronnie Spector’s Demise
A statement on her website says, “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 Spector, born Veronica Bennett was born in New York in 1943. She formed the Ronettes in 1957. Alongside her sister Estelle Bennett and cousin Nedra Talley, she created quintessential hits. Some of them are “Baby, I Love You,” “Walking in the Rain,” “I Can Hear Music” and “Be My Baby,”
Tributes pour in following the demise of the singer. Brian Wilson “I loved her voice so much and she was a very special person and a dear friend. This just breaks my heart. Ronnie’s music and spirit will live forever.” Brian Wilson happens to be the leader of The Beach Boys leader.
“She will have her own place in history because there was nobody like her,” Darlene Love. “When I first met her in 1964, she was this little bitty thing — she reminded me of a little Barbie doll. But then she had this big voice. The way she sang and moved onstage, that was rock & roll.” Darlene worked with her as well.
In 1982, Ronnie married her manager Jonathan Greenfield and lives with her sons in Connecticut.
Ronnie opens up about her marriage with Phil Spector
Her relationship with Phil Spector, the disgraced murderer, and producer began in 1963 shortly after he signed the Ronettes. He was married at that time to Annette Merar. As per reports, Ronnie was unaware of the same. He divorced his wife in 1965 and married Ronnie in 1968. They adopted three sons- Donté Phillip and twins Louis and Gary.
She revealed that Phil was very controlling, paranoid, and abusive during their relationship. In addition, he enforced guard dogs and made Ronnie carry a life-size dummy of Phil whenever she went out without him. Moreover, he kept her imprisoned in their house and threatened to murder her. He even put up barbed wire and didn’t allow her to own shoes so as to prevent her from escaping. In 1972, Ronnie escaped the premises bare-footed with the help of her mother.
Prior to her escape, Phil showed her a gold coffin and threatened to kill her and keep her in the coffin if she tried to escape. The singer once said, “I knew that if I didn’t leave, I was going to die there.” Ronnie and Phil’s sons accused him of sexual abuse and trauma. In 2003, Donté Phillip alleged that Phil abuse the trio as he trapped them with locks on their bedroom doors. He described their relationship with Phil as a “thin line between love and hate.”
She divorced Phil in 1974. Subsequently, the court gave Ronnie custody of their three adopted children.
She revealed her unhappy, abusive marriage in her iconic song: “Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, And Madness.” Phil was convicted for the murder of the actress Lana Clarkson in 2003. He died last year due to covid while serving prison time.
Riddha Kundu
I'm Riddha Kundu, a 23-year-old aspiring Chartered Accountant from Kolkata, and I'm passionate about writing contents.
