The Ronettes – Biography, Songs, Albums, Discography & Facts

The Ronettes – Biography, Songs, Albums, Discography & Facts
The Ronettes 1966. Image source: GAC-General Artists Corporation, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Ronettes Biography

An American female group called The Ronettes was based in Manhattan’s Washington Heights. Lead vocalist Veronica Bennett (later known as Ronnie Spector), her sister Estelle Bennett, and their relative Nedra Talley made up the group. Since they were youngsters, they have performed together as “The Darling Sisters.” They were initially signed by Colpix Records in 1961, and in March 1963, they transferred to Phil Spector’s Philles Records, changing their name to “The Ronettes.”

The Ronettes got their start as a family act in Washington Heights, Manhattan, where the girls were raised. Nedra Talley claims that they first began singing when they were little while visiting their grandma. In a later interview, she claimed that “Estelle and Veronica are sisters.” “I’m their cousin. Our mothers are sisters. We came out of a family that, on Saturday nights, home for us was at our grandmother’s, entertaining each other.” The Bennetts’ father was Irish-American, while their mother was African-American and Cherokee. Talley, their cousin, is Puerto Rican, Cherokee, and African-American. The trio also had a Chinese great-grandfather. “By the time I was eight, I was already working up whole numbers for our family’s little weekend shows,” Ronnie Spector later recalled. “Then Estelle would get up onstage and do a song, or she’d join Nedra or my cousin Elaine and me in a number we’d worked out in three-part harmony.”

Ronnie founded the group that would subsequently be referred to as the Ronettes in 1957. The group of five girls, which included Ronnie, her sister Estelle, and their cousins Nedra, Diane, and Elaine, first honed their harmonies at their grandmother’s home and became skilled in songs like “Goodnight Sweetheart” and “Red Red Robin.” The girls joined their male cousin Ira to the group in an imitation of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers and signed up for a Wednesday night amateur performance at the Apollo Theater managed by a friend of Ronnie and Estelle’s mother. The performance got off to a disastrous start when the house band began playing Frankie Lymon’s “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” and Ira was completely silent. Ronnie then took over the singing.

Six of the nine tracks the Ronettes placed on the Billboard Hot 100 went on to become Top 40 singles. Their top hits include “Be My Baby,” which peaked at No. 2, “Baby, I Love You,” “(The Best Part of) Breakin’ Up,” and “Walking in the Rain,” which are all contemporary songs. The group’s lone studio album, Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica, was released in 1964. When they visited the UK that year, the Rolling Stones served as their opening act. Prior to disbanding in 1967, The Ronettes were the only girl group to tour with the Beatles when they opened for them in the United States in 1966. The group briefly reformed as Ronnie Spector and the Ronettes in the 1970s.

In 1999, the Grammy Hall of Fame inducted their song “Be My Baby.” On its list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, Rolling Stone put their album Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica at No. 422. In 2004 and 2007, respectively, the Ronettes were admitted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. With a little more than 58-year gap between top ten songs, the group also holds the record for the greatest gap in Billboard history.

The Ronettes Discography

Presenting the Fabulous RonettesSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon

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Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Songs Do The Ronettes Have?

The Ronettes had a total of 21 songs that charted on the Billboard Hot 100.

What are the Best The Ronettes Songs?

The Ronettes are best known for their 1963 hit “Be My Baby,” which is often cited as one of the greatest pop songs of all time. The group’s other well-known songs include “Baby, I Love You” and “Walking in the Rain.” While the Ronettes only had a handful of hits, their impact on popular music was significant. The group’s distinctive sound and style influenced artists for decades to come, and their songs continue to be popular today.

How Many MembersThe Ronettes Were There?

The Ronettes members were originally a trio, consisting of lead singer Ronnie Spector, her older sister Estelle Bennett, and their cousin Nedra Talley. However, Estelle and Nedra left the group in early 1964, leaving Ronnie as the sole member of the Ronettes.

When were The Ronettes popular?

The Ronettes were most popular in the 1960s. They had a string of hits, including “Be My Baby,” “Baby, I Love You,” and “Walking in the Rain.” The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.

What Is The Ronettes Genre?

The Ronettes were an American pop girl group from the 1960s. Their genre has been variously described as rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and girl group sound.

Is The Ronettes In The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame?

Yes, The Ronettes are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They were inducted in 2007.

Most Searched For Ronettes Songs

Be my babySpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Walking in the rainSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Baby, I Love youSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Sleigh RideSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Do I love you?SpotifyAppleAmazon
Frosty The SnowmanSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Chapel of LoveSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Breakin’ UpSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon