Ronnie Spector: “The Ronettes” singer dies of cancer at the age of 78

Rock’n’Roll
Former “Ronettes” front woman Ronnie Spector dies at the age of 78

The US 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 Wednesday on the artist’s website. Numerous US media such as the “New York Times” also quoted the statement. Spector became known in the 1960s as the front woman of the trio “The Ronettes” and sang hits like “Be My Baby”, “Walking in the Rain” and “Baby, I Love You”.

“I loved your voice so much,” wrote Brian Wilson, 79, of the Beach Boys on Twitter. “It breaks my heart.” Singer Diane Warren (65) praised the late colleague as “the voice of a million teenage dreams, mine included”.

Phil Spector discovered “The Ronettes”

With her sister Estelle and her cousin Nedra Talley, Ronnie formed a vocal trio in New York in the late 1950s, which was later discovered by the successful producer Phil Spector.

With thick make-up, upturned black hair and tight skirts, the girl group put an end to the innocent demeanor of many of their pop colleagues and embodied a rather wicked image. In 2007 the trio was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Ronnie Spector reports on violence in marriage

The singer was married for several years from 1968 to Phil Spector, who produced her greatest hits. In her memoir, published in 1990, she described a violent marriage with beatings and death threats from her jealous and controlling husband.

The record producer and convicted murderer had died in a California prison a year ago. Spector, who also worked with music greats like The Beatles, Elvis Presley and Tina Turner, was sentenced to 19 years in prison for the 2009 murder of actress Lana Clarkson.

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DPA