Ronnie Rocks

I'd like to meet:

RONNIE SPECTOR Born Veronica Yvette Bennett, 10th of August 1943, in Spanish Harlem, New York City, New York. Ronnie became famous as a member of the Ronettes, a girl group featuring her sister Estelle Bennett and cousin Nedra Talley.Few voices in popular music are as distinctive and memorable as that of Ronnie Spector,as was their exotic,glamorous look,stage presence, bold multi-cultural look, and innocent sexuality set the tone for generations of "women in rock" who have followed in her footsteps.The group began as dancers at the Peppermint Lounge in New York and made a string of unsuccessful records in the early '60s. Famed deejay Murray "The K" Kaufman discovered them dancing and added them to his rock and roll revue at the Brooklyn-Fox Theater.There they caught the attention of music producer Phil Spector,Spector wrapped his legendary "wall of sound" around their voices and propelled the Ronettes onto the charts with a series of hits like "Be My Baby" (# 2), "Baby I Love You" (# 24), "The Best Part of Breakin' Up" (# 39) and "Walking in the Rain" (# 23). "Be My Baby" was an inter-national smash, and the Ronettes soon found themselves headlining in front of acts like the Rolling Stones and the Yardbirds, and hanging out with the likes of the Beatles. Soon after they began recording with him, Ronnie fell in love with Spector and they were married in 1968. The Ronettes' career was stalled at this point, and at Phil's insistence Ronnie gave up her musical aspirations and spent her time locked away in Spector's mansion, releasing only "You Came, You Saw, You Conquered" in 1969 for A&M and "Try Some Buy Some" for Apple in 1971. The song was written by George Harrison and featured all four Beatles backing her up, but it wasn't a hit.In 1974, Ronnie divorced Phil.She put together a new edition of the Ronettes with Denise Edwards and Chip Fields and recorded a couple of singles, "Lover Lover" in 1973 and "I Wish I Never Saw the Sunshine" in 1974, for Buddah. The records did nothing on the charts and she soon broke up the new Ronettes and went solo. After a failed disco single, Ronnie got help from some heavyweights on her next effort. 1976's "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" was written by Billy Joel and the backing band was noted Phil Spector devotee Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band.She also sang a duet with Southside Johnny on "You Mean So Much To Me Baby".Her next single was 1978's "It's a Heartache" and it was a huge hit. For Bonnie Tyler, that is, not Ronnie.Her first solo album, Siren, was released in 1980 and featured a new wave sound and production by former girl-group singer Genya Ravan.As with everything she had released since the glory days of the Ronettes, it was not a hit.Her 1986 duet with Eddie Money, "Take Me Home Tonight," was a # 4 hit across the U.S., nominated for a Grammy, and managed to land a record deal with Columbia. Unfinished Business was released in 1987 and featured songs by Diane Warren, Desmond Child, and Gregory Abbott and appearances by Bangle Susanna Hoffs, Paul Schaffer, and Eddie Money. She made a concerted effort to push the record (starring in an HBO concert, appearing at the American Music Awards, singing at a Radio City Music Hall Christmas show) but it never took off. Since then, she's been inducted into the New York Music Awards Hall of Fame. In 1990 she published her autobiography Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts and Madness. It was a fascinating tale of a wild and at times harrowing life and sparked new interest in Ronnie. She didn't release any records in the 1990s but appeared on many compilations and soundtracks, including the theme song to Roseanne's cartoon, Little Rosey, a duet with fellow Spector survivor Darlene Love on A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 2, and the cast album of Tim Rice's Tycoon.In 1997, she even performed for the President. In 1999 she released the album "She Talks to Rainbows (Kill Rock Stars)"which featured a few cover versions of older songs. Joey Ramone acted as producer, and appeared on stage with her to promote the record. Featured on the disc were versions of Johnny Thunders' beautiful ballad "You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory" and the Beach Boys' "Don't Worry Baby," which Brian Wilson had originally written for her. She now lives in Connecticut with her second husband Jonathan Greenfield and their two sons, Austin Drew and Jason Charles. She also hosts an annual Christmas party at BB King's bar and grill in New York.Spector returned in 2003 with Something's Gonna Happen, a five-song EP of Marshall Crenshaw covers, a guest appearance on the Misfits' Project 1950 record. Spector's most recent album "Last of the Rock Stars "(HighCoin Records) has been released. A new single, "All I Want," accompanies the album. Keith Richards and Patti Smith are among Spector's collaborators on the album. Spector herself has co-produced two of the songs.In 2005 Spector sang "Ode to L.A." with the Danish rock group, The Raveonettes, on their album "Pretty in Black."