The Ronettes ( ) is an American women's group from New York City. One of the most popular groups from the 1960s, they put nine songs on Billboard Hot 100, five of which became Top 40 hits. The trio of Spanish Harlem, New York, consists of vocalist Veronica Bennett (later known as Ronnie Spector), elder sister Estelle Bennett, and their cousin Nedra Talley. Among Ronettes 'most famous songs are "Be My Baby", "Baby, I Love You", "Breakin' Up", and "Walking in the Rain", all of which mapped on Billboard Hot 100. "Walking in the Rain" won the Grammy Award in 1965, and "Be My Baby" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. Ronettes was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.
The girls sang together since they were teenagers, then known as "The Darling Sisters". Signed first by Colpix Records in 1961, they moved to Phil Spector's Philles Records in March 1963 and changed their name to "The Ronettes". In late 1964, the group released their only studio album, Presenting the Best Ronettes Featuring Veronica , which entered the Billboard charts at number 96. Rolling Stone placing it at number 422 in the list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004. Ronettes is the only female group touring with the Beatles.
Video The Ronettes
Tahun-tahun awal (1950-1961)
Ronettes began as a family act in which girls grew up in Washington Heights, Manhattan. According to Nedra Talley, they started singing during childhood visits to their grandmother's house. "Estelle and Veronica are sisters," he said in a later interview. "I'm their cousin Our mother is a sister We came out of a family who, on Saturday night, the house for us was at our grandma's house, comforting each other." Mrs. Bennetts is an African-American and a Cherokee; their father is an Irish American. Their cousin, Talley, is African-American and Puerto Rican. "By the time I was eight years old, I had done all the numbers for our family's little weekend show," Ronnie Spector later said. "Then Estelle will go up to the stage and make a song, or she'll join Nedra or my cousin Elaine and me in a number we're working on in three parts of harmony."
Continuing their interest in the show business, Estelle enrolled in Startime, a popular dance school in the 1950s, while Ronnie became fascinated with Frankie Lymon and the Teens. In 1957, Ronnie formed a group which became known as Ronettes. Consisting of Ronnie, her sister Estelle, and their cousins ​​Nedra, Diane, and Elaine, the five girls learned how to perfect their harmony first at their grandmother's house, and they became proficient in songs such as "Goodnight Sweetheart" and "Red Red Robin ". By imitating Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, the girls added their male cousin Ira to the group and sign up for an amateur show Wednesday night at the Apollo Theater, which is run by a friend of Ronnie and mother Estelle. The show begins as a disaster; when the band house started playing Frankie Lymon's "Why Do Fools Fall in Love", Ira did not sing a word, so Ronnie took over. "I stepped out on stage, singing as loud as I could," Ronnie then recalled. "When I finally heard some scattered hands of applause, I sang louder, bringing a little more applause, that's what I needed."
Maps The Ronettes
Colpix Records and The Peppermint Lounge (1961-1963)
After their night at Apollo, Ira, Elaine, and Diane left the group. After re-naming the group to "Ronnie and the Relatives", Ronnie, Estelle, and Nedra began taking singing lessons two afternoons per week. Appeared in the bar mitzvah and local hops, they met Phil Halikus, who introduced them to Colpix Records producer Stu Phillips. According to Ronnie, Phillips played the piano while the women auditioned for him, singing "What's So Sweet About Sweet Sixteen". The audition was successful, and the group was taken to the studio in June 1961 and recorded four songs: "I Want Boys", "What Sweet About Sixteen", "I'll Stop When I'm In Front", and "My Guiding Angel ". Colpix released "I Want a Boy" in August 1961 and "I'm Gonna Quit While I'm Ahead" in January 1962, the first single was credited to Ronnie and Kerabat.
While both singles failed to make the chart on the Billboard Top 100, destiny intervened in furthering the group's success. A case of coincidence about the wrong identity caused Ronnie and Relatives to make their debut - as a dancer rather than as a singing acting - in The New York City's The Peppermint Lounge in 1961. It was the culmination of Twist's madness, and underage Nedra and Ronnie in disguise to sign in. The girls' mothers showed them how to wear makeup and fix their hair to look at least 23. When they arrived outside the club, the manager thought Ronnie, Estelle, and Nedra for the trio should dance behind the house band Joey Dee and Starliters for that night. He leads them and puts them onstage to perform at their place. During the show, Starliter David Brigati even handed the mic to Ronnie when he started singing Ray Charles's song "What'd I Say". Immediately afterwards, Ronnie and Kerabat become permanent acts at The Peppermint Lounge, each earning $ 10 a night for The Twist dancing and usually singing at some point in the show.
Ronnie and Relatives soon became "The Ronettes". Colpix published the first two singles credited to Ronettes, "Silhouettes" and a re-issue of "I'm Gonna Quit While I'm Ahead", on the May label in April and June 1962, respectively. Both singles failed to make the chart. Later that year, they were flown to Miami to open the Florida branch of The Peppermint Lounge. After their performance in the Miami gala, radio host Murray the K came backstage and introduced himself to them. She asked the women to start appearing on her show at The Brooklyn Fox in New York. They agreed, taking the stage of Fox in 1962 and completing the transition from Murray the K's "Dancing Girls", to back-up singing for other acts, to appear as Ronettes before the end of the year. It was at this time that women evolved with their iconic looks, wearing excessive eye makeup while teasing their hair with unlikely proportions. "We'll look very wild by the time we step out," Ronnie said later, "and the kids love it." Label May Colpix released the last single by Ronettes in March 1963. When "Good Girls" failed to chart, the women decided to look elsewhere for studio work.
In early 1963, bored with Colpix Records and the lack of success of the group, Estelle's sister placed a phone call to producer Phil Spector and informed him that Ronettes wanted to audition for her. Spector agrees and meets women soon after at Mira Sound Studios in New York City. Later, Spector told Ronnie that he had seen them at The Brooklyn Fox several times and was impressed with their performance. During the audition, Spector was sitting on the piano, and when the group started singing "Why Do Fools Fall in Love", he suddenly jumped from his seat and shouted: "That's it! That's it! That's the voice I've been looking for!"
After a successful audition, Spector decides to sign the group. Initially, he wanted to sign Ronnie as a solo act, until his mother told him whether he signed Ronettes as a group or no deal. She agreed to sign the group and instructed Ronnie's mother to inform Colpix Records that the women had "given up" on the show business so the studio would release their contract. In March 1963, the group was officially signed into Philles Spector Records.
The first song Ronettes trained and recorded with Phil Spector was written by Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich called "Why Not They Let Us Fall In Love". They took the women to California to make the recording, but, once finished, Spector refused to let go. They recorded more songs for Spector, including cover of "The Twist", "The Wah Watusi" (lead vocals by Nedra), "Mashed Potato Time", and "Hot Pastrami". These four songs were released, but credited to The Crystals on their 1963 Philes LP The Crystals Sing Their Greatest Hits, Volume 1 .
"Be My Baby"
After being denied the release of their song as well as having credits for the next four recordings they went to another group, Ronettes went to work on Phil Spector/Jeff Barry/Ellie Greenwich's song "Be My Baby". Ronettes recorded "Be My Baby" in July 1963, and released in August. "Be My Baby" is a successful record for Ronettes. The radio stations played songs throughout the fall of 1963, and Ronettes was invited to tour the country with Dick Clark on a "Caravan of Stars" tour. "Be My Baby" inspired a collection of Ronettes fans, including Brian Wilson from The Beach Boys, who clearly meant "Do not Worry Baby" in honor of the group. In the fall of that year, it was a top 10 hit and peaked at # 2 on Billboard Top 100. Our lives reversed, "Ronnie later recalled. "Everything I've ever dreamed of finally comes true."
"Be My Baby" is also famous for being the first recording by Cher, featuring back-up vocals with Estelle, Nedra, and Sonny Bono. As Bono's girlfriend, who worked for Phil Spector at the time, Cher was asked to join the back-up singer when one did not show up. "Be My Baby" is the first recording I ever sang, "Cher wrote."... I went out and stood in front of this great speaker and sang 'be me, be my baby' with Ronettes and all the other singers. "After" Be My Baby ", Cher became a permanent back-up singer on recordings by Ronettes, as well as other Phil Spector songs produced until" You're Losing That Feelings of Love ". Baby, I Love You Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector
The three Ronettes, along with every other artist signed with Phil Spector in 1963, are shown in Christmas LP
In his desire for absolute perfection on the album, Spector encourages his artist to solidify their lyrics as strongly as they can. "The Christmas album is one where I think I've lost it mentally." Nedra then said. "I hear the parts, I swear I'll put them down, but they say they're not on the cassette."
The album was released on the day President Kennedy was assassinated. It was not successful on early releases but has since become much more popular. It was re-released by Apple Records in 1972 and reached Number 6 on Billboard's list? Christmas album that year. English Tour," Breakin 'Up ", and" Do I Love You? "
In January 1964, Ronettes went for their first tour in England, where they made a strong impact right from the start. "We must be quite visible in Heathrow's waiting room," Ronnie Spector later recalled, "three black American girls sitting with their feet all crossing in the same way, our three equally large hairstyles, piling our heads above our heads. When our young chaperon finally appeared, he was all smiling. "
On their first night in England, the women attended a party at Tony Hall's house where they met the Beatles. After a brief romance, Ronnie and John Lennon remained friends until Lennon's death. Estelle and George Harrison also spent time together. But for Ronnie, one of the greatest sensations is meeting Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, which is an opening for Ronettes on their UK tour. The feeling was shared by Richards, who writes about his relationship with Ronnie: "The first time I went to heaven was when I woke up with Ronnie (then Spector!) Bennett fell asleep with a smile on his face We are still children, can not be better than that. "
When the women returned home from their UK tour, they immediately returned to the studio to record "Keep on Dancing" and "Girls Can Tell", two songs written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector. The group record "Keep on Dancing" is notorious for featuring Ronnie and Nedra singing together, but Spector refused to release the single. Around this time, Kristal also recorded a version of "Girls Can Tell", which was also never released.
"(Best Part of) Breakin 'Up" was later recorded by Ronettes. According to Ronnie, Spector is very enthusiastic about the song. "When Phil loves a song as much as he loves' (Best Part of) Breakin 'Up,'" he then wrote, "he can do it for days without ever getting tired." Released in April 1964, the song did not go as well as the previous two group singles, although it did briefly break into Top 40 Billboard. In June 1964, the following single group, "Do I Love You? ", Released, also entered into the Top 40, beating the previous single with five positions. This song is best known for its powerful instrumental opening, accompanied by snapping fingers and clapping.
"Walking in the Rain"
When the British Invasion took full force in the American music scene in 1964, Ronettes was one of several groups able to maintain their relevance. When they toured England in January 1964, they were asked by John Lennon to accompany The Beatles on a flight to America on February 7, 1964, but Spector refused them to do so. By contrast, throughout 1964, the group appeared on many television shows such as Shindig! , American Bandstand , Hullabaloo and English TV show Ready, Steady, Go! As the popularity of other groups such as The Crystals, The Marvelettes, and The Angels began to wane, the Ronettes continued to grow.
In the summer of 1964, Ronnie entered the studio to record his superiority on the next single, "Walking in the Rain". He later recalled that the authors - Phil Spector, Barry Mann, and Cynthia Weil - still adjusted the lyrics until he recorded them. Ronnie remembered Phil put the headphones on him and told him to listen carefully. "Everything is quiet," he then wrote, "Then suddenly I heard a low roar, like there was thunder coming from every corner of the room." The thunder was used for the introduction and displayed prominently throughout the rest of the song, the only one Ronnie recorded in one shot. "Walking in the Rain" became the most successful group since "Be My Baby" (released over the year before) and reached # 23 on Billboard Hot 100.
After the successful release of "Walking in the Rain", Philles Records released the group's first studio album, Presenting the Amazing Ronettes featuring Veronica , at the end of 1964. The album proved to be a bit successful, peaking at # 96 on the chart Billboard , but it is well known for being the first proof of Phil Spector who publicly promoted Veronica's vocalist "Ronnie" Bennett over Estelle Bennett and Nedra Talley. Every single Ronettes after this is called the group as "Ronettes featuring Veronica" on the record label.
Decrease in popularity
After the success of "Walking in the Rain", the popularity of Ronettes clearly began to diminish. In February 1965, Philles Records released their next single, "Born to Be Together", which reached number 52 on Billboard 100. Over the next year, Ronettes recorded a catalog of songs that, upon completion, refused Phil Spector to release it. Many have associated this with his insecurity and his love for Ronnie. As group popularity increases, their relationship deepens, and soon they live together. Spector allegedly did not want Ronettes to be too popular, in fear they would one day be more brilliant than him, perhaps explaining why he did not release Ronettes footage that were contractually obliged to make it. This made it possible for the Motown Supremes group to disrupt them to become the most popular women's group at the time.
Some of the recorded but unreleased songs include: "Heaven", "Everything Under the Sun", and "I Want Me Never See The Sun Shines". All three have been covered by, among others, Shangri-Las, Supremes, and Ike & amp; Tina Turner. Unfortunately, Spector's choice is not to release the song Spector/Jeff Barry/Ellie Greenwich's "Chapel of Love", originally recorded by Ronettes in early 1964. By the time their version was finally released, The Dixie Cups had achieved fame for it.. "We thought this was a remarkable record so we begged [Phil Spector] to put it out," Ronnie Spector later wrote. "Then the Dixie Cups version comes out, and it's a huge success! It's so sad."
In June 1965, Ronettes' next single, "Is This What I Get For Loving You?", Was released, becoming a small hit, reaching # 75 on Billboard 100. However, the song proved popular for TV appearances on Hullabaloo , Hollywood A Go-Go , and Shivaree . Ronettes failed to reach another top 10 hit, while Supremes scored his fifth consecutive # 1 song with "Back in My Arms Again". Some people attribute their decline in popularity partially to Phil Spector's unflattering promotion of Ronettes, perhaps from the insecurity that comes from his intimate relationship with Ronnie.
There is an internal problem in the group as well. "You also have to remember that Nedra and Estelle are standing in the background while I have to bask in the spotlight," Ronnie wrote later. "I'm a person who flies to California and sings leads in all our records, I'm a broadcaster who wants to talk to, and I'm the only producer we fall in love with, which means I get preferential treatment in all other ways [enough understandable] drive them crazy. "" I hate the business side of 'dog-eat-dogs', "Nedra Talley later commented. "I hate pushing for the next record and the feeling of failure if we do not get it.Any constant demand on us to produce that I think is unfair. Nedra's humiliation for show business sparked her choice to marry Scott Ross.
Opening for The Beatles
After "Is This What I Get For Loving You?" released in June 1965, more than a year passed before the next single Ronettes was released. "I Can Hear Music", written by Phil Spector/Jeff Barry/Ellie Greenwich and produced by Barry, was issued in October 1966, barely making it into Billboard 100 by peaking at number 100 for exactly one weeks before falling off the charts. The song was covered by Beach Boys in 1969 with much greater success.
After "Be My Baby", Ronettes became headliners at several Murray the K Holiday Shows in NYC and did a tour package in the US and UK. In late 1965, even without a recent hit, the group continued to make appearances in popular nightclubs and on television shows, the grace of music magazine covers, and featured on The Big TNT Show, produced by Phil Spector as concerts, and was filmed and released as a TV movie.
In August 1966, Ronettes teamed up with The Beatles to tour 14 cities across America. Phil Spector became very angry when Ronnie expressed a desire to accompany Estelle and Nedra on a tour that Ronnie was forced to remain in California with him while Elaine's female cousin, previously in the group, filled the slot on the tour, while Nedra assumed the lead vocals on stage. An image published in the November 1966 edition of Ebony Magazine shows the singing of Nedra Talley, while Estelle and Elaine stand behind the singing harmony.
Disconnect
After their tour with the Beatles ended, and "I Can Hear Music" failed to make an impact, Ronettes left for a tour in Germany in early 1967, after which they agreed to part and separate. Soon after, Nedra Talley marries his girlfriend, Scott Ross, Ronnie Bennett marries Phil Spector, and Estelle Bennett settles with Joe Dong, an old boyfriend.
According to his report, Phil Spector made Ronnie a close prisoner in their 23-room home in California. He took her to the studio only once during their marriage. During this session, which took place in early 1969 at A & amp; M Records, he notes "You Came, You Saw, You Conquered!" The song was released in March 1969, failing to make an impact on the radio station, which now plays music in the style of Janis Joplin and Grace Slick. Then in 1969, Ronnie and Estelle were invited to the studio by Jimi Hendrix to record the background vocals on "Earth Blues". Their work on the song generated Ronettes credits at LP Rainbow Bridge.
The Ronettes is momentarily back
Ronnie left Phil on June 12, 1972. The couple's divorce was settled two years later in 1974. When he tried to restore his career, he decided to reform Ronettes. Nedra is not interested in returning to the group, and Estelle mentally can no longer handle the burden because of her struggle with mental illness. Ronnie subsequently replaced them with Chip Fields (mother of The Facts of Life and Living Single star Kim Fields) and Denise Edwards. Ronnie, Chip and Denise recorded several songs for Buddhist Records in the mid-1970s, one of which was the cover of "I Wish I Never Saw Sun Shine", a song Ronnie first performed in 1965, though Phil Spector refused. to release it. The work on Buddhist Records did not work, although the group did some tours in the 1970s. By the end of the decade, Ronnie had abandoned the idea of ​​continuing Ronettes and starting his solo career.
Events later
In 1988, the original Ronettes sued Phil Spector for not paying royalties. In 2001, a New York court announced a ruling in favor of Ronettes, ordering Spector to pay $ 3,000,000 in royalty back. The verdict was annulled by the Court of Appeal in 2002 and returned to the Supreme Court. The final result makes Spector pay a valuation of more than 1.5 million dollars to Ronettes.
In 2009, Estelle died of colon cancer at age 67 in Englewood, New Jersey.
Awards and acknowledgments
Ronettes won a Grammy Award in 1965 for "Walking in the Rain". They were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for "Be My Baby" in 1999. Ronettes was also inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004 and the People's Hall of Rock and Roll Legends in 2010. The influence of Ronettes on music is significant. In addition to Brian Wilson from Beach Boys, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen have called Ronnie Bennett his influence. Ronettes fashion style imitated by British musician Amy Winehouse.
It was reported that Phil Spector, in his capacity as a member of the Board of Governors, rejected Ronettes (and Darlene Love) who were nominated for inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, even though they had been eligible for considerable time. The alleged reason included a fierce divorce from Ronnie and Spector, in addition to a group that had failed to thwart Spector for royalty back. Spector claims that, in addition to Ronnie, other group members do not appear in their records, and that they do not make the necessary contribution to the induction. While Spector is awaiting trial on murder charges and comes out on bail of $ 1 million, Ronettes was finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 12, 2007, at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Keith Richards, an old fan, inaugurated the trio. Ronnie Bennett (Spector) and Nedra Talley performed "Baby, I Love You", "Walking in the Rain" and "Be My Baby". Estelle Bennett was present to receive the award, but not good enough to perform, so Tricia Scotti (regular backup singer with Ronnie) took the place behind the microphone.
Discography
Studio albums
- 1964: Bringing Outstanding Ronettes Showing Veronica
Reference pop
- Ronnette is the name of one of the street characters inspired by a girl group in the Little Shop of Horrors musicals.
- Ronnie Spector accompanies Eddie Money on hit 1986 hit "Take Me Home Tonight". She sings the title line of "Be My Baby" and also the name-checked in the lyrics of the song.
- In an interview, the Danish band Raveonettes stated that their name was "a complete direct reference to Ronettes and Buddy Holly Rave On! ." They invited Ronnie Spector to sing with them on their third album, Pretty in Black , on a song called "Ode to L.A."
References
Source
- Spector, Ronnie (2004). Be My Baby: How I survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, or My Life as an Extraordinary Ronette . New York: New American Library. ISBNÃ, 0-451-41153-6.
External links
- Ronettes in Curlie (based on DMOZ)
- Ronettes at AllMusic
- "Ronettes" Vocal Group Hall of Fame Page
- The Benefits of Ronette Limited by Contract 1963, New York Law Journal, October 21, 2002
- Sad Songs for Ronettes: Court Reverses Royalty Rights
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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