Ronnie Spector dies

completemusicupdate.com:

Ronettes leader Ronnie Spector has died, following a recent cancer diagnosis. She was 78.“Ronnie lived her life with a twinkle in her eye, a spunky attitude, a wicked sense of humour and a smile on her face”, her family said in a statement. “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”.Born Veronica Bennett, Spector formed what would become The Ronettes with her sister Estelle and their cousin Nedra Talley in 1957.

They released their first single – initially as Ronnie And The Relatives – in the early 60s through Colpix Records.Frustrated with their lack of success with Colpix, the group auditioned for producer Phil Spector, who agreed to sign them to his own Philles Records label.

That didn’t result in immediate success either, but in 1963 they scored their first hit with ‘Be My Baby’.They quickly followed up on that with ‘Baby, I Love You’, and in early 1964 toured the UK, where their opening act was The Rolling Stones.