Nedra Talley Ross, the last surviving member of the 1960s pop band the Ronettes, has died aged 80.
Talley Ross, who was one part of the band with her cousins Ronnie Spector and Estelle Bennett, died at home on Sunday morning, her daughter Nedra K Ross announced on social media.
“At approximately 8:30 this morning our mother Nedra Talley Ross went home to be with the Lord,” she wrote. “She was safe in her own bed at home with her family close, knowing she was loved. Thank you Lord.”
Born in Manhattan in 1946, Talley Ross first began performing with her cousins Ronnie (born Veronica Bennett) and Estelle when they were teenagers. Ronnie formed the Ronettes in 1957. They earned a residency at a local club and a record deal, but early singles failed to chart.
Their careers took off in 1963 after Estelle cold-called the office of producer Phil Spector, who recently had a run of huge hits. According to Ronnie Spector’s memoir, when the trio launched into a version of Frankie Lymon’s Why Do Fools Fall In Love, Phil Spector jumped from his piano and exclaimed, “That’s the voice I’ve been looking for!”
Though the Ronettes released just one studio album, they were both popular and enduring. Their hits included their recording of Be My Baby, Walking in the Rain, Baby, I Love You and (The Best Part of) Breakin’ Up. Be My Baby was famously used in many films including Mean Streets and Dirty Dancing; the songwriters’ agency BMI once calculated that Be My Baby had been played in 3.9m feature presentations on radio and television since 1963, or “the equivalent of 17 years back to back”.
The Ronettes joined the Beatles on their final world tour in 1966, while Rolling Stones supported them on a Ronettes tour of the UK. “They could sing all their way right through a wall of sound,” Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards later said. “They didn’t need anything. They touched my heart right there and then and they touch it still.”
The Ronettes split in 1967. “I hated the ‘dog-eat-dog’ side of show-business,” Talley Ross later reflected. “I hated pushing for the next record and the feeling of failure if we didn’t get it. There was a continual demand on us to produce that I thought was unfair. My personality didn’t like that.”
Spector and Ronnie married in 1968 but Ronnie filed for divorce in 1974 after years of abuse. The Ronettes launched a long legal battle to sue Spector over unpaid royalties, revealing in New York’s State court of appeals in 2002 that they had earned less than $15,000 in royalties from their hits. But the judges found the Ronettes’ 1963 contract gave Spector unconditional rights to the recordings. Spector murdered the actor Lana Clarkson in 2003 and died in prison in 2021 while serving 19 years to life.
Talley Ross’ death was also confirmed in a statement on the Ronettes’ official social media on Sunday.
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“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Nedra Talley Ross’ passing. She was a light to those who knew and loved her,” the message read.
“As a founding member of The Ronettes, along with her beloved cousins Ronnie and Estelle, Nedra’s voice, style and spirit helped define a sound that would change music. Her contribution to the group’s story and their defining influence will live forever.
“Rest peacefully, dear Nedra. Thanks for the magic.”
After the Ronettes, Talley Ross went on to work as a solo musician. The Ronettes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.
Spector died from cancer aged 78 in 2022, while Bennett died aged 67 in 2009.