Ronnie Spector Dead at 78

Ronnie Spector, born Veronica Yvette Bennett who is best known for fronting the all-girl group the Ronettes, as well as her marriage to the late Phil Spector has died. Spector’s death is being reported as succumbing to cancer. She was 78 years old.

Spector formed the Ronettes with older sister Estelle Bennet and cousin Nedra Talley. They had a string of hits in the 1960s including “Be My Baby” (1963), “Baby, I Love You” (1963), “The Best Part of Breakin’ Up” (1964), and “Walking in the Rain” (1964). In 1968, she married Phil Spector, who had been producing the majority of the Ronettes work. The two split in 1972.

Following 1964, she focused on a solo career, but for a while faded in popularity. She had a resurgence in 1986 when she sang on Eddie Money’s hit song Take Me Home Tonight.

She is survived her husband, Jonathan Greenfield, and two sons, Jason and Austin.

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