Nedra Talley Ross, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and the last surviving member of the ’60s-era pop group The Ronettes has died, according to a post on the group’s Facebook page. She was 80.
“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 post began. “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…”
Born Nedra Yvonne Talley, she and her cousins Veronica “Ronnie” Bennett and Estelle Bennett were raised in Spanish Harlem, where they sang at Bar Mitzvahs and school dances as The Darling Sisters.
They teamed up with producer Phil Spector in 1963 and were renamed The Ronettes. The following year, the group released its only studio album, Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica. During that time, the Rolling Stones opened for the Ronettes when they toured the UK. Two years later, the Ronettes opened for the Beatles in the U.S. They broke up shortly thereafter.
Nedra then married her boyfriend Scott Ross and changed her name to Nedra Talley Ross. Ronnie married Phil Spector and became Ronnie Spector.
The Ronettes’ best-known song, “Be My Baby,” spent three weeks at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963. The song — which the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson famously has said is “the greatest record ever produced” — was co-written by Spector, whose intense “Wall of Sound” production style is personified by the track.
It wasn’t just Wilson who was a fan.
Martin Scorsese made powerful use of the tune as the opening credits scene of his breakout film, Mean Streets. The director also used the group’s version of “Frosty the Snowman” in Goodfellas.
Their songs have been featured in close to 100 movies and TV shows, including Quadrophenia, Twist + Shout, Moonlighting, Dirty Dancing, The Wonder Years, Nine Months, How I Met Your Mother, Fred Claus, The Wrecking Crew!, Glee, The Simpsons, Pretty Little Liars, Bridget Jones’s Baby, Billions, Industry, Barbarian, Priscilla, The Bear and many more.
“Be My Baby” was by the far the Ronettes’ biggest hit. None of their other singles reached the top 20, though 1964’s “Walking in the Rain” also is recognized as a classic.
After breaking out with “Be My Baby,” the group had a moderate follow-up hit with “Baby, I Love You.” A couple of minor hits later, “Walking in the Rain” hit No. 23 in late 1964. All seven of their Hot 100 singles were produced by Phil Spector. Most of those songs — including “(Best Part of) Breaking Up” and “Do I Love You?” — were on the late-1964 LP … Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica, which peaked at No. 96 and would be their only charting album.
The Ronettes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, three years after they joined the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
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