History Music / RonnieSpector

* OneOfUs: Ronnie is a fan of ''Series/{{Jeopardy}}'' and [[https://twitter.com/RonnieSpectorGS/status/1444007827169808413 expressed amusement on social media]] when she was a question subject on a October 2021 episode.

* DoNotCallMePaul: Even though she was credited as "Veronica Bennett" during her time with The Ronettes, do not call her that. She is now "Ronnie Spector" and doesn't like to acknowledge her birth/maiden name. When a fan asked why she continues to use the name despite all the terrible things Phil Spector did to her during a 2019 Q&A, Ronnie answered that it's a combination of the public widely knowing her by that name and that she thinks Veronica Bennett is "a shitty name".

* EarWorm:
** ''"Be my, be my little baby.."''
** ''"Ring-a-ling-a-ling, ding-dong-ding"''

As The Ronettes rose to fame, Ronnie became romantically involved with Phil Spector, in which he began exerting tight control over her career and life in general. He intentionally began trying to suppress The Ronettes' popularity so he could continue keep Ronnie under his thumb. He also prevented her from performing with The Ronettes during many of their concerts with The Beatles, instead having her cousin [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute Elaine Mayes]] perform in her place. After The Ronettes broke up, she and Spector married in 1968. Ronnie claims to have endured extreme levels of abuse and psychological torment from Spector during their marriage. Spector kept her locked up as a prisoner in his mansion for years, confiscating her shoes and surrounding the house with barbed wire and guard dogs so she couldn't leave. He made her care for multiple foster children that he adopted without her permission, prevented her from performing and sometimes refused to feed her. He also allegedly once took her down to the basement, where he [[AxCrazy showed her a golden coffin with a glass door and vowed to kill her and display her corpse to the public if she ever tried to leave him]]. Fearing for her life, she left Spector in 1972 by [[GreatEscape literally running away barefoot with nothing but the clothes on her back.]] Their divorce was finalized in 1974, though Spector continued to make her life difficult all the way until he died in 2020.

* EpicRiff: Her cover of "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" is underscored by an awesome saxophone riff courtesy of Clarence Clemons of the E Street Band.

* CoverAlbum: ''English Heart'' is Ronnie covering 1960s [[TheBritishInvasion British Invasion]] songs.

* ''English Heart'', 2014

** She's maintained relationships with some of the younger musicians who cite her as an influence and sometimes performs covers of their songs.

Widely considered to be one of the greatest pop singers of all time, to describe Ronnie Spector as "influential" would be an understatement. Even if you've never heard of her until now, we can almost guarantee that at least one of your favorite musicians has been influenced by her: Music/TheBeatles, Music/TheBeachBoys, Music/DavidBowie, Music/BillyJoel and Music/AmyWinehouse are not even scratching the surface. "Be My Baby" is considered to be a milestone record in rock and roll history and perhaps the greatest pop song of all time. Music/BrianWilson is famously obsessed with the song and has made emulating its sound his life's ambition. Spector's appearance and general image was widely copied by subsequent girl groups and fictional portrayals of female singers, from the 1960s to the present day. Her 1990 memoir "Be My Baby" is also widely considered to be one of the greatest rock memoirs and essential reading for anyone interested in 1960s music history and the creative processes behind it. It is also currently being adapted into a biopic. Spector was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004 and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, all as a member of The Ronettes.

As The Ronettes rose to fame, Ronnie became romantically involved with Phil Spector, in which he began exerting tight control over her career and life in general. He intentionally began trying to suppress The Ronettes' popularity and intentionally let Music/TheSupremes steal the spotlight from them so he could continue keep Ronnie under his thumb. He also prevented her from performing with The Ronettes during many of their concerts with The Beatles, instead having her cousin [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute Elaine Mayes]] perform in her place. After The Ronettes broke up, she and Spector married in 1968. Ronnie claims to have endured extreme levels of abuse and psychological torment from Spector during their marriage. Spector kept her locked up as a prisoner in his mansion for years, confiscating her shoes and surrounding the house with barbed wire and guard dogs so she couldn't leave. He made her care for multiple foster children that he adopted without her permission, prevented her from performing and sometimes refused to feed her. He also allegedly once took her down to the basement, where he [[AxCrazy showed her a golden coffin with a glass door and vowed to kill her and display her corpse to the public if she ever tried to leave him]]. Fearing for her life, she left Spector in 1972 by [[GreatEscape literally running away barefoot with nothing but the clothes on her back.]] Their divorce was finalized in 1974, though Spector continues to make her life difficult to this day.

Ronnie Spector then plotted her return to the music industry. She reformed The Ronettes with two different backup singers, but the project was short lived and unsuccessful. She then recorded a duet with Southside Johnny and the Ashbury Dukes, then spent some time performing with both them and [[Music/BruceSpringsteen The E Street Band]]. Spector made multiple other attempts to launch a solo career that ultimately never gained traction due to her largely being perceived as an "oldies" act. She released her first solo album, ''Siren'', in 1980. After it garnered little attention, Spector stepped away from music. She finally received her CareerResurrection in 1986 by performing as a featured vocalist on Music/EddieMoney's smash hit "Take Me Home Tonight". In the wake of this newfound success, Spector released her second solo album ''Unfinished Business'' in 1987. While it earned positive reviews, it wasn't a commercial success. However, interest in Spector as a legacy artist proved to be enduring, as her work with The Ronettes received newfound attention. In light of this, she released her memoirs "Be My Baby" in 1990. At the same time, she entered a protracted legal fight with Phil Spector for her share of The Ronettes' royalties. After a decade in court, she eventually won $1.5 million to be split three ways among her, Estelle and Nedra. Since then she has remained in the public eye as both a performer and a public speaker, while occasionally recording new music and working as a session musician. She can frequently be seen performing during the Holidays, both due to the enduring popularity of The Ronettes' Christmas recordings and because they are the only Ronettes songs she can safely perform without having to deal with Phil Spector coming back out of the woodwork to give her grief.

Widely considered to be one of the greatest pop singers of all time, to describe Ronnie Spector as "influential" would be an understatement. Even if you've never heard of her until now, we can almost guarantee that she helped inspire at least one of your favorite musicians: Music/TheBeatles, Music/TheBeachBoys, Music/DavidBowie, Music/BillyJoel and Music/AmyWinehouse are not even scratching the surface. "Be My Baby" is considered to be a masterpiece, a milestone record in rock and roll history and perhaps the greatest pop song of all time. Music/BrianWilson is famously obsessed with the song and has made emulating its sound his life's ambition. Spector's appearance and general image was widely copied by subsequent girl groups and fictional portrayals of female singers, from the 1960s to the present day. Her 1990 memoir "Be My Baby" is also widely considered to be one of the greatest rock memoirs ever written and essential reading for anyone interested in 1960s music history and the creative processes behind it. It is also currently being adapted into a biopic. Spector was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004 and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, all as a member of The Ronettes.

* TheAlcoholic: During her marriage to Phil Spector she began drinking heavily and then started attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings as a means to get out of the mansion he kept her locked up in. She has not clarified whether or not she was ever a true alcoholic.
* BeehiveHairdo: One of the first to popularize it with her distinctive Beehive hairstyle in the early 1960s.

* CoolOldLady: Well into elderly age, Spector continues to exude a youthful energy and rock and roll attitude that defies her years. To this day she normally makes public appearances wearing black leather jackets, push-up bras, skintight pants, bright red lipstick, BigHair and CoolShades.

* DomesticAbuse: The horrible abuse and torture that Phil Spector put her through is almost the stuff of legend today and may have helped to put him away for Lana Clarkson's murder in 2003.

* GreatEscape: Claims that she had to orchestrate one to escape Phil Spector. He had her locked up so tight in his mansion that she had to plan her escape with her mother for over three days. Once she had an opening and knew her mother was waiting in a running car, she ran away from the mansion barefoot with nothing but the clothes on her back.

* OlderThanTheyLook: As noted in CoolOldLady above, Spector exudes a youthful energy and rock and roll attitude that defies her age. Upon seeing her, you'd be forgiven for not realizing that she is almost 80 and instead thinking she's 10-15 years younger than she actually is.
** To that point, she was ''73 years old'' when the page photo was taken. Would you have guessed that if we hadn't pointed it out?

* YouShouldHaveDiedInstead: After Phil Spector went down for Lana Clarkson's murder, Ronnie Spector has stated her belief that she would have died had she not escaped him when she did and has wondered why he never tried to come after her and murder her.

As The Ronettes rose to fame, Ronnie became romantically involved with Phil Spector, in which he began exerting tight control over her career and life in general. He intentionally began trying to suppress The Ronettes' popularity and intentionally let Music/TheSupremes steal the spotlight from them so he could continue keep Ronnie under his thumb. He also prevented her from performing with The Ronettes during many of their concerts with The Beatles, instead having her cousin [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute Elaine Mayes]] perform in her place. After The Ronettes broke up, she and Spector married in 1968. Ronnie claims to have endured extreme levels of abuse and psychological torment from Spector during their marriage. Spector kept her locked up as a prisoner in his mansion for years, confiscating her shoes and surrounding the house with barbed wire and guard dogs so she couldn't leave. He made her care for multiple foster children that he adopted without her permission, prevented her from performing and sometimes refused to feed her. He also allegedly once took her down to the basement, [[AxCrazy showed her a golden coffin with a glass door and vowed to kill her and display her corpse to the public if she ever tried to leave him]]. Fearing for her life, she left Spector in 1972 by [[GreatEscape literally running away barefoot with nothing but the clothes on her back.]] Their divorce was finalized in 1974, though Spector continues to make her life difficult to this day.

As The Ronettes rose to fame, Ronnie became romantically involved with Phil Spector, in which he began exerting tight control over her career and life in general. He intentionally began trying to suppress The Ronettes' popularity and intentionally let Music/TheSupremes steal the spotlight from them so he could continue keep Ronnie under his thumb. He also prevented her from performing with The Ronettes during many of their concerts with The Beatles, instead having her cousin [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute Elaine Mayes]] perform in her place. After The Ronettes broke up, she and Spector married in 1968. Ronnie claims to have endured extreme levels of abuse and psychological torment from Spector during their marriage. Spector kept her locked up as a prisoner in his mansion for years, confiscating her shoes and surrounding the house with barbed wire and guard dogs so she couldn't leave. He made her care for multiple foster children that he adopted without her permission, prevented her from performing and sometimes refused to feed her. He also allegedly once took her down to the basement, [[AxCrazy showed her a golden coffin with a glass door and vowed to kill her and display her corpse to the public if she ever tried to leave]]. Fearing for her life, she left Spector in 1972 by [[GreatEscape literally running away barefoot with nothing but the clothes on her back.]] Their divorce was finalized in 1974, though Spector continues to make her life difficult to this day.

-> ''"The people need to feel the music. That's what's so important, and that's what is missing. You have to let the audience feel you, you have to let them feel the love, feel the rock 'n' roll, feel the energy."''

Ronnie Spector (Born Veronica Yvette Bennett on August 10, 1943) is an American singer who is best known for being a member of the 1960s GirlGroup The Ronettes, which she fronted with her older sister Estelle Bennett and cousin Nedra Talley singing backup.

* BigHair: One of the first to popularize it with her distinctive Beehive hairstyle in the early 1960s.

Widely considered to be one of the greatest pop singers of all time, to describe Ronnie Spector as "influential" would be an understatement. Music/TheBeatles, Music/TheBeachBoys and Music/AmyWinehouse are not even scratching the surface of the number of popular musicians who cite her as an inspiration. "Be My Baby" is considered to be a masterpiece, a milestone record in rock and roll history and perhaps the greatest pop song of all time. Music/BrianWilson is famously obsessed with the song and has made emulating its sound his life's ambition. Spector's appearance and general image was widely copied by subsequent girl groups and fictional portrayals of female singers, from the 1960s to the present day. Her 1990 memoir "Be My Baby" is also widely considered to be one of the greatest rock memoirs ever written and essential reading for anyone interested in 1960s music history and the creative processes behind it. It is also currently being adapted into a biopic. Spector was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004 and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, all as a member of The Ronettes.

Ronnie Spector then tried to pursue a solo career. First she released "You Came, You Saw, You Conquered" in 1969, which was credited as a Ronettes record. It didn't garner much attention. After completing Music/GeorgeHarrison's "All Things Must Pass" in 1970, Phil Spector focused on trying to relaunch Ronnie's music career as a solo artist. He had her record the Harrison-penned single "Try Some, Buy Some", which was released as a single in 1971. It also failed, with music critics claiming that Ronnie's vocals didn't fit Harrison's musicianship.

!!Be My Tropes:

** Similarly, The Ronettes have occasionally been performed

-->''"Just like Ronnie sang!"''

* Ear Worm:

* ApprovalOfGod: Spector has a very favorable opinion of Music/AmyWinehouse. Not only has she been covering Winehouse's songs in her concerts for over a decade, but she continues to be a friend of Winehouse's family and contributed to her biographical documentary ''[[Film/Amy2015 Amy]]''.

* BreakupBreakout: Ronnie Spector has carried the torch of The Ronettes' legacy entirely on her own for 50 years, largely because the other two members left public life completely following the group's breakup.

* CoveredUp: "I Can Hear Music" was originally a Ronettes song, released in 1966. It didn't become a hit until Music/TheBeachBoys covered it in 1969, and now their version is the one that everyone remembers.

* FollowTheLeader:
** To say that Music/AmyWinehouse idolized Ronnie Spector is a major understatement. Not only was Spector Winehouse's main musical influence, but her beehive hairdo, distinct makeup and clothing were all done to mimic Spector's appearance.
** Music/BrianWilson developed a legendary obsession with "Be My Baby" starting with the first time he heard it on the radio in 1963. Claiming to have listened to the song thousands of times, emulating its sound became his life's purpose and he is known to listen to it many times in a row on a daily basis. Music/TheBeachBoys' "Don't Worry Baby" was meant to be an AnswerSong to "Be My Baby".
* FountainOfExpies: Ronnie Spector codified the image of a female teen pop singer in the 1960s. Her look, style and attitude was widely copied by subsequent acts and many fictional characters in the media. Female singers to this day continue to co-opt Spector's image.

* {{Moe}}: [[https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/american-singer-ronnie-spector-formerly-lead-singer-of-the-ronettes-picture-id636662133?k=6&m=636662133&s=612x612&w=0&h=ADNJvgIOPEngjv6lRKeObz8AijIKFpqj6b02tmZw_hs= Young Ronnie Spector]] during her Ronettes years was an absolute cutie who exuded this trope in spades. It helps to make her an even bigger [[TheWoobie Woobie]] when you learn about the horrendous kinds of abuse and torture Phil Spector put her through.

* ShortLivedBigImpact: The Ronettes only released one studio album, performed a limited amount of concerts and broke up four years after they became famous. However, they helped define the sound of the 1960s and are today considered one of the greatest and most influential pop groups of all time. That's the reason why Ronnie continues to command so much respect and attention even though she hasn't had a hit in decades.

* FountainOfExpys: Ronnie Spector codified the image of a female teen pop singer in the 1960s. Her look, style and attitude was widely copied by subsequent acts and many fictional characters in the media. Female singers to this day continue to co-opt Spector's image.

* ChristmasMusic: