Ronnie Spector, Self-Proclaimed Rock ‘n’ Roll Bad Girl, Dies at 78

Ronnie Spector, the cat-eyed, self-proclaimed rock ‘n’ roll bad girl who sang such 1960s hits as “Be My Baby,” “Baby I Love You,” and “Walking in the Rain” as the leader of the girl group The Ronettes, passed away. She was 78.

Spector died Wednesday after a brief battle with cancer.

“Our beloved earth angel, Ronnie, peacefully left this world today after a brief battle with cancer. She was with family and in the arms of her husband, Jonathan,” her family said in a statement. “Ronnie lived her life with a twinkle in her eye, a spunky attitude, a wicked sense of humor and a smile on her face. 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.” 

As reported by The Washington Post, The Ronettes’ sexy look and powerful voices — plus songwriting and producing help from Phil Spector — turned them into one of the premier acts of the girl-group era, touring England with The Rolling Stones.

Ronnie Spector was born and raised in Spanish Harlem. In her teens, she formed the Ronettes and released her first records in 1961 on the Colpix label. Beginning in 1963, Ronnie Spector—as the lead singer of the ultimate girl group, The Ronettes—recorded a long string of classic pop hits: powerful, poignant teen anthems like the Grammy Award-winning “Walking in the Rain,” “Do I Love You,” “Baby I Love You,” “The Best Part of Breaking Up,” “I Can Hear Music,” and the international Number One smash “Be My Baby.” 

“We weren’t afraid to be hot. That was our gimmick,” Spector said in her 1990 autobiography Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts And Madness. The Ronettes were also professional singers and dancers at New York’s Peppermint Lounge, becoming noteworthy for their liberal use of eyeliner and mascara.

The group’s debut album, “Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica,” was released in 1964. Five of its 12 tracks made it to the U.S. Billboard charts.

The Ronettes broke up in 1967, and Spector married Ronnie in 1968. The couple divorced in 1974. Ronnie Spector and the Ronettes were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in March 2004. 

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