Nedra Talley Ross, the last surviving member of the 1960s pop group the Ronettes, known for hits like "Be My Baby," "Baby I Love You," and "Walking in the Rain," has died at age 80. She passed away at home on Sunday, according to her daughter, Nedra K. Ross, and the Ronettes' official Instagram account.
A Legacy of Iconic Music
The Ronettes, featuring Ross alongside her cousins Veronica "Ronnie" Spector and Estelle Bennett, became one of the premier acts of the girl-group era. Their sexy look and powerful voices, combined with the production genius of Phil Spector, propelled them to fame. They toured England with The Rolling Stones and befriended the Beatles.
"Show business is a thing that can be great, but it can be bad, too," Ross said during the Ronettes' Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2007. "For us, we had a family that gave us a core to help stabilize us in a very difficult crazy world. It was a fun time. I thank God truly for it."
Early Career and Rise to Fame
Born and raised in New York City, Ross, along with Ronnie and Estelle, released their debut album "Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes, Featuring Veronica" in 1964. Five of its 12 tracks charted on the U.S. Billboard charts, and it was listed in Rolling Stone's 500 greatest albums of all time. It was their only studio album. They also recorded a memorable version of "Sleigh Ride" for Spector's "A Christmas Gift for You" album, which was recently featured in the "Roofman" soundtrack and on "The Bear." Their string of hits faded by the time they disbanded around 1967.
In March 1963, Estelle Bennett arranged an audition with Phil Spector, known for his "wall of sound" production style. They signed with Philles Records and sang backup for other acts before recording "Be My Baby" and "Baby I Love You." Martin Scorsese used "Be My Baby" to open his 1973 film "Mean Streets," and the song appeared in "Dirty Dancing," "Baby Mama," and TV shows like "Moonlighting," "The Wonder Years," "How I Met Your Mother," and "Money Heist."
Later Life and Legacy
After the Ronettes disbanded, Ross turned to Christian music, releasing the album "Full Circle" in 1978. She was married to DJ and television personality Scott Ross from 1967 until his death in 2023. The Ronettes waged a lengthy court battle with Phil Spector over royalties; a judge ordered Spector to pay $2.6 million, but New York State's highest court overturned that ruling in 2002.
Ronnie Spector died in 2022 at age 78, and Estelle Bennett died in 2009 at 67. Ross is survived by four children. Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones remembered the Ronettes during their Hall of Fame induction: "They could sing all their way right through a wall of sound. They didn't need anything. They touched my heart right there and then and they touch it still."
