Ronnie Spector

As the lead singer of the legendary girl group the Ronettes, Ronnie Spector projected a blend of streetwise earthiness and fragility that informed the group's most acclaimed singles, including such iconic pop hits of the 1960s as "Be My Baby," "Baby, I Love You" and "I Can Hear Music." The power of her brassy voice, which inspired a generation of rock musicians, from The Beatles to the Beach Boys to the Ramones and countless others, also hid years of personal and professional agony at the hands of her husband, infamous producer Phil Spector, who wielded absolute power over her career and life, including more than a half-decade as his virtual prisoner in their Los Angeles home.

Spector escaped her spouse in 1972, only to struggle for nearly another two decades to regain her standing in the pop field. Collaborations with Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band failed to bring her back to prominence, but a duet with Eddie Money on "Take Me Home Tonight" (1986) revived interest in Spector's legacy, which in turn led to several acclaimed EPs in the late '90s and early 2000s. Spector soon became an emblem of the rock-n-roll survivor, a classic performer who endured near-unimaginable heartbreak but emerged not only alive but also with her talents intact, as evidenced by her continued touring and recording. Ronnie Spector's music and life stood as a stark but ultimately inspiring example of the vagaries of the rock industry, as well as the transformative and healing power of pop. Spector released a new Christmas EP, Best Christmas Ever, in 2010, which was followed by a cover of the late Amy Winehouse's "Back in Black" (2011). Ronnie Spector died on January 12, 2022 at the age of 78.