RONNIE SPECTOR
Only
a few artists in history have been capable of defining an entire
era in pop music. Ronnie Spector is one of those artists: the
embodiment of the heart, soul, and passion of female rock and roll
in the 1960's. No one has ever surpassed Ronnie's powerful
trademark vocals, her gutsy attitude, her innocent but knowing
sexuality.
A native of New York City, Ronnie Spector cites Frankie Lyman as
her earliest vocal influence. Ronnie cut her first records at age
13 as the lead singer of the Ronettes; her first recorded song was
written by Carol King. At the Peppermint Lounge, disc jockey
Murray "The K" Kaufman discovered the teenage trio; he
promptly hired them as dancers for his Brooklyn-Fox Theater rock
and roll revues.
Beginning in 1963 Ronnie Spector- as lead singer of the ultimate
girl group, The Ronettes- recorded a long string of classic pop
hits: powerful poignant teen anthems like the Grammy-winning
"Walking in the Rain", "Do I Love You",
"Baby I Love You", "The Best Part of Breaking
Up", "I Can Hear Music", and their international
Number One smash "Be My Baby". These records are among
the best-loved and most-emulated recordings in the history of rock
and roll.
As the Number One pop group in England, Ronnie Spector and the
Ronettes headlined over acts like the Rolling Stones and Yardbirds.
The Beatles personally requested that the Ronettes join their
final American tour. For the Ronettes' final live performance at
Basin Street East in 1966, their opening act was a talented young
comedian named Richard Pryor.
Ronnie Spector is the only American vocalist to have been backed
by all four Beatles on her George Harrison-produced single,
"Try Some, Buy Some" in 1970. During the next few years,
Ronnie also sang on records by Jimi Hendrix and Alice Cooper. In
1976, Billy Joel wrote "Say Goodbye to Hollywood", a
tribute to Ronnie which she recorded the following year with
backing by Bruce Springsteen the E Street Band.
Her Christmas songs with the Ronettes, "Frosty the
Snowman", "Sleigh Ride", and "I Saw Mommy
Kissing Santa Claus" are holiday classics and an integral
part of every Christmas season.
Ronnie's 1986 duet with Eddie Money, "Take Me Home
Tonight", was a Top Five Grammy-nominated hit across the
nation and a heavy rotation video on MTV.
In 1987, Ronnie made a celebrated return to recording with her
Columbia album, Unfinished Business, featuring "Who Can
Sleep" and "Love on A Rooftop". Her supporting cost
included Diane Warren, Paul Shaffer, Desmond Child, Eddie Money,
and The Bangles' Susanna Hoffs.
Over the course of the next 18 months, Ronnie Spector was
everywhere. She starred in the HBO/Cinemax special,
"Legendary Ladies of Rock" with Grace Slick and Belinda
Carlisle as her back up singers. She was a presenter on the
American Music Awards telecast, and sang on NBC's "Merry
Motown Christmas " special. She starred in a Christmas
spectacular at Radio City Music Hail and appeared at the New York
Music Awards, where she was inducted (along with Billy Joel) into
it's Hall of Fame.
Her classic recordings- "Be My Baby", "Baby I Love
You", "Frosty the Snowman", and others have been
featured in sounctracks for such feature films as Baby Boom, The
Pickup Artist, Quadrophonia, Good Fella's, Mean Streets, For
Keeps, The All-Nighter, Just One of the Guys, and Nine Months.
Most significantly, Ronnie's "Be My Baby" set the tone
for of the box office smash Dirty Dancing. In September 1988, she
joined the cast of the Dirty Dancing stage show for a six-week
international tour.
In 1989, Ronnie took time off to write the story of her remarkable
life and great music. Be My Baby, How I Survived Mascara,
Miniskirts, and Madness, published by Crown Publishers, in 1990
was an international bestseller and was published in paperback by
HarperCollins in 1991.
In the 90's Ronnie returned to the recording studio to record the
theme song for Roseanne's ABC TV cartoon, "Little Rosey",
as well as the haunting "Farewell to a Sex Symbol" for
the cast album of Tim Rice's Tycoon, and "Rockin' Around the
Christmas Tree" for the top ten platinum album, A Very
Special Christmas 2.
Recently, Ronnie performed at the invitation of President Clinton
for the leaders of the free world at the Summit of the Eight in
Denver.
In 1999, Ronnie released the critically acclaimed EP She Talks to
Rainbows. Included on the EP were Brian Wilson's "Don't Worry
Baby", Johnny Thunders' "You Can't Put Your Arms Around
A Memory", and a duet with producer Joey Ramone on his own
composition "Bye Bye Baby". The EP was released in
America on the cutting edge Kill Rock Stars label.
The style, look, and sound of Ronnie Spector have served as an
inspiration and role model for a generation of rock and roll
women. In her sensuality, attitude, and dress, Ronnie created a
personal and performing style, which has proven revolutionary.
On stage, record, or on video, a Ronnie Spector performance is a
jubilant celebration of the power of pop.
