Nedra Talley Ross, the sole surviving original member of the legendary girl group The Ronettes, has passed away at the age of 80. The group got its start in New York back in 1959, built around the talents of lead singer Ronnie Spector, her elder sister Estelle Bennett, and their cousin Talley. In March 1963, they came under the wing of producer Phil Spector’s record label and quickly climbed the charts with a run of beloved hits — among them “Be My Baby,” “Baby, I Love You,” “(The Best Part of) Breakin’ Up,” and “Walking in the Rain.”
The news of Talley Ross’s passing was shared by The Ronettes’ official Instagram page on Sunday. “She was a light to those who knew and loved her,” the tribute read, going on to honor how her “style and spirit helped define a sound that would change music,” and affirming that her role in the group’s legacy “will live forever.”
Her daughter, Nedra K. Ross, shared a personal message on Facebook, revealing that her mother slipped away on Sunday morning “safe in her own bed at home with her family close, knowing she was loved” — and that she had gone “home to be with the Lord.”
The Ronettes earned their place in music history when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. Phil Spector’s signature wall of sound, fused with the group’s rich, driving harmonies, left a deep imprint on generations of artists — from Amy Winehouse, who famously borrowed their iconic beehive hairstyle, to the Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen, the Ramones, Billy Joel, and even the Beatles.
The group also made chart history as recently as 2021, when their perennial Christmas favorite “Sleigh Ride” climbed back into the Billboard Top 10 after a staggering gap of 58 years and two months — setting a record for the longest stretch between Top 10 appearances in chart history.
Talley Ross is now the last of the trio to pass. Estelle Bennett died in 2009, and Ronnie Spector followed in 2022.
Source : ronettesofficial
