NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Nedra Talley Ross, the last surviving member of the 1960s bee-hived pop band who sang the enduring hits 鈥淏e My Baby,鈥� 鈥淏aby I Love You鈥� and 鈥淲alking in the Rain鈥� alongside her cousins, has died. She was 80.
Ross died at home Sunday, according to the singer’s daughter, Nedra K. Ross, and the 鈥淣edra鈥檚 voice, style and spirit helped define a sound that would change music. Her contribution to the group鈥檚 story and their defining influence will live forever,鈥� a statement read.
The Ronettes鈥� sexy look and powerful voices 鈥� plus songwriting and producing help from Phil Spector 鈥� turned them into one of the premier acts of the girl-group era, touring England with The Rolling Stones and befriending the Beatles.
鈥淪how business is a thing that can be great, but it can be bad, too,鈥� Ross said during her acceptance speech to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. 鈥淔or 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.鈥�
Ross, born and raised in New York City, together with sisters and Estelle Bennett, released their debut album in 1964, 鈥淧resenting the Fabulous Ronettes, Featuring Veronica.鈥� Five of its 12 tracks had made it to the U.S. Billboard charts, and it was listed in Rolling Stone鈥檚 500 greatest albums of all time. It was the only studio album for the trio.
They also did a memorable version of 鈥淪leigh Ride鈥� that appeared on Spector鈥檚 鈥淎 Christmas Gift for You鈥� album and was recently highlighted in the 鈥淩oofman鈥� soundtrack and on 鈥淭he Bear.鈥� But their string of hits had tailed off by the time they split around 1967.
In March 1963, Estelle Bennett managed to arrange an audition in front of Phil Spector, known for his big, brass-and-drum style dubbed the 鈥渨all of sound.鈥� They were signed to Philles Records in 1963. After being signed, they sang backup for other acts until Spector had the group record 鈥淏e My Baby鈥� and 鈥淏aby I Love You.鈥�
Martin Scorsese used 鈥淏e My Baby鈥� to open his 1973 film 鈥淢ean Streets,鈥� and the song appears in the title sequence of 鈥淒irty Dancing鈥� and the closing credits of 鈥淏aby Mama.鈥� It also appeared on TV in everything from 鈥淢oonlighting鈥� and 鈥淭he Wonder Years鈥� to 鈥淗ow I Met Your Mother鈥� and 鈥淢oney Heist.鈥�
When the Ronettes were inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones remembered opening for the trio in England in the mid-1960s. 鈥淭hey could sing all their way right through a wall of sound,鈥� Richards said. 鈥淭hey didn鈥檛 need anything. They touched my heart right there and then and they touch it still.鈥�
After the Ronettes disbanded, Ross turned to Christian music, including the album 鈥淔ull Circle鈥� in 1978. Ross was married to DJ and television personality Scott Ross from 1967 until his death in 2023.
For nearly 15 years, the women waged a lengthy, and ultimately unsuccessful, court battle with Spector over royalties. A judge ordered Spector to pay $2.6 million in past royalties and interest, but New York State鈥檚 highest court threw out that ruling on appeal in 2002.
Ronnie Spector died at 78 in 2022. Bennett died at 67 in 2009. Ross is survived by four children.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
