Nedra Talley Ross, Last Surviving Member of the Ronettes, Dies at 80
The New York Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Nedra Talley Ross, the last surviving member of the iconic 1960s girl group the Ronettes, died at age 80 at her home in Chesapeake, Virginia.
- The Ronettes, consisting of Nedra Talley and her cousins Veronica (Ronnie Spector) and Estelle Bennett, were known for their signature beehive hairstyles, dark eyeliner, and harmonized vocals that defined the era's girl group sound.
- The group gained early popularity with hits like “Be My Baby” and “Baby, I Love You,” becoming a key part of mid-20th-century American music and culture.
- Nedra Talley began performing with her cousins at age 14, initially under different group names before settling on the Ronettes, a name suggested by the Bennetts’ mother.
- The Ronettes’ breakthrough came after gaining local radio hits and booking performances, culminating in a pivotal meeting with producer Phil Spector in 1963.
