Nedra Talley Ross, the final living voice of the iconic 1960s pop group, the Ronettes, known for hits like “Be My Baby,” “Baby I Love You,” and “Walking in the Rain,” has passed away at 80. She performed alongside her cousins, leaving an indelible mark on the music world.
Ross’s daughter, Nedra K. Ross, along with the Ronettes’ official Instagram page, confirmed that the singer died at home on Sunday. A statement commemorating her life read, “Nedra’s voice, style, and spirit helped define a sound that would change music. Her contribution to the group’s story and their defining influence will live forever.”
With their sultry appearance and commanding vocals, the Ronettes, bolstered by Phil Spector’s songwriting and production, became one of the leading acts of the girl-group era. They toured England with The Rolling Stones and mingled with the Beatles, cementing their place in music history.
Reflecting on her career during the Ronettes’ 2007 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Ross remarked, “Show business is a thing that can be great, but it can be bad, too. For 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.”
Raised in New York City, Ross, alongside her cousins Veronica “Ronnie” and Estelle Bennett, debuted with the 1964 album “Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes, Featuring Veronica.” This album saw five of its twelve tracks climbing the U.S. Billboard charts and earned a spot among Rolling Stone’s 500 greatest albums of all time. It remained the trio’s sole studio album.
Their rendition of “Sleigh Ride” featured on Spector’s “A Christmas Gift for You” album, gaining renewed attention in the “Roofman” soundtrack and “The Bear.” However, by 1967, their streak of hits had diminished, leading to the group’s eventual disbandment.
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 “wall of sound.” They were signed to Philles Records in 1963. After being signed, they sang backup for other acts until Spector had the group record “Be My Baby” and “Baby I Love You.”
Martin Scorsese used “Be My Baby” to open his 1973 film “Mean Streets,” and the song appears in the title sequence of “Dirty Dancing” and the closing credits of “Baby Mama.” It also appeared on TV in everything from “Moonlighting” and “The Wonder Years” to “How I Met Your Mother” and “Money Heist.”
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. “They could sing all their way right through a wall of sound,” Richards said. “They didn’t need anything. They touched my heart right there and then and they touch it still.”
After the Ronettes disbanded, Ross turned to Christian music, including the album “Full Circle” 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’s 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 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
