The Ronettes singer Nedra Talley Ross has died aged 80.
The American performer was best known as a member of the 1960s girl group, in which she performed with her cousins Ronnie and Estelle Bennett.
News of her death was announced on the group’s social media, which began by sharing: ‘It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Nedra Talley Ross’ passing.
‘She was a light to those who knew and loved her.’
The statement went on: ‘As a founding member of The Ronettes, along with her beloved cousins Ronnie and Estelle, 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.
‘Rest peacefully, dear Nedra. Thanks for the magic.’
Talley Ross’ daughter Nedra K. Ross also shared more details of her mother’s death on Facebook.
‘At approximately 8:30 this morning our mother Nedra Talley Ross went home to be with the Lord,’ she wrote.
She was safe in her own bed at home with her family close, knowing she was loved. Thank you Lord. There will be a Celebration of Life in the future, and I will post information when plans have been confirmed.’
Talley Ross was born in 1946 and first began performing with her cousins when they were teenagers in New York City.
They were discovered by Murray Kaufman when performing at the Peppermint Lounge, where he hired them as dancers for his Brooklyn Fox Theater rock and roll revues.
It was in 1963 that the trio changed their name from The Darling Sisters to The Ronettes, the change coming when they moved to Phil Spector’s Phillies Records.
Although they only ever released one studio album – titled Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes – they placed nine songs on the Billboard Hot 100, six of which became Top 40 hits.
Some of their best-known hits included Be My Baby, Baby, I Love You and (The Best Part of) Breakin’ Up.
Be My Baby – which the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson has called ‘the greatest record ever produced’ – spent three weeks at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963 and was used in the opening credits of Martin Scorsese’s breakout film Mean Streets.
Their songs have also been featured in close to 100 other movies and TV shows, including Quadrophenia, Twist + Shout, Moonlighting, Dirty Dancing, The Wonder Years, How I Met Your Mother, Fred Claus, Glee, The Simpsons, Pretty Little Liars, Bridget Jones’s Baby, Billions, Industry, Priscilla, and The Bear.
The Ronettes also opened for the Beatles on their 1966 US tour. Two years earlier the Rolling Stones had been the girl group’s opening act when they toured the UK.
However, within a year the girl group had broken up, and they never performed together again.
‘I hated the “dog-eat-dog” side of show-business,’ she once said. ‘I hated pushing for the next record and the feeling of failure if we didn’t get it. There was a continual demand on us to produce that I thought was unfair. My personality didn’t like that.’
She also later partly attributed her decision to her spiritual awakening and embrace of Christianity, as well as her desire to be a wife and mother. ‘I said, “OK girls, we can keep going, but this has happened to me”. They couldn’t really see and understand where my stand was. So, we agreed to finish out our contracts and dissolve the group.’
Talley Ross went on to pursue a career as a solo musician, recording a contemporary Christian album in 1978, as well as several singles.
She also married radio DJ Scott Ross, with the couple having four children together. In later years Talley Ross worked in real estate and was living in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Talley Ross had been the last surviving member of the group after Spector died from cancer at age 78 in 2022, while Bennett died in 2009 at age 67.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.