Pause & Play Today: Jan. 12, 2022
R.I.P.
Ronnie Spector, Beloved Ronettes Singer, Dead at 78 | Rolling Stone
Ronnie Spector, the leader of the girl group the Ronettes and the voice behind immortal classics like “Be My Baby” and “Walking in the Rain,” died Wednesday after a brief battle with cancer. She was 78.
“Our beloved earth angel, Ronnie, peacefully left this world today after a brief battle with cancer. She was with family and in the arms of her husband, Jonathan,” reads a statement on Spector’s official website. “Ronnie lived her life with a twinkle in her eye, a spunky attitude, a wicked sense of humor and a smile on her face. She was filled with love and gratitude. Her joyful sound, playful nature and magical presence will live on in all who knew, heard or saw her.”
There are unique voices, and then there’s Ronnie Spector. “He’s a Rebel,” “Be My Baby,” “Walking in the Rain.” She and The Ronettes were one of a kind.
Here’s what other news outlets are saying …
Née Veronica Bennett, she forged an enduring “bad girl” image with her older sister Estelle Bennett and cousin Nedra Talley – towering teased beehive hairdos, canopies of mascara and eyeliner and tight-fitting slit skirts – that rubbed against the aching romanticism of the Ronettes’ Philles Records hits of 1963-66. | Variety
In songs like “Be My Baby,” a No. 2 hit in 1963, they sang with thin but powerful voices of street-smart romance (“We’ll make ’em turn their heads everyplace we go”), over the swelling “wall of sound” production of Phil Spector. | The New York Times
She was married to Phil Spector, the producer and writer of many of those hits. Spector abused her, and they divorced; Ronnie Spector chronicled the abuse in her 2004 memoir, “Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness.” | NPR
Bruce Springsteen and his band were unabashed fans of Ronnie Spector and recorded material with her at the time when Springsteen was barred from releasing new music amid a contract dispute among his managers. | Deadline
Have you ever heard her 1999 version of the Ramones’ “She Talks to Rainbows”?
UPDATES / ADDITIONS
NEW RELEASES
“Are You Haunted?,” Methyl Ethel – Feb. 18
“Skinty Fia,” Fontaines D.C. – April 22
Artist Merch Shop: See the New Arrivals. »
TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS
William Lee Golden (83)
Maggie Bell (77)
Phil Perry (70)
Ricky Van Shelton (70)
Howard Stern (68)
Per Gessle [Roxette] (63)
Rob Zombie (57)
TBird (55)
Zack de la Rocha (52)
Raekwon (52)
Brian Culbertson (49)
Dan Haseltine [Jars of Clay] (49)
Matt Wong [Reel Big Fish] (49)
Melanie Chisholm, aka Sporty Spice (48)
Jason Freese (47)
Jeremy Camp (44)
Amerie (42)
ZAYN (29)
Ella Henderson (26)
IN REMEMBRANCE
Precious Bryant (1942-2013)
Alice Coltrane (1937-2007)
Randy VanWarmer (1955-2004)
Maurice Gibb (1949-2003)
RANDOM LYRICS
“Listen honey, just like Ronnie sang, ‘Be my little baby'”
RELEASED ON JAN. 12 … IN 1969
“Led Zeppelin,” Led Zeppelin (their debut album, featuring “Good Times Bad Times,” “Communication Breakdown” and “Dazed and Confused”; producer: Jimmy Page; Atlantic)
R.I.P.
Rosa Lee Hawkins (The Dixie Cups)
MUSIC HEADLINES
> Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, Ye & Swedish House Mafia All In for Coachella 2022 | Billboard
> Flashback: Hear the 1976 Elton John Obscurity Sampled in Current Hit ‘Cold Heart’ | Rolling Stone
> Dave Grohl Is Less Pretender and More Demon in ‘Studio 666’ Trailer | Vulture
> ‘Mockingbird,’ Once a Broadway Smash, to Pause Production Amid Omicron | The New York Times
> Adele – Oh My God (Official Video) | YouTube
> New Slayer/Prince Mashup Is a Guitar Lover’s Delight | Loudwire
About the Author
Gerry Galipault Gerry Galipault debuted Pause & Play online in October 1997. Since then, it has become the definitive place for CD-release dates — with a worldwide audience.
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