‘The Ronettes’ Icon Ronnie Spector Dies at 78

Ronnie Spector, the leader of the girl group "the Ronettes", died Wednesday after a brief battle with cancer. She was 78.

“Ronnie lived her life with a twinkle in her eye, a spunky attitude, a wicked sense of humor, and a smile on her face,” her family said in a statement. “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.”

The Ronettes were the legend of the early-Sixties girl-group era. Spector was the voice behind immortal classics like “Be My Baby” and “Walking in the Rain”.

Last year, “Be My Baby,” was honored at Number 22 on Rolling Stone‘s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

“All the musicians dropped whatever they were holding, their horns and guitars, and they were looking at this new girl in town,” Spector remembered during a 2016 interview with Rolling Stone. “All the musicians were yelling, ‘Oh, my God. Her voice!’ And I’m saying, ‘Me? A little girl from Spanish Harlem?’ ”

The huge success of “Be My Baby” turned the Ronettes into superstars and caused massive ripples across the pop landscape.

“I was driving [the first time I heard it], and I had to pull over to the side of the road — it blew my mind,” Brian Wilson said in 2013. “I felt like I wanted to try to do something as good as that song, and I never did. I’ve stopped trying. It’s the greatest record ever produced. No one will ever top that one.”

Wilson paid a heartfelt tribute to Spector, affirming that she was a very special person and a dear friend. "This just breaks my heart. Ronnie’s music and spirit will live forever.”