Ronnie Spector: a life in pictures

The singer who defined the sound of mid-century girl groups as the frontwoman of the Ronettes has died at age 78

The vocal trio the Ronettes.

Nedra Talley Ross, Ronnie Spector and Estelle Bennett Vann formed the vocal trio the Ronettes.

Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Phil Spector, right, and the Ronettes.

Photo: GAB Archive/Redferns FacebookTwitter

1964

Motown star Stevie Wonder is joined by heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali, Ronnie Spector and Dionne Warwick backstage in 1964.

Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

1974

Ronnie Spector of the Ronettes in London in August 1974.

Photo: Michael Putland/Getty Images

1965

The Ronettes look at a copy of Hit Parader magazine with photographer Don Paulsen after performing on Hullabaloo on 27 April 1965.

Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

1978

Ronnie Spector, seen here in 1978, began her solo career in 1971.

Photo: Anthony Barboza/Getty Images

1975

Bruce Springsteen poses with Ronnie Spector on 13 August 1975. In 1976 she would duet with Southside Johnny on the Bruce Springsteen-penned You Mean So Much to Me.

Photo: Richard E Aaron/Redferns

1977

Ronnie Spector recorded her version of Billie Joel’s Say Goodbye To Hollywood in 1977.

Photo: Tom Sheehan/Sony Music Archive/Getty Images

1977

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes on stage with Ronnie Spector at the Crystal Palace Bowl in London in 1977.

Photo: Tom Sheehan/Sony Music Archive/Getty Images

1981

Ronnie Spector performs onstage at Tuts nightclub in Chicago, Illinois in 1981.

Photo: Paul Natkin/Getty Images

1990

Singer Ben E King and Ronnie Spector attend the Grammy Legends Tribute gala in 1990.

Photo: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images

2007

Inductees Estelle Bennett, left, and Ronnie Spector of the Ronettes appear onstage at the 22nd annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2007.

Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images

Battle

Ronnie Spector spent 15 years battling her ex-husband Phil Spector for royalties her band was owed.

Photo: New York Daily News Archive/NY Daily News/Getty Images

2010

Ronnie Spector and Iggy Pop attend the 25th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2010.

Photo: Theo Wargo/WireImage

2011

Cyndi Lauper and Ronnie Spector attend the 53rd Grammy award nominees reception in 2011.

Photo: George Napolitano/FilmMagic

2011

Ronnie Spector performs at the 28th annual Seaport Chorus tree lighting spectacular in 2011.

Photo: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

2014

Ronnie Spector performs at the Women of the World festival in London in 2014.

Photo: Samir Hussein/Redferns/Getty Images

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