Ronnie Spector: A Rock and Roll Legend Quiz

Answer: New York City, August 10, 1943

Ronnie was born Veronica Yvette Bennett on August 10, 1943 in New York City. She grew up in Spanish Harlem. Her dad was an Irish-Catholic, and her mom was a combination African American/Native American. In her autobiography titled "Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts and Madness" Ronnie said that when she was growing up she wasn't sure if she was black or white.

Answer: Estelle Bennett and Nedra Talley

It was the combination of her sister, Estelle Bennett, and her cousin, Nedra Talley who became The Ronnettes in the early 1960s and banged out hit after hit from 1963 through 1965.

Answer: One of the few multi-racial groups

Ronnie's perception of whether she was black or white was correct. Very few multi-racial groups were around then. Groups such as "The Orlons" and "The Crests" had some success as multi-racial groups, but generally these successes were few and far between.

Answer: At The Peppermint Lounge, by Murray The K

Ronnie and the group had been recording since 1961, with a minimum of success. They also doubled as singers and dancers at New York's Peppermint Lounge, a popular nightclub in the early 1960s which gave rise to a number of stars. "Murray The K" (Murray Kaufman), who was a popular disc jockey in the New York area at the time, heard them, and hired them for his series of rock and roll revues that he emceed and produced at the Brooklyn Fox Theater.

Answer: Be My Baby

The group led off with their first release on the Phillies record label "Be My Baby". Phillies was the recording arm of manager/producer Phil Spector who had taken over the group in early 1963. This song was considered by some to be one of the greatest examples of pure rock and roll.

The other songs mentioned all made it into the U.S. Billboard Top Hot 100 at number 39 or better, but this song was the highest charting hit at number two.

Answer: George Harrison

Phil Spector co-produced this song with George Harrison, who wrote it. Harrison had known Ronnie from a few years before, when the Ronnettes toured with The Beatles. The Beatles actually requested that The Ronnettes tour with them during their August 1966 U.S. tour. The song didn't do too well, only managing a number 77 placing on the Billboard U.S. Hot 100.

Answer: Billy Joel

It was the "Piano Man' who recorded "Say Goodbye To Hollywood" in 1976, a song that is generally acknowledged to be a tribute to Ronnie Spector. Ronnie later did a cover version of the song herself, and it was also covered by Bette Midler.

Answer: She sang it with Eddie as a duet

"Take Me Home Tonight" was a cut off Eddie's album called "Can't Hold Back". It hit Billboard as a number four hit on the Hot 100 charts and it stayed on the charts for 23 weeks. Ronnie and Eddie sing the chorus "Take me home tonight, I don't want to let you go till you see the light..." Eddie later sings "Just like Ronnie sang".. and Ronnie chimes with her distinctive voice, "Be my little baby..oh, oh, oh..." just like she did in her original song "Be My Baby".

Answer: True

In 1999 Joey Ramone produced Ronnie's "She Talks To Rainbows" album which was an EP album of six songs, some of which were covers. The Four Seasons' "Bye Bye Baby" was covered, along with The Beach Boys' "Don't Worry Baby". The album was critically acclaimed but that didn't translate into sales, even though Joey Ramone appeared with Ronnie on stage at some of her performances to promote the album.

Answer: True

The Ronnettes were inducted in The Hall Of Fame on March 12, 2007. They had been eligible for a number of years, but it is generally believed that pressure was brought to bear by former husband Phil Spector, who was on the Board Of Governors of the Hall, to keep the group and Ronnie out as revenge for their divorce, and also because of a lawsuit filed by Ronnie and the group concerning monies allegedly owed to them by Phil Spector.

At the Hall Of Fame ceremonies, the original group reunited for the first time in many years.