Last surviving Ronette Nedra Talley Ross dies at 80

Talley Ross died at home on Sunday morning, according to her daughter Nedra K Ross. In a social media post, Nedra K Ross said that her mother "went home to be with the Lord" at approximately 8:30 that morning and was "safe in her own bed at home with her family close, knowing she was loved."

Born in Manhattan in 1946, Talley Ross began performing with her cousins Ronnie and Estelle when they were teenagers. Ronnie formed the Ronettes in 1957. The group earned a residency at a local club and a record deal, but early singles failed to chart.

The Ronettes' careers took off in 1963 after Estelle cold-called the office of producer Phil Spector. The group released just one studio album, but their hits included Be My Baby, Walking in the Rain, Baby, I Love You and (The Best Part of) Breakin' Up.

Be My Baby became a cultural touchstone, used in many films including Mean Streets and Dirty Dancing. BMI calculated that the song had been played in 3.9 million feature presentations on radio and television since 1963. The Ronettes joined the Beatles on their final world tour in 1966, and the Rolling Stones supported them on a tour of the UK.

The Ronettes split in 1967. Phil Spector and Ronnie married in 1968, but Ronnie filed for divorce in 1974 after years of abuse. The Ronettes launched a long legal battle to sue Spector over unpaid royalties. In 2002, the group revealed in New York's State court of appeals that they had earned less than $15,000 in royalties from their hits. However, judges found that the Ronettes' 1963 contract gave Spector unconditional rights to the recordings.

Phil Spector later murdered actor Lana Clarkson in 2003 and died in prison in 2021 while serving 19 years to life.

The cause of Talley Ross' death has not been disclosed. It is unclear whether there will be a public memorial service.