The group's career:
Sisters Estelle (born 1941) and Veronica Bennett (born 1943), and their cousin Nedra Talley (born 1946), began singing together as teenagers in Washington Heights, Manhattan. Encouraged by their grandmother, they entered and won a talent show at the Apollo Theatre in 1959, as The Darling Sisters. Phillip Halikus saw their potential, became their manager, and promoted their early appearances at hops and charity shows.
In 1961, while standing in line at the Peppermint Lounge, they were mistaken for a singing trio that had not arrived and were ushered on stage. After performing Ray Charles' "What'd I Say", they were signed to appear regularly there and in Miami. Later that year, they danced in shows staged by disc jockey Murray the K, but, contrary to many sources, did not appear in the 1961 film Twist Around the Clock. They did get a record deal with the Colpix label, and, as Ronnie & the Relatives, released their first single "I Want a Boy". They also worked as backing singers for Bobby Rydell, Del Shannon, and Joey Dee & The Starliters. Renamed as The Ronettes, they issued several more singles with Colpix and recorded an album, unissued at the time, but had little early commercial success.
In 1963 they came to the attention of producer Phil Spector, who was looking for a new girl group to assume The Crystals' mantle. He was taken with Ronnie's voice and style, and signed The Ronettes to his Philles label. As Spector's new protégées, they were given a strong image as "bad girls", with beehive hairdos, heavy eyeliner, and tight skirts. Their first Philles single was "Be My Baby", co-written by Spector with Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, and arranged and produced by Spector. It became a worldwide hit, reaching # 2 on the U.S. pop chart, # 4 on the R&B chart, and # 4 on the UK chart. The follow-up, "Baby, I Love You", had an even denser arrangement, featuring Leon Russell on piano, and backing vocals from Darlene Love and Cher, among others. It was slightly less successful, reaching # 24 in the United States and # 11 in the United Kingdom. The Ronettes also featured on Spector's album "A Christmas Gift for You".
Early in 1964 The Ronettes toured England with The Rolling Stones and met The Beatles. They continued to have hits with "(The Best Part Of) Breakin' Up" (# 39 U.S., # 43 UK), "Do I Love You?" (# 34 U.S., # 35 UK), and "Walking in the Rain" (# 24 U.S.), which won a Grammy for Best Sound Effects, the only one Spector ever received. However, their LP, "Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes featuring Veronica", only reached # 96 and other singles were less successful; musical tastes had moved beyond the girl group sound, and the Ronettes were unable to maintain their relevance. After criss-crossing the United States and Canada as one of the opening acts for the final concert tour of The Beatles, they disbanded at the end of 1966.
Later events:
Estelle Bennett and Nedra Talley each married and, in 1968, Ronnie Bennett married Phil Spector and retired from performance for several years. In 1971, under Spector's direction, Ronnie recorded "Try Some, Buy Some" for the Beatles' Apple label. This was her last charting record, reaching # 77 in the spring of 1971.
In 1973, as she and Spector were about to divorce, she returned to performing at Richard Nader's "Rock and Roll Revival" show at Madison Square Garden. Her new version of The Ronettes at that time included Denise Edwards and Chip Fields, and they issued two singles on the Buddah label.
In 1988, the original Ronettes sued Spector for nonpayment of royalties. In 2001, a New York court announced a verdict in favor of the Ronettes, ordering Spector to pay nearly three million dollars in back royalties; however, the judgment was later overturned on appeal. On February 11, 2009 Estelle Bennett was found dead at her home in Englewood, New Jersey. She was 67.
Awards and recognition:
The Ronettes were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.
It was believed that Phil Spector, in his capacity as a member of the Board of Governors, deliberately prevented the Ronettes (and Darlene Love) from being nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, although they had been eligible for a considerable period. The alleged reasons included the acrimonious divorce of Ronnie and Spector, in addition to the group having (unsuccessfully) sued Spector for back royalties. While Spector was awaiting trial on a murder charge and out on $1 million bail, the Ronettes were finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the March 12, 2007, induction ceremony held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Keith Richards, a self-confessed longtime fan, inducted the trio. Ronnie Bennett (Spector) and Nedra Talley performed "Baby, I Love You," "Walking In the Rain" and "Be My Baby." Estelle Bennett was present to accept her award but did not perform.
Here I Sit
The Ronettes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fell in love, but now we've parted
Couldn't see the writing on the wall
Here I sit, my head in hand
Trying hard to understand
Pity me, I used to have it all
Since he left, my nights are long
& everything I do is wrong
& when they play our favorite song
Too late, he's gone; too late, he's gone
CHORUS (x4):
(Ron- Ron- Ronnie, don't you run-run, girl)
Here I sit, broken hearted
It was through before we started
I didn't know that it was our last call
Here I sit, my head in hand
Trying hard to understand
Oh too bad, for now the tears must fall
Since he left, it's just no good
& I can't do the things I should
& now I cry, I knew I would
Too late, he's gone; too late, he's gone
(chorus x4)
Here I sit, broken hearted
Don't you know? I'm broken hearted
I feel I'm broken hearted
Oo-ee I'm broken hearted
Can't you hear me? I'm broken hearted
...& fade
The main theme of The Ronettes' song "Here I Sit" is heartbreak and the pain that comes with losing someone you love. The lyrics reveal the singer's struggle to accept the fact that her relationship has ended, and she is now alone. The use of repetition, such as in the chorus, emphasizes her desperation and despair. The line "Couldn't see the writing on the wall" suggests that perhaps she ignored warning signs that the relationship was in trouble.
The verses of the song describe her attempts to make sense of what has happened and to come to terms with her new reality. In the first verse, she expresses regret for not realizing sooner that the relationship was doomed. In the second verse, she acknowledges that since he left, everything in her life seems to have gone wrong, and she can't even enjoy the things that used to bring her pleasure. The lyrics are simple, but they effectively convey the emotional turmoil the singer is experiencing.
Overall, "Here I Sit" is a poignant portrayal of heartbreak that many listeners can relate to, no matter what their own experiences with love and loss may be. Through the spare yet heartfelt lyrics, the song expresses the universal human desire for connection and the pain that inevitably follows when two people are forced to go their separate ways.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I sit, broken hearted
The singer is in a state of distress, feeling emotionally damaged.
Fell in love, but now we've parted
The singer had fallen in love with someone, but now they have separated, leading to sadness and confusion.
Couldn't see the writing on the wall
The singer was unaware of the warning signs indicating that the relationship wasn't going to last.
Here I sit, my head in hand
The artist is figuratively hanging their head in sorrow, seemingly lost and uncertain.
Trying hard to understand
The artist is attempting to comprehend why their love has failed and what role they might have played in it.
Pity me, I used to have it all
The singer is lamenting the loss of what was once a happy and fulfilled life, now replaced by sorrow and pain.
Since he left, my nights are long
The singer is lonely and can't stop thinking about their former love.
& everything I do is wrong
The artist is fixated on their shortcomings and feels like they can't do anything right anymore.
& when they play our favorite song
The artist becomes emotional when they hear a song that was meaningful to them and their former partner.
Too late, he's gone; too late, he's gone
The artist is lamenting that they didn't realize what they were losing until it was too late, and their love is now gone forever.
Here I sit, broken hearted
Reiteration of the singer's state of distress.
It was through before we started
The artist realizes that the relationship was doomed from the beginning, despite their hopes and feelings.
I didn't know that it was our last call
The singer didn't realize that the last time they saw their lover would be the final time, leading to regret.
Oh too bad, for now the tears must fall
The singer acknowledges that they must cry and express their sorrow to move forward.
Since he left, it's just no good
The singer's life has lost its spark since the separation.
& I can't do the things I should
The artist is struggling to function properly and fulfill their responsibilities.
& now I cry, I knew I would
The artist is crying as anticipated, expressing their overwhelming pain.
Don't you know? I'm broken hearted
Reiteration of the singer's emotional state.
I feel I'm broken hearted
The singer copes with the breakup by acknowledging and expressing their feelings honestly.
Oo-ee I'm broken hearted
An additional emotional expression of the artist's sadness.
Can't you hear me? I'm broken hearted
The artist wants to make sure that their emotional pain is known to others.
Contributed by Addison L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.