Estelle Bennett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Estelle Bennett
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Bennett in 1966
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| Background information | |
| Born | July 22, 1941 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | February 11, 2009 (aged 67) Englewood, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, pop, rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1959–1972 |
Estelle Bennett (July 22, 1941 – February 11, 2009) was an American singer. She was a member of the famous girl group the Ronettes. Her sister Ronnie and cousin Nedra Talley were also in the group.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Estelle Bennett grew up in New York City with her sister, Veronica. Veronica later became known as Ronnie Bennett, then Ronnie Spector. Their father was Irish-American, and their mother was African-American and Cherokee. They sometimes faced challenges at school because they were light-skinned African Americans.
Estelle was a very good student. She attended George Washington High School in Manhattan. She was even the valedictorian, meaning she was the top student in her graduating class. Estelle was also very interested in fashion. She studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan.
Music Career with The Ronettes
Estelle started singing with her sister Ronnie and cousin Nedra Talley when she was 14. They tried to make it as a singing group several times. Finally, they changed their name and became known as The Ronettes.
A music producer named Phil Spector signed them. Ronnie became the lead singer, with Estelle and Nedra singing backup. In 1963, The Ronettes had a huge hit song called "Be My Baby". It became their most famous song and reached number one.
Estelle also worked on other music projects. In 1969, she led an all-women group called The Love Chain. They released a few songs, but only one, "I'm Lovin' You Baby," gained some attention. By 1971, The Love Chain had ended.
In 1972, Ronnie tried to bring The Ronettes back together. She invited Estelle to rehearse, but it did not work out. Estelle also recorded two songs, "Baby With No Name" and "Earthman," with a band called 1984. After this, Estelle Bennett mostly stopped performing in public. She left the music business.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 2007, The Ronettes were honored. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This is a very special award for musicians. At the ceremony, Estelle was not well enough to perform with her sister and cousin.
However, she did give a short speech. She said, "I would just like to say, thank you very much for giving us this award. I'm Estelle of the Ronettes, thank you." She also came back on stage for a final bow with the other Ronettes. This happened after they performed "Be My Baby."
Later Life and Passing
Estelle Bennett married Joe Dong, who was the road manager for The Ronettes. They had a daughter together. Later in her life, Estelle faced some personal challenges. She sometimes struggled and had difficult times.
Estelle Bennett passed away at her home in Englewood, New Jersey. She was 67 years old. Her body was found on February 11, 2009.
See also
In Spanish: Estelle Bennett para niños
