Nedra Talley-Ross, the last surviving original member of The Ronettes, has died at age 80. The group confirmed her passing on social media, calling her “a light to those who knew and loved her.” Her official cause of death has not been released.
Born in 1946 in New York City, Nedra formed The Ronettes in her teens with her cousins Ronnie Spector and Estelle Bennett. The group became one of the defining acts of the 1960s girl group era, known for hits like “Be My Baby,” “Baby, I Love You,” and “Walking in the Rain,” and their work with producer Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound.”
While Ronnie Spector often led vocals, Nedra contributed key harmonies and helped shape the group’s stage presence. The Ronettes toured internationally, including with The Beatles, before disbanding in the late 1960s.
After leaving music, Nedra lived a quiet private life in Virginia. In 2007, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, securing her legacy as part of one of pop music’s most influential groups.