Ronnie Spector Is Survived by Her 5 Children Including Twins Her Ex Adopted without Her Knowledge
Isabella Ramos
Published Feb 16, 2026
American singer and The Ronettes founder Ronnie Spector has died at 78. Get inside the iconic singer's existence and meet her 5 surviving children.
Singer Ronnie Spector, the founding father of the well-known band the Ronettes, has died. She died at 78 on January 12, 2022. Ronnie shaped the Ronettes with her older sister Estelle Bennett and cousin Nedra Talley in 1957.
She was once the gang's lead singer and sang the lead in some early-to-mid Sixties hit songs. Some of these songs include "Be My Baby," and "Walking in the Rain."
Before and after photograph of overdue American singer Ronnie Spector. | Photo: Getty Images
Ronnie launched into a solo profession in 1964 and had launched 5 studio albums after 1980. Thanks to the singer's musical exploits, she was once in a while referred to as the original "bad girl of rock and roll." Besides song, she wrote a memoir and was additionally an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Ronnie's demise has generated multiple reactions from enthusiasts and musicians as she contributed vastly to the song trade's enlargement. Find out more about the iconic singer and some of her accomplishments.
Ronnie Spector plays live to tell the tale level all over WOW - Women of the World Festival on the Queen Elizabeth Hall, on March 9, 2014. | Photo: Getty Images
RONNIE'S TURBULENT FIRST MARRIAGE
Ronnie began an affair with Phil Spector, who helped her achieve fame after signing to his record label in 1963. In the early days in their courting, she did not know he was once married.
However, he divorced his spouse in 1965 and bought a home in Beverly Hills, and then Ronnie moved in with him. On April 14, 1968, Ronnie and Phil tied the knot at Beverly Hills City Hall.
Ronnie's marriage to Phil was once some distance from a cheerful one for her as he subjected her to years of mental torment. He also sabotaged her profession by combating her from acting.
Phil Spector faces Judge Larry Paul Fidler in a Los Angeles court on May 29, 2009, to hear his sentence for the homicide of actress Lana Clarkson. | Photo: Getty Images
Ronnie was once imprisoned for seven years in her and Phil's Beverly Hills house. Within the walls, she used to be pressured to watch "Citizen Kane" repeatedly and sing "You Came, You Saw, You Conquered" to her husband day by day.
During an interview with The New Yorker, Ronnie printed Phil never allowed her to learn the newspaper or watch television. Thus, she used to be ignorant of the trends round her and within the country.
Besides these, Phil also put barbed wires and guard canine around the home. He also threatened her with weapons a couple of times in a bid to make her put up totally to him.
Phil Spector along with his lawyer Doran Weinberg in Los Angeles County Superior Court on January 22, 2009. | Photo: Getty Images
Phil rarely allowed Ronnie to go away the home on my own. When he did, she was once pressured to power with a life-sized dummy of him. He reportedly put in a gold coffin with a tumbler best in the basement and promised to kill her and show her corpse if she dared to go away him.
Even whilst Phil was serving a jail sentence for homicide, he frequently attempted to thwart her career after their divorce. For instance, he attempted without good fortune to stay her out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
He also refused to permit her to sing her two largest hits, "Be My Baby" and "Baby I Love You," because he co-wrote them.
RONNIE'S WORDS ABOUT HER LIBERATION
In a 2016 interview with Rolling Stone, Ronnie opened up about her divorce from Phil, which was once finalized in 1974, two years after she fled their mansion barefoot and without any property with her mom's lend a hand.
When asked if it felt good to be liberated from Phil, Ronnie mentioned he took making a song clear of her, which used to be devastating because she never thought she would ever record or carry out once more, which was once what her life was about. She added:
"I was in shock with that because here's a person who wrote your records and produced them. … And then, you're never gonna sing again."
Ronnie admitted she did not know karma works until Phil went to jail. It used to be after that she knew karma's which means. She explained:
"For seven years, I didn't go anywhere. I never saw a movie. I never did anything in California because everything was brought to me."
Phil died on January 16, 2021. Following his passing, Ronnie paid tribute to him despite the abusive nature in their marriage. In a Facebook post, she referred to Phil as the "best" and famous that it was a tragic day for her and tune on the whole.
Ronnie mentioned Phil was in complete keep an eye on and directed everyone and added that there used to be such a lot to like about those days. She additionally likened assembly and falling in love with Phil to a fairytale and added:
"The magical music we were able to make together, was inspired by our love. I loved him madly, and gave my heart and soul to him... he was a brilliant producer, but a lousy husband."
Ronnie stated it was once unfortunate that Phil may not are living and function outside the recording studio as darkness set in and lots of lives have been broken. However, she mentioned she smiled every time she listened to the tune they made in combination, adding that the tune would reside without end.
Ronnie's loss of life resulted from a short lived struggle with cancer.
RONNIE'S FIVE CHILDREN
Ronnie used to be survived by five children. She and Phil shared 3 children, Donte Phillip Spector and twins Gary Phillip Spector and Louis Phillip Spector. Donte was born on March 23, 1969, while Gary and Louis had been born on May 12, 1966.
Ronnie additionally shared two children, Jason Charles and Austin Drew, with her 2d husband, Jonathan Greenfield, whom she married in 1982. There is no information about when Jason and Austin have been born.
After tying the knot, Greenfield turned into Ronnie's manager. After the couple welcomed their sons, Ronnie faithful her time elevating them. However, in a 1999 interview with Billboard, she said she sought after to look her sons develop up. She also explained:
"Now that they're 15 and 16, I can start doing regular shows. It's [about] trying to have a real family, a real life, a real career, and real people around me."
Based on the 12 months of the interview and the ages Ronnie said Jason and Austin were on the time, they might be 37 and 38 now. Meanwhile, Ronnie's 3 older children with Phil, Donte, Gary, and Louis, were all adopted throughout their marriage.
ABOUT TWINS ADOPTION
Ronnie and Phil adopted Donte in 1969. However, two years after his adoption, Phil surprised Ronnie for Christmas with adopted twins Gary and Louis.
In a 2018 chat with People, Ronnie published Phil did not tell her about the twins ahead of adopting them. She revealed they had been in a automotive when he pulled as much as the mansion. There was a fountain, and the twins have been working around.
Ronnie requested Phil what was going down, and he needed her a Merry Christmas. She stated he never sought her opinion on the adoption. She explained:
"Everything was a surprise, and no woman wants live children as a surprise."
After this episode, her mother got here alongside and advised her she needed to depart Phil or she would finally end up shedding her lifestyles. With her mother's assist, Ronnie ultimately moved out of Phil's rental and again to her hometown in New York, the place she began over.
After her divorce from Phil, he used to be granted custody of the children whilst she kept her stage title.
RONNIE'S DEATH
Ronnie's death resulted from a temporary fight with cancer. In a statement, her circle of relatives stated she lived her life with a twinkle in her eye, a spunky perspective, a wicked humorousness, and a smile on her face. They also said she was full of love and gratitude.
Multiple tributes have flooded social media from several celebrities and lovers. Author Don Winslow shared a video of one of Ronnie's iconic performances and hailed her voice in his caption.
Musician Brian Wilson also mourned the singer's loss of life. He stated he liked her such a lot and that she used to be a very particular individual and an expensive friend. Brian stated he was once heartbroken and concluded by saying Ronnie's track and spirit would reside ceaselessly.
Singer and songwriter Stevie Van Zandt mentioned it was an honor to provide Ronnie and encouraged her to get back on level where she remained.
Writer Steve Silberman stated Ronnie changed pop tune with the Ronettes, escaped an abusive marriage with Phil, and spent years combating for the royalties she deserved.
There is no doubt that many extra tributes will proceed to pour in from all quarters as the days pass by. Ronnie was indeed a musical legend and deserved to be celebrated.
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