Remembering Estelle Bennett

[GoogaMooga]

Ten years ago, we lost Estelle Bennett, sister of Ronnie Spector, and member of the legendary Ronettes. According to the cousin and co-member of Ronettes, Nedra Tally, Estelle was the quiet, sophisticated one. She had a flair for design and helped develop the trio's signature look, sassy and street-smart, a far cry from the more innocent look of the girl groups at the time. Ronettes were the beehived queens of 1960s girl-group pop - sexy and alluring. Estelle especially, had admirers as famous as Mick Jagger, George Harrison, and Johnny Mathis. When the Ronettes broke up in 1967, Estelle was devastated. She did not manage a solo career and never got over the demise of the group. After a few unsuccessful records, she left music altogether, and struggled with mental illness for much of her adult life. She lived long enough to see her former group inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, and was present at the ceremony, where she gave an emotional acceptance speech. Estelle did not want the Ronettes to end.

[Muskrat]

Johnny Mathis?

[GoogaMooga]

That's what NY Times wrote.

[Muskrat]

I wouldn’t think she was his type. But if the NYT says so...

[Charlie O.]

I'm sure they looked good together.

[GoogaMooga]

Okay, a personal friend of Estelle has told me they were not suitors, and that the group disbanded in 1967, so I've edited the post and written admirers and 1967 instead.