Ronnie Spector with Vince Waldren

Harmony Books.

Book & Music Reviews by

B.D. POE

BE MY BABY is the title of both the smash
1963 hit single by the Ronettes and Ronnie
Spector's autobiography. Full of amusing

anecdotes about John Lennon, The Rolling
Stones, Bowie, Springsteen and others.
IT is a rare glimpse into the private life
and character of Rock's legendary
Producer Phil Spector, the man whose
WALL OF SOUND influenced the entire
music industry in the early 60's

Sonny & Cher got their start with Phil
Spector and provided backing vocals for many
of Spector's Artists' hits. Strangely, Phil and
Ronnie's marriage was even more tragic than
Sonny & Cher's.

Ronnie Spector's story could be described
as The rock and roll Cinderella meets the
Phantom of the Opera! It is the story of a
black teenage girl's rise to stardom at the
top of the industry; her fairy tale like
interracial romance, marriage and it's
horrific undoing.

Be MY BABY is about personal discovery,
transition, and recovery. It is a kiss and tell
book in which Ronnie candidly recounts some
of her most intimate moments. It is a rare
glimpse behind the scenes of Rock's most
exciting era.

There are stories about her family playing
host to The Rolling Stones when they first
came to America. How, despite their image,
the Stones were not the hell raisers that the
Beatles were! How John Lennon seduced her
is one of the many highlights of the book.
"John started moving his hands around in places
I didn't even know I had" she recalls.

Marrying Multimillionaire Phil Spector and moving
into a palatial mansion in Hollywood was a dream come
true for a black girl from Spanish Harlem, but it quickly
turned into a nightmare. Phil stopped recording Ronnie
who was at her peak. He grew increasingly eccentric.
Phil used everything at his command to keep Ronnie
under lock and key, out of the studio and away from her
family and friends. He orchestrated her every move.

Her despair led to alcoholism and madness.
The story of her escape is compelling.
Her recovery - a triumph.
Her story - a candid history of the music industry.