Even with sexual icons like Marilyn Monroe emerging, women were still subject to a future in the kitchen and weren’t voicing their own opinions during the ‘50s. In the ‘60s, one woman decided she’d had enough. With some black eyeliner, a lot of singing talent, and an unwavering personality, Ronnie Bennet of ‘60s girl group The Ronettes defined an entire era of pop music and fashion and became the world’s first rock and roll vamp band.
The group hailed from New York and was comprised of Ronnie Bennet, sister Estelle, and cousin Nedra. After singing in clubs such as the Peppermint Lounge and working as a-go-go dancers, they were made a success by producer Phil Spector. He was impressed by their look with their tight skirts, beehive hairstyles and, of course, the sex kitten signature, the flicked eyeliner. He was particularly attracted to Ronnie’s hard but sweet voice and loved the bad girl attitude. Up until then, girl groups had no identity or even pictures on their record sleeves. That changed with The Ronettes.
When Be My Baby was released in 1963, Ronnie’s seductive delivery drove teenage boys wild and established them as the first sexy girl group. Lyrically addressing the boys themselves, performer to audience relations were never the same. The Ronettes also became fashion icons; they gave ‘60s fashion the sultry look and bad girl attitude that women still try to emulate until today.
The chart success continued with songs like Baby I Love You, and so did Ronnie’s collaborations with artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Alice Cooper. With her gutsy attitude and innocent sexuality, she became the most sought-after woman in the music industry. Without her, eyeliner, mascara, and mini skirts would never have had the same implications.
The group fronted acts like The Beatles, and John Lennon even pursued Bennet until her marriage to Spector. She is the only vocalist to have been backed by all four Beatles on her George Harrison-produced single Try Some, Buy Some in 1970.
She had a beauty that made her desirable and she was never afraid to use it. She inspired women to be powerful, and made a whole generation ditch their poodle skirts and pile on the eyeliner and mascara. She served as an inspiration and role model for women everywhere and was revolutionary in utilizing the power of fashion, makeup and pop music to liberate women, and pave the way for future vamps.