Pitchfork

According to an AP report, former Ronette Estelle Bennett passed away Wednesday at her home in New Jersey at age 67. Along with sister Ronnie and cousin Nedra Talley, Estelle helped create 1960s hits including "(Walking) in the Rain", "Baby, I Love You", and the unstoppable "Be My Baby", which came in at number six on Pitchfork's 200 Greatest Songs of the '60s list. It's one of the few songs everyone on earth seems to know by heart-- as if we were born with it-- and it will keep Estelle's voice alive for generations.

While Ronnie was the celebrated girl group's star, Estelle's backups were a vital part of producer Phil Spector's innovative wall of sound technique. The Ronettes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.

Brother-in-law Jonathan Greenfield told the Associated Press, "Estelle was Ronnie's sidekick in the Ronettes. She was very much into fashion and worked with Ronnie on the whole look and style of the Ronettes." On her website, Ronnie Spector wrote, "To my beloved sister, rest in peace, you deserve it. I Love You."