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Estelle Mobley Bennett was born in a huge loving family, The Mobleys in July 22, 1941. 2 years later her sister, Veronica Yvette Bennett was born. They were of African and Native American descent.
Estelle's childhood and teenage years were spent with things she enjoyed. Coming from a family with a musical background, she was signed in for ballet and singing lesson and was destined to become a singer. She also had a thing for fashion, reading magazines, studying in FIT, and worked at Macy's. Estelle was also an elegant and poised, soft spoken and lady-like Bullies thought her to be a snob
In the late 1950's her sister compiled their close family: Ira, Diane, Elaine, Nedra, Veronica and Estelle to make a group. The group didn't last long as Ira was kicked out of the group because of his stage fright, Elaine and Diana were also pulled out because of their religious mother. Leaving the Three girls. Nedra,Veronica, and Estelle. Veronica became the leading lady, leaving Nedra and Estelle in her shadow.
In the early 60's They were signed to Colpix records as Ronnie(Veronica) and the Relatives, released some songs that went unnoticed but they were the number one girl group! (For bat mitzvahs) After the Record company's unsuccessful promotions, the girls went on to find a different Record Company. Here comes Phil Spector and more specifically, Phillies. After fooling Colpix into releasing them from their contract, the girls officially signed into Phillies.
Their first single now known as "The Ronettes", released in 1963, "Be my baby" was a smashing hit and their biggest, becoming an instant classic and what some people say as "The perfect pop song". Though never having a no.1 hit (peaking at no.2) , they were the no.1 girl group in England, so they went there in 1964 for a tour! There they met The Rolling Stones.. Nedra had an affair with Brian Jones, often flicking people off when they were walking the streets as the chocolate-vanilla swirl kind of couples were controversial back then. Veronica had an affair with Keith Richards, lasting decades with Keith inducting The Ronettes into the R&R HOF. And Estelle had an affair with Mick Jagger, often being by his side in pictures. 2/3 of the affairs disintegrated once they left England.
Estelle also owned a Black Jaguar(The car) and was a bad driver, often speeding red lights and making Mick Jagger fear for his life whenever he rode with her. She lost the Jaguar because she parked it one day and forgot where it was.
October 11, 1964. They were to appear at the London Palladium where The Beatles would have seen them for the first time (On TV.) They immediately became big fans and longed to met the girls. Then.. They met! Relationships sparked, Nedra being rumoured to having an affair with Ringo, but refusing to talk about it. Veronica having an affair with John Lennon where he persuaded her and was met with bittersweet rejection. But Estelle confirmed a relationship with George. Spending their first night together singing songs in a hotel room while George played the guitar. The Ronettes had to go back to America, but George and Estelle's love didn't fade like the last time. Often having phone calls with each other that lasted hours, and George flying to her city on his one day off. They broke up eventually because of scheduling issues, met again in 1966, remained friends but never had the spark again.
1966 came and The Ronettes was billed for The Beatles tour. Making them the first and only Girl group to tour with them. Veronica was not in the tour because of her jealous fiancè cause he knew about Veronica and John's relationship. They succesfully performed in the tour.
Lala Brooks of the Crystals saw Estelle at the store and greeted her, noticing a sadness in her eyes. "Veronica doesn't want to work with us anymore.." Knowing that a break up was incoming.
1967 came and after a last tour in Germany, The Ronettes were no longer. And it became the straw that broke the camel's back for Estelle's mental health.
Estelle already had signs of deteriorating Mental health in the weeks before the break up. These things aside, she released two solo singles in 1968, all going unnoticed. Then in 1969 she became part of another girl group "The Love Chain" and still went unnoticed. The same year she was hospitalized for anorexia. Refusing to eat and claiming that her food was poisoned. This was the first sign that something was really wrong but nobody did anything about it after she was released from the hospital. In 1972 she joined the group "The 1984" and released 2 songs, all without surprise, still going unnoticed.
Her developing schizophrenia aside, she stayed well kept and had a child in 1972, Toyin with her long time boyfriend which was also The Ronettes' tour manager, Joey.
Come 1973, Veronica wants to revive The Ronettes and auditioned Estelle to be part of the revival (Nedra rejected being part of it). Estelle was out of rhythm, didn't know the moves, and Veronica stopped the music. Veronica chuckled and said "Are you joking?", but was hit with a look of sorrow on Estelle's face. Estelle was never part of the revival, but attended the shows and signed autographs when she was recognized in the audience.
Behind the scenes, Estelle was struggling with an abusive baby daddy. Toyin and Estelle lived together in an apartment complex and whenever Toyin's father came, Toyin remembered her parents fighting, Joey telling Estelle to stop wearing a wig, snatching it away from her, causing her to fall to the ground screaming "Stop Joey! Stop!". Toyin was eventually taken away from her when Toyin was 12. Toyin remembered despising her mother because she looked like a bag lady and tied plastic wrap handles around her wrists. Before being taken away, Estelle told her family about Joey's plans of taking Toyin and the family protested, saying "You can't let him do that! Thats our blood!" Estelle answered with "Let him do what he wants aslong as nobod is harmed..". You have to know, Estelle hated conflict, she hated everything that contained hate, so she avoided it even if that meant sacrificing her self so she let everybody use her, she let everybody do anything to her.
Nedra also remembered Estelle as being as soft-spoken as a 7 year old when she visited. One time, she spent the night with a baby Toyin and slept through the whole night even with a screaming Toyin beside her, poor thing was tired.
The 1980s-1990s was hazy for Estelle. Living in hotel lobbys, roaming the streets saying that "The Ronettes are going to be performing in a nearby jazz club!" (Possibly seeing one of Veronica's posters as Veronica often promoted herself as "Ronnie and The Ronettes".) Estelle also never wanted to stay where she was, roaming the streets by choice. Family members didn't know where she was and once they got a hold of her she disappeared, following the path of the music she was hearing, music that nobody else heard.
Then 2007 came. Keith Richards inducted "The Ronettes" into the R&R HOF and a ceremony was incoming. Meaning that Estelle had to come. Someone tracked her down and they hired a life coach named Caryl to get her on track, to finally live a normal life before the Ceremony. Day to day Caryl and Estelle did things to check off Estelle's Bucket list. Then the night of the ceremony came, Estelle was too frail and couldn't perform but Toyin came and became her escort, The photos of them at the R&R HOF were the first photos Toyin had with her mother after since the age of 8. Toyin also commented that that was the first time she saw her mother become an actual star. "People would be calling her name and she posed for the cameras! I was shocked, who was this woman?"
After the ceremony, Toyin had the realization that her mother was mentally ill and needed help so she stayed connected, giving her a phone, and paying for an apartment complex in New Jersey. Estelle would often call Toyin with her phone, "Hello this is Estelle, your mom. Is this Toyin?" these were the only words she would say, but still called Toyin everyday. Once they met face-to-face, Estelle always brought little girl clothes and toys for Toyin, viewing her as a little girl.
2009, Nedra called Estelle asking her to visit. Estelle said yes and Nedra was excited, buying her a bus ticket. The day of the visit came and Nedra was at the bus stop waiting for Estelle's bus to arrive. The bus arrived and Estelle wasn't there; Thinking that Estelle missed the bus and was late, she waited for the second one to come by. Once she searched the whole bus without signs of Estelle, she knew something was wrong.
Kevin Dilworth, a long time friend, came to visit Estelle, opened her door, and was met with a scene that would reveal the reason why Estelle never came to visit Nedra.. Estelle died of colon cancer at the age of 67. It's never known if Estelle knew of her cancer as she was afraid of doctors and needles.
I made this post to discuss Estelle's life.. If anyone is interested please keep it going in the comments.