Toyin Dong, Daughter of Singer Estelle Bennett of Legendary Ronettes, Discussed Mom's Mental Illness at Brooklyn Community Services TLC Women's Shelter
Brooklyn Community Services’ Transitional Living Community Women’s Shelter hosted a talk with Toyin Dong, daughter of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame singer Estelle Bennett of Ronettes on “Growing Up with a Mother Affected by Mental Illness.” Ronettes were famous, glamorous girl group with mega music hit “Be My Baby,” who toured with the Rolling Stones and the Beatles during the 1960s.
Brooklyn, NY, November 09, 2017 --(PR.com)-- Toyin Dong, the daughter of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame singer Estelle Bennett of the Ronettes, spoke with the women of Brooklyn Community Services’ Transitional Living Community shelter (TLC) on November 3 about growing up with a mother who suffered from mental illness whom she later discovered was a music icon.
TLC, located in the Brooklyn Women’s Shelter in East New York, supports homeless women who are recovering from severe mental illness and dealing with domestic violence, sexual assault, or trauma. BCS provides counseling, temporary shelter and assistance to secure permanent housing.
During the 1960s, Estelle, her sister Ronnie and cousin Nedra were the legendary glam girl group the Ronettes. Raised in Spanish Harlem, Estelle was known as studious and fashion savvy. She graduated from Manhattan’s George Washington High School as valedictorian and studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology. The Ronettes became famous for their riveting sound and ogled for their beauty. Their 1963 mega hit “Be My Baby” (produced by Phil Spector, who later married Ronnie) continues to be ranked on Billboard’s Chart as the #1 Girl Group song of all time. By 1964, the Ronettes were the opening act for Rolling Stones’ Britain tour and in 1966, they teamed up with the Beatles for a phenomenal 14-city tour across America. Estelle’s fabulous lifestyle included special friendships with rock icons Mick Jagger and George Harrison before marrying Toyin’s father, Ronette road manager Joe Dong.But with all of her enormous success, Estelle suffered from mental illness and it deeply affected Toyin throughout her childhood.
Toyin grew up in Brooklyn, where she spent the majority of her childhood in a one bedroom apartment with a mentally ill mother who was unable to care for her. It wasn't until she was an adolescent that Toyin began to discover that her mother had been a music legend. Now, she is uncovering the many layers of her mother’s journey through fame and misfortune.
Currently, Toyin is working on a new book that talks about her childhood and journey to build up her self-worth, persevere, and achieve her goals. Now, she sees her mother as a personal gift and shares her story as a way to continue to heal and empower people who are impacted by mental illness.
“All my life, my mother was swallowed by mental illness,” said Toyin. “Mental illness rendered my mother completely withdrawn denying her the capacity to revel in her accomplishments. As a little girl, my young soul searched for a mother yearning to belong and be seen, but I was cast as an invisible motherless child.”
Today, Toyin is a proud mother of four sons. The oldest is in his first year of college. “At an early age, I experienced the praise associated with academic achievement. I began to develop my self-esteem and worth through scholastic accolades,” she recalled. “This determination for academic success rewarded me with scholarships to private school and matriculation all the way through graduate school.”
In 2007, Toyin was thrilled to escort her mother to the illustrious Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony and witness a happy Estelle and the Ronettes receive this legendary honor. Two years later, Estelle died at age 67 of cancer, compounded by living with anorexia and schizophrenia, and at times being homeless. “My purpose is to share my journey which includes the gift of my mother’s story,” said Toyin. “I move forward paying homage to my mother who was unable to reclaim herself after succumbing to mental illness.”
Join the conversation with Brooklyn Community Services at www.WeAreBCS.org, Facebook and LinkedIn at Brooklyn Community Services, and Instagram and Twitter at @WeAreBCS.org.
TLC, located in the Brooklyn Women’s Shelter in East New York, supports homeless women who are recovering from severe mental illness and dealing with domestic violence, sexual assault, or trauma. BCS provides counseling, temporary shelter and assistance to secure permanent housing.
During the 1960s, Estelle, her sister Ronnie and cousin Nedra were the legendary glam girl group the Ronettes. Raised in Spanish Harlem, Estelle was known as studious and fashion savvy. She graduated from Manhattan’s George Washington High School as valedictorian and studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology. The Ronettes became famous for their riveting sound and ogled for their beauty. Their 1963 mega hit “Be My Baby” (produced by Phil Spector, who later married Ronnie) continues to be ranked on Billboard’s Chart as the #1 Girl Group song of all time. By 1964, the Ronettes were the opening act for Rolling Stones’ Britain tour and in 1966, they teamed up with the Beatles for a phenomenal 14-city tour across America. Estelle’s fabulous lifestyle included special friendships with rock icons Mick Jagger and George Harrison before marrying Toyin’s father, Ronette road manager Joe Dong.But with all of her enormous success, Estelle suffered from mental illness and it deeply affected Toyin throughout her childhood.
Toyin grew up in Brooklyn, where she spent the majority of her childhood in a one bedroom apartment with a mentally ill mother who was unable to care for her. It wasn't until she was an adolescent that Toyin began to discover that her mother had been a music legend. Now, she is uncovering the many layers of her mother’s journey through fame and misfortune.
Currently, Toyin is working on a new book that talks about her childhood and journey to build up her self-worth, persevere, and achieve her goals. Now, she sees her mother as a personal gift and shares her story as a way to continue to heal and empower people who are impacted by mental illness.
“All my life, my mother was swallowed by mental illness,” said Toyin. “Mental illness rendered my mother completely withdrawn denying her the capacity to revel in her accomplishments. As a little girl, my young soul searched for a mother yearning to belong and be seen, but I was cast as an invisible motherless child.”
Today, Toyin is a proud mother of four sons. The oldest is in his first year of college. “At an early age, I experienced the praise associated with academic achievement. I began to develop my self-esteem and worth through scholastic accolades,” she recalled. “This determination for academic success rewarded me with scholarships to private school and matriculation all the way through graduate school.”
In 2007, Toyin was thrilled to escort her mother to the illustrious Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony and witness a happy Estelle and the Ronettes receive this legendary honor. Two years later, Estelle died at age 67 of cancer, compounded by living with anorexia and schizophrenia, and at times being homeless. “My purpose is to share my journey which includes the gift of my mother’s story,” said Toyin. “I move forward paying homage to my mother who was unable to reclaim herself after succumbing to mental illness.”
Join the conversation with Brooklyn Community Services at www.WeAreBCS.org, Facebook and LinkedIn at Brooklyn Community Services, and Instagram and Twitter at @WeAreBCS.org.
Contact
Brooklyn Community Services
Fern Gillespie
718-310-5615
www.wearebcs.org
Fern Gillespie
718-310-5615
www.wearebcs.org
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