Editing The Crystals (section)

===Mounting tension and break-up===
Despite the steady flow of hit singles, tensions between Spector and the Crystals mounted. Already unhappy with having been replaced by Love and the Blossoms on two singles recordings, the Crystals were even more upset when Spector began focusing much of his time on his other girl group [[the Ronettes]]. Not only did the Ronettes become Philles Records' priority act, the Ronettes actually replaced the Crystals on four album tracks on the 1963 compilation LP, ''The Crystals Sing the Greatest Hits''. As well, there were disputes about royalties, with the Crystals feeling that Spector was withholding royalty money that was owed to them.

Two failed Crystals singles followed before the band left Spector's [[Philles Records]] for [[United Artists Records]] in 1964. "Little Boy", which reached number 92,<ref name="Awards"/> was a [[Wall of Sound]] production that was layered multiple times, which meant that the vocals were hard to distinguish from the music. "All Grown Up", their final Philles single (of which two versions exist), only reached number 98.<ref name="Awards"/>

1964 also saw the departure of Wright. She was replaced by Frances Collins (aka Fatima Johnson), a dancer whom they had met while touring and mother of the rapper [[Prodigy (rapper)|Prodigy]]. Toward the end of that year Alston also departed and was not replaced, leaving the group a trio. As a trio, they recorded two singles for [[United Artists]], "My Place"/"You Can't Tie a Good Girl Down" (Sep 1965) and "Are You Trying To Get Rid Of Me Baby"/"I Got A Man" (Feb 1966). One more single was released by Alston, Brooks and Thomas on the tiny Michelle Records in 1967 ("Ring-A-Ting-A-Ling"/"Should I Keep On Waiting") and they disbanded later that year.

They reunited in 1971 and performed until at least 2018. Kenniebrew is the only Crystal who remained active throughout their touring from the 1970s to then, performing with Patricia Pritchett-Lewis, a member since 2005, and Melissa "MelSoulTree" Grant, a member since 2002. That trio of Crystals self-released a CD in 2010 entitled ''Live in [[Asia]]'', recorded in [[Singapore]]. 

After living in Europe for two decades, Brooks returned to the US in 2001 and, as of 2022, performs under her own name across the world, and as the Crystals in the UK and [[Canada]], where she holds the trademark rights to the name. 

Barbara Alston died at a hospital in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]], on February 16, 2018, at age 74.<ref name="Chicago Tribune">{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-the-crystals-barbara-alston-dead-20180227-story.html|title=Barbara Alston, 'Da Doo Ron Ron' singer with 1960s group the Crystals, dies at 74|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|access-date=2021-12-01|date=February 27, 2018}}</ref><ref name="NME">{{cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/crystals-barbara-ann-alston-died-aged-74-2248475|title=The Crystals' Barbara Ann Alston has died, aged 74|publisher=[[NME]]|access-date=2021-12-01|date=February 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article201611459.html|title=Lead singer for '60s girl group behind hits like 'Da Doo Ron Ron' dies in Charlotte|accessdate=February 23, 2018|work=[[The Charlotte Observer]]}}</ref>