Phil Spector
Phil Spector, arguably the most influential music producer of the 1960s, has died at the age of 81. Spector passed away of natural causes, according to reports, while serving out his prison sentence for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson.
Spector created his “Wall of Sound” production style for groups such as The Ronettes, Darlene Love and others in the ’60s, influencing countless musicians for decades to come. However, his erratic personality and 2009 murder conviction eventually overshadowed his career.
Spector began his career as a musician when he was a teenager, working with legendary songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, quickly co-writing, playing on and producing a number of iconic hit songs of the late ’50s and early ’60s, primarily working with girl groups such as The Crystals. He’d already co-founded his own record label by the age of 21. Working with the famous “Wrecking Crew” session musicians, Spector continued to oversee some of the biggest pop hits of the early ’60s and even co-wrote and produced what would become a new holiday standard, Darlene Love‘s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” During this time frame, Spector produced “He’s a Rebel,” “Be My Baby, “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” and numerous other smash hits.
In the late ’60s, Spector briefly left the music industry and married singer Ronnie Bennett of The Ronnettes. Changing her name to Ronnie Spector, she later detailed Spector’s years of abuse and disturbing behavior during their marriage in her autobiography. Spector went on to famously produce and help finish The Beatles‘ final album, Let It Be and worked with John Lennon on his solo releases, including returning to producing another Christmas classic with “Happy Xmas (War is Over).” He survived a near-fatal car crash in 1974. In 1980, Spector produced the fourth Ramones album, End of the Century, and reported pulled a gun on the band members during the sessions.
He gradually withdrew from the music industry and unfortunately returned to the public eye in 2003. Police were called to his California mansion where actress Lana Clarkson was found shot dead. Spector was charged with second-degree murder. After a deadlocked jury, Spector went through a second murder trial. He was convicted and in 2009, sentenced to 19 years in prison.
