Phil Spector, the famous music producer convicted of the murder of actor Lana Clarkson in 2003, died on Saturday. He was 81.
Spector, full name Harvey Phillip Spector, died at an unspecified hospital of natural causes at 6:35 p.m., according to a statement from the California Department of Corrections. According to the release, a medical examiner will determine the official cause of death.
Spector, who has long been considered a visionary in the music world, has produced albums for numerous groups, including The Beatles, the Ronettes and the Royalty Brothers. Spector is attributed to the creation of the music production technique known as the ‘Wall of Sound’, which combined vocal harmonies with orchestral arrangements.
The technique led to songs like ‘Da Doo Ron Ron’ and ‘He’s a Rebel’ from The Crystals and ‘Be My Baby’ from The Ronettes.
Twenty-four of Spector’s records ended up in the Top 40 between 1960 and 1965, according to The New York Times.
Spector worked on iconic songs like “Unchained Melody” and “You’ve Lost That Lovin ‘Feeling” from The Righteous Brothers. The latter made history, considered the most played song on radio and television of the 20th century, reports the Times.
He also produced The Beatles’ “Let It Be” and John Lennon’s “Imagine”.
Lennon referred to Spector as the ‘greatest producer ever’, the Associated Press reported, and other iconic musicians such as Bruce Springsteen and Brian Wilson reflected on the style of sound that Spector pioneered.
In 2009, Spector was convicted of murdering Clarkson in his castle-like mansion in the Alhambra, a suburb on the outskirts of Los Angeles.
The murder took place in February 2003 when Spector Clarkson drove up to his house after meeting at House of Blues. Spector’s driver later testified that he heard a bang, while Spector then came forward while holding a revolver and said, “I think I killed someone,” according to the Times.
Police found Clarkson fatally shot in the foyer of Spector’s home.
Clarkson was the star of the B-movie “Barbarian Queen” and played a small role in the movie “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.”
A trial in 2007 ended in a pending jury, and a retrial in 2009 convicted Spector of second-degree murder.
He was sentenced to 19 years life imprisonment, which he served at the time of his death.
