Phil Spector, the famous music producer who was convicted of the murder of actress Lana Clarkson in 2003, died on Saturday. He was 81 years old.
Spector, whose full name is Harvey Phillip Spector, died of natural causes at 6:35 pm in an unspecified hospital, according to a statement from the California Department of Corrections. A coroner will determine the official cause of death, according to the statement.
Long considered a visionary in the music world, Spector has produced albums for countless groups, including The Beatles, The Ronettes and The Righteous Brothers. Spector is responsible for creating the musical production technique known as “Wall of Sound”, which mixed vocal harmonies with orchestral arrangements.
The technique led to songs like “Da Doo Ron Ron” and “He’s a rebel” by Crystals and “Be My Baby” by The Ronettes.
Twenty-four of Spector’s records reached the Top 40 between 1960 and 1965, according to The New York Times.
Spector worked on iconic songs like “Unchained Melody” and “You Lost That Lovin ‘Feeling” by the Righteous Brothers. The latter made history, considered the most played song on radio and television in the 20th century, the Times reported.
He also produced “Let It Be” by The Beatles and “Imagine” by John Lennon.
Lennon referred to Spector as the “greatest music producer of all time,” the Associated Press reported, and other iconic musicians like Bruce Springsteen and Brian Wilson replicated Spector’s pioneering sound style.
In 2009, Spector was convicted of the murder of Clarkson at his castle-like mansion in the Alhambra, a suburb outside Los Angeles.
The murder took place in February 2003, when Spector took Clarkson to his home after meeting at the House of Blues. Spector’s chauffeur later testified that he heard a popping sound, with Spector emerging holding a revolver and declaring, “I think I killed someone,” according to the Times.
Police found Clarkson shot dead in the foyer at Spector’s home.
Clarkson was the star of the B movie “Barbarian Queen” and had a small role in the movie “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”.
A 2007 trial ended with a suspended jury and a new trial in 2009 found Spector guilty of second-degree murder.
He was sentenced to 19 years of life in prison, for which he served at the time of his death.
