Music producer Phil Spector, in 1970. Michael Ochs Archives
Music producer Phil Spector, 81, died on Saturday from covid, although the death was known this Sunday.
In the 1960s, Spector worked with The Beatles and changed the sound of pop forever thanks to his innovative
wall of sound
technique
.
However, in recent times his name was linked to very different circumstances.
In 2003 he was convicted of the murder of a Hollywood actress, Lana Clarkson.
Spector was diagnosed with covid four weeks ago and was transferred from California prison where he was serving a 19-year sentence for the crime to a hospital.
Although he apparently recovered and returned to jail, he found himself ill again and was again admitted to the hospital where he finally died.
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A young Spector created in the sixties a new recording system based on the layering of sound and reverb and equalization.
This technique transformed the pop sound.
On his hit list is the production of 20 number one between 1961 and 1965. In addition to the Beatles, he worked with Ike and Tina Turner and influenced the songs of the Beach Boys and Bruce Springsteen.
One fateful night in 2003, Spector met Clarkson at a bar.
They left him together and drove to the producer's mansion in his car.
Hours later, the driver heard a shot and saw his boss come out of a room and say: "I think I have killed someone."
This was detailed by the driver in his statement at the trial that ruled that Spector was guilty of murder in the second degree and sentenced him to 19 years in prison.