Revolutionary producer Phil Spector , who was serving a life sentence for murder, has died at the age of 81.
“ Harvey Phillip Spector , 81, was pronounced dead from natural causes on Saturday, January 16, at a hospital outside the prison. The official cause of death will be determined after an autopsy by the coroner at the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office,” said the statement from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
TMZ reported that Spector was hospitalized due to complications from COVID-19.
Phil Spector was responsible for transforming the role of record producer, which used to be someone who stayed in the "obscure back room," into something akin to that of a film director.
Between 1960 and 1965, Phil Spector produced over 25 hits, writing or co-writing many of them with artists such as The Ronettes and The Crystals . After that, he collaborated with The Beatles , John Lennon , George Harrison , Leonard Cohen , and the Ramones in the late 1970s.
Among his most famous works is the production of the Beatles' album Let It Be in 1970, as well as the creation of the formula known as the Wall of Sound , which was extensively used by Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys .
The song “Imagine” was written by John Lennon at a large white piano alongside his then-wife, Yoko Ono . In the studio, the former Beatle's track gained bass lines, drums, and a chord arrangement co-produced by Phil Spector.
“You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'” by The Righteous Brothers , which was the most played song on US radio in the 20th century, and the immortal “My Sweet Lord” by George Harrison, also appear on the list of brilliant productions created by Spector.
End of the Century , the legendary 1980 Ramones album, was one of Spector's last works. The album features the hits "Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio?" and "Rock 'n' Roll High School," among others.
On April 13, 2009, Phil Spector was found guilty of murder in the case of the death of an actress at his mansion, which occurred six years earlier. Prosecutors said Spector shot and killed actress Lana Clarkson at his mansion in the early morning hours of February 3, 2003, after meeting her hours earlier at the nightclub where she worked.
READ MORE : John Lennon: Listen to the original demo of "Imagine," which will be released in a new box set.