Phil Spector
American record producer and murderer (1939–2021)
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Key Takeaways
- Harvey Phillip Spector (December 26, 1939 – January 16, 2021) was an American record producer and songwriter primarily known for his Wall of Sound production style in the 1960s, followed by his trials and imprisonment for murder in the 2000s.
- Born in the Bronx, Spector relocated to Los Angeles as a teenager and co-founded the Teddy Bears in 1958, writing their chart-topping single "To Know Him Is to Love Him".
- label owner at the time, and exerted unprecedented artistic control over his recordings, typically working in collaboration with arranger Jack Nitzsche, engineer Larry Levine, and professional songwriting teams.
- Having expanded to film production with The Big T.
- From 1970 to 1973, he produced the Beatles' Let It Be and solo recordings by John Lennon and George Harrison.
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Source summary
WikipediaHarvey Phillip Spector (December 26, 1939 – January 16, 2021) was an American record producer and songwriter primarily known for his Wall of Sound production style in the 1960s, followed by his trials and imprisonment for murder in the 2000s. Considered the first music producer auteur, he is the most successful American producer of the 1960s and widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in pop music history.
Born in the Bronx, Spector relocated to Los Angeles as a teenager and co-founded the Teddy Bears in 1958, writing their chart-topping single "To Know Him Is to Love Him". With Lester Sill, he co-established Philles Records in 1961, becoming the youngest U.S. label owner at the time, and exerted unprecedented artistic control over his recordings, typically working in collaboration with arranger Jack Nitzsche, engineer Larry Levine, and professional songwriting teams. His studio band, later known as the Wrecking Crew, rose to industry prominence through his success with acts like the Crystals, Darlene Love, the Ronettes, and the Righteous Brothers. Having expanded to film production with The Big T.N.T. Show, he temporarily withdrew from music after recording "River Deep – Mountain High" for Ike & Tina Turner. From 1970 to 1973, he produced the Beatles' Let It Be and solo recordings by John Lennon and George Harrison. He was also briefly head of A&R at the band's Apple Records. By 1980, following album productions for Dion DiMucci (Born to Be with You), Leonard Cohen (Death of a Ladies' Man), and the Ramones (End of the Century), he had entered a period of semi-retirement.
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