Legendary “Wall of Sound” music producer Phil Spector dead at 80 from COVID-19

Legendary “Wall of Sound” music producer Phil Spector has died in prison at 80 from COVID-19, according to a report in TMZ.

Spector had been serving a 19-to-life sentence for the murder of Lana Clarkson.

Spector came to fame in the 60s with his “wall of sound” production style, a thick, pulsing barrage of instrumentation that perfectly accompanied the great early vocalists he worked with. His early run included legendary track like the Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody,” The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby,” The Crystals’ “He’s a Rebel,” and many more.

Spector also had a long working relationship with The Beatles, producing their Let It Me album, and working with John Lennon on “Imagine,” and “Instant Karma.”

He also worked with Ike and Tina Turner on their classic “River Deep, Mountain High,” and would later work with the Ramones on the controversial End of the Century album, during which the band claims he held them hostage at gunpoint one evening at his home.

In 2003, actress Lana Clarkson was found dead in Spector’s home from a gunshot wound. Spector was found guilty of her murder in 2009 and sentenced to 19-years-to-life.

Revisit some of Spector’s timeless work below.