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Phil Spector is the legendary record producer who, using a multi-layered recording technique that would come to be known as the "Wall Of Sound," created a string of classic rock 'n' roll records during the early sixties. Spector's recordings spawned an adoring fanbase who proclaimed their devotion in slogans like "Back To Mono" and "To Know Him Is Love To Him".
These hits included several by so-called "girl groups" like the Crystals and the Ronettes (named for Spector's eventual wife, Ronnie). While songs like "Be My Baby" and "Baby, I Love You" captured the innocence of romantic love, Spector productions of the Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" and Ike And Tina Turner's "River Deep, Mountain High" would be hailed as masterpieces.
Latter-day Spector productions of the Beatles Let it Be and the Ramones End Of The Century proved less memorable, as Spector's behavior also grew more erratic. Bizarre stories of a dark side soon emerged, including stories involving guns. Words like "deranged" soon became as commonly associated with Spector as "genius."
In the blogosphere this would climax when Spector was charged with the 2003 murder of actress Lana Clarkson — making the producer a regular fixture on celebrity justice blogs.
Spector's first trial for the crime resulted in a mistrial. However, on April 13, 2009 he was convicted of 2nd-degree murder for the crime in Los Angeles.
