NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Phil Spector, the renowned music producer who was imprisoned for murder, has died at the age of 81.
Sources told TMZ that Spector died of COVID-related complications. His daughter, Nicole Audrey Spector, later confirmed that to the New York Times, which reported Spector was diagnosed with COVID in late November at the California prison where he was incarcerated.
Nicole Audrey Spector told the Times that her father was intubated after being taken to San Joaquin General Hospital on Dec. 31.
California state prison officials told the Associated Press that Spector died Saturday.
Spector is known for a string of hits in the 1960s and for his groundbreaking “Wall of Sound” production technique used by the Righteous Brothers, the Ronettes, the Crystals and other groups. He also worked with the Beatles.
In 2009, he was sentenced to 19 years-to-life in prison in the 2003 murder of actress Lana Clarkson at his Los Angeles mansion.