Bio

Harvey Philip Spector was born on December 26, 1939, in the Bronx, New York. He grew up in a Jewish family. In 1949, when he was just nine years old, his father died by suicide. This event deeply affected Spector and changed his family life. In 1953, seeking a new start, Spector and his mother moved to Los Angeles, California, along with his sister.

Once in Los Angeles, Spector became interested in music. He learned to play the guitar and found a passion for singing. When he was 16, he performed a song called "Rock Island Line" by Leadbelly at a talent show at Fairfax High School. At Fairfax High, he met other young musicians who would become important in his life, such as Lou Adler and Bruce Johnston. One of his early collaborators was Sandy Nelson, a drummer who played on Spector's first record.

At high school, Spector formed a band called the Teddy Bears with friends Marshall Lieb, Harvey Goldstein, and singer Annette Kleinbard. They began recording songs and went to local studios to learn about the music industry. Spector developed a relationship with Stan Ross, the co-owner of Gold Star Studios. Ross became a mentor for Spector, teaching him about record production.

By the spring of 1958, Spector and the Teddy Bears had saved enough money to record songs at Gold Star. Spector produced their first recorded song, "Don't You Worry My Little Pet." This led to a record deal with Era Records. They soon recorded another song, "To Know Him Is to Love Him," which became a big hit, reaching number one on the Billboard charts. The song was inspired by the engraving on his father's tombstone.

The Teddy Bears had early success but eventually split up in 1959. After the group disbanded, Spector shifted his focus from performing to producing music. He continued to build his skills and reputation, working with various artists and learning more about the recording industry. His early experiences laid the groundwork for his future success as a music producer.

Murder Story

On February 3, 2003, Phil Spector was arrested for the murder of Lana Clarkson. Clarkson, a 40-year-old actress and nightclub hostess, was found dead at Spector's home in Alhambra, California. Police responded to a 9-1-1 call made by Spector's driver, who told them that he believed his boss had killed someone. When officers arrived, they discovered Clarkson with a gunshot wound. The injury was consistent with a gun being placed in her mouth and discharged.

Spector was initially charged with murder on November 20, 2003. He claimed that Clarkson's death was an "accidental suicide." On October 28, 2005, a judge allowed statements Spector made to police to be used as evidence. One of his statements included, "I think I killed somebody." His lawyers argued that he was under the effects of prescription-drug withdrawal at the time of the statement.

During the first trial in 2007, the jury could not reach a verdict, resulting in a mistrial. The jury was split, with ten members favoring guilty and two in favor of not guilty. A second trial began in 2008, and this time, the evidence and testimonies about Spector's behavior were more thoroughly examined. On April 13, 2009, the jury convicted Spector of second-degree murder and found him guilty of using a firearm in the commission of the crime.

As a result of the conviction, Spector was sentenced to 19 years to life in prison on May 29, 2009. He would be eligible for parole when he is 88 years old.