Music producer Phil Spector has died at the age of 81.
Phil, who had worked closely with some of the biggest names in music including The Beatles, died following Covid related complications, American publication TMZ reported.
The publication reports that he passed after being transferred from his prison cell to a hospital to seek treatment.
It’s reported he tested positive for coronavirus around four weeks ago but is said to have recovered in hospital and returned to prison again before he died.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has confirmed Phil died of natural causes in hospital.
Phil is serving a 19 years-to-life sentence after he was found guilty of murdering Lana Clarkson.
Phil Spector has died at the age of 81 (Image: Getty Images)
A source told TMZ: “He relapsed, had trouble breathing and was rushed back to the hospital, where he died Saturday.”
A California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation statement said: “California Health Care Facility inmate Phillip Spector was pronounced deceased of natural causes at 6.35pm on Saturday, January 16, 2021, at an outside hospital.
“His official cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner in the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office.”
The star had a blossoming career in music before he murdered actress Lana in 2003.
Phil developed the Wall of Sound, a music production formula he described as a Wagnerian approach to rock and roll.
In 1969, he produced the Beatles’ album Let It Be (1970), as well as several solo records by the band’s John Lennon and George Harrison.
Phil died following Covid-19 complications (Image: AFP/Getty Images)
In 2003, Phil killed actress Lana and in 2009 he was finally sent to prison.
Lana, 40, known for starring in films including Barbarian Queen, died of a gunshot fired into her mouth.
She was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head in the foyer of the music mogul’s Alhambra, California mansion in 2003.
In a magazine interview, Spector had claimed she had “kissed the gun” before pulling the trigger herself, however the jury unanimously agreed he had murdered the actress.
It took two trials, spread out over six years, to put Phil behind bars – a hung jury and a mistrial marked the end of Spector’s first murder trial in September 2007.
In 2009, he was found guilty of second-degree murder in the April.
Actress Lana Clarkson was killed in 2003 (Image: Getty Images)
During the two trials, the record producer was portrayed as a gun-loving “monster” who liked to pick on women assistants and girlfriends.
Former girlfriends and assistants lined up to testify against the mogul.
Throughout the case, Phil and his legal team maintained depressed Clarkson shot herself.
In 2013, a film about his murder trial was released, with Al Pacino starring as the criminal, while Helen Mirren played attorney Linda Kenney Baden.
Spector, who was born in The Bronx, New York, made his name as a record producer for what became known as the “wall of sound” recording technique with its dense, layered effect.
When he was just 17 years old and performing with the Teddy Bears, Spector had a top 10 hit in the US with To Know Him Is To Love Him.
However he was best known for his role as a producer, working with some of biggest stars in music including John Lennon, whose 1971 hit Imagine he produced.
Ike and Tina Turner, The Ronettes, The Righteous, Cher, Bruce Springsteen and The Beatles all also worked with the producer.
Spector produced Let It Be, The Beatles’ final album, which was released in 1970.
Spector was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
After 23 years, Spector came out of retirement in 2003 to work with UK band Starsailor on their album Silence Is Easy.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
