The Wall of Sound has fallen silent. Legendary music producer, convicted murderer and notorious eccentric Phil Spector has died at the age of 81. Spector died of natural causes according to a statement released by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Spector's music fame was eclipsed by the sensational murder trial that followed the shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson in 2003. He was convicted for killing her with a shotgun blast to the head.
The record producer got his start in the with a group called the Teddy Bears, singing background vocals on the 1958 hit, "To Know Him is to Love Him." Famous for his "Wall of Sound" production style, he went on to produce records for such luminaries as Ike & Tina Turner, the Beatles, Cher, and even the Ramones. Spector manned the boards for the punk icons' 1980 album, End of the Century.
"I have devils inside that fight me," Spector told NPR in 2007 during an interview from prison. "And I am my own worst enemy. And for all intents and purposes, I'd say I'm probably relatively insane."
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