Phil Spector was a legendary figure in rock ‘n’ roll. Beginning in the 1960s and 70s, he produced successful tracks for various artists like the Beatles, the Ronettes, and Tina Turner. He is known for pioneering the “Wall of Sound” music production technique and was even inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
However, by 2003, when he crossed paths with Lana Clarkson, a 40-year-old actress who also worked as a hostess, Spector’s behavior had become more reclusive and marred by occasional eccentric and violent episodes. He resided in a hilltop, castle-like residence in Alhambra at the time.
On the early morning of Feb. 3, 2003, shortly after their first encounter at the Sunset Strip Club, Clarkson was discovered deceased in Spector’s mansion. She was found seated with a fatal gunshot wound to her mouth in the foyer of Spector’s lavish 10-bedroom, eight-bathroom estate.
The chauffeur who drove both of them to Spector’s home reported hearing a gunshot around 5 a.m., followed by Spector emerging from the house with a firearm in hand, confessing, “I think I just shot her.”
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Spector’s assertion was that Clarkson had shot herself. This incident forms the basis of an installment in Netflix’s true crime docuseries, Homicide: Los Angeles, created by Dick Wolf, the mastermind behind Law & Order. (An exclusive clip is featured below.)
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Authorities disputed Spector’s explanation, resulting in his arrest and indictment for Clarkson’s murder. Outraged by the legal action, he condemned the District Attorney, likening their conduct to that of Hitler and his followers, as per CBS News.
Following a 15-day deliberation, the jurors at Spector’s initial trial in 2007 failed to reach a unanimous decision.
A retrial commenced in October 2008. During this retrial, Los Angeles County prosecutor Truc Do characterized Spector as a “dangerous individual” who had engaged in dangerous behavior with multiple women, referring to an incident of Russian roulette involving six women, with Lana being the sixth, as reported by CNN.
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Spector’s defense argued that Clarkson was in a distressed state and had used the 38-caliber pistol to end her own life.
Spector was convicted of second-degree murder and given a sentence of 19 years to life in prison, per CNN.
In 2013, Al Pacino portrayed Spector in HBO’s biopic Spector, detailing the events of his first trial.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed in 2021 that Spector passed away at 81 in an external medical facility due to complications related to COVID, as reported by New York Times.
Following his demise, Ronnie Bennett, lead vocalist of the Ronettes and Spector’s second spouse, expressed on Instagram that while Spector was a gifted producer, he fell short as a partner, according to the BBC.
“Observing Phil Spector’s creative process in the studio, I knew I was witnessing greatness,” she shared. “He was in complete command, orchestrating everyone. Those were memorable times.
“Meeting him and falling in love felt like a fairy tale,” her account continues. “The enchanting music we crafted together was born from our love. I adored him deeply and dedicated myself to him wholeheartedly.
“Regrettably, Phil struggled to cope outside the confines of the studio. Darkness crept in, leading to harm in many lives.”
The new series, Homicide: Los Angeles, is produced by Wolf Entertainment and Alfred Street Industries with Dick Wolf, Tom Thayer, Jane Lipsitz, Dan Cutforth, Nan Strait, Dan Volpe, and Adam Kassen as executive producers.
Homicide: Los Angeles debuts on Netflix on July 16.
