Unquestionably a musical genius whose "wall of sound" production techniques
changed pop and elevated the humble producer to artistic powerhouse, Phil
Spector's famously deranged personality finally caught up with him in 2009 with
a 19-year prison sentence for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson. Born in New
York (December 26, 1939) and raised in California, Spector took up guitar in his
teens, forming the Teddy Bears, who had a US Number 1 with his song “To Know Him
Is to Love Him”. He left to join top songwriters Leiber & Stoller in New York,
co-writing the Ben E King hit “Spani...