Regarded as one of the most brilliant minds in music to this day, the former producer, musician and songwriter, convicted of murder in 2009, has died at the age of 81. Spector is credited with a production technique called Wall of Sound and was, without doubt, one of the most influential musicians of his time.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has confirmed to the media that he died of natural causes on Saturday evening. However, according to TMZ he was diagnosed with coronavirus four weeks ago and was transferred from his prison cell to a hospital.
According to their sources, he recovered enough to return to prison but relapsed, had trouble breathing and was taken back to the hospital, where he died.
A California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation statement said: "His official cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner in the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office."
In 2009, he was jailed for a minimum sentence of 19 years for murdering actress Lana Clarkson. 40-year-old Clarkson died of a gunshot fired into her mouth while she was at Spector's mansion in 2003.
Spector is credited with a production technique called Wall of Sound, and also one of the most influential musicians of his time.
He would have been eligible for parole in 2024.
