Phil Spector

Harvey Phillip "Phil" Spector (born December 26, 1940) is a highly influential record producer who turned out some of the best-known popular music of the 1960s and 1970s. The originator of the "Wall of Sound" production technique, Spector first rose to prominence as one of the masterminds behind the 1960's girl group sound. Later in his career he worked with more varied artists, including The Beatles and The Ramones. In 2003 Spector returned to public awareness when he was indicted for murder.

Record producer

Spector's career quickly moved from performing to songwriting to production. Having perfect pitch, he quickly learned how to use a studio, first as an apprentice to Lester Sill and Lee Hazelwood in Arizona and, from 1960, after returning to New York, with Leiber and Stoller.

Related Topics:
Perfect pitch - Lee Hazelwood - Leiber and Stoller

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His first independent production success came in 1961 with the uptempo "Pretty Little Angel Eyes," a record by Curtis Lee, backed up by a local doo-wop group called the Halos. Next came "Every Breath I Take" by Gene Pitney, also backed by the Halos. Later that year he returned to LA, and, still less than 21 years old, formed his own record label, Philles Records, in partnership with Sill. Given full creative control, Spector began to produce an unprecedented string of hits.

Related Topics:
Doo-wop - Gene Pitney - Philles Records

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He worked at first with established artists such as Johnny Nash, but soon found his vision easier to fulfill through Girl groups of his own devising. The groups — including The Crystals, Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans, and The Ronettes — were often wholly interchangeable, with lineups based on who was available and whose voice he thought would fit the material (though mainly with Darlene Love, a particular favorite). Although predominantly singles-based, Spector's groups did record at least one classic album: A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector (1963).

Related Topics:
Johnny Nash - Girl group - The Crystals - Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans - The Ronettes - Darlene Love - 1963

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