Unfortunately he also turned out to be a tyrannical control freak, especially to Ronnie with whom he was romantically involved. Ronnie (real name Veronica Bennett) was a mixed race girl (Irish, African and Cherokee Indian) from Spanish Harlem whose band The Ronettes was picked up in '63 by Spector who produced a number of big hits for them. No, this article reminded me that I have a record by his former wife Ronnie which I've hardly listened at all and so I took it out to give it a few spins. But in any case I didn't feel like writing something about Phil Spector anyway. Not only in Hollywood but also in my own homeland Greece where the belated coming of the #metoo movement is the big news of the last months, sweeping away established actors, directors, and sports magnates, even threatening the political establishment. It certainly is a sign of the times that no-one is willing to "give the devil his due" any more. One may argue that trying to erase someone's artistic achievements is justified if he was such a big asshole in his private life - why allow him the "satisfaction" of posthumous glory? I myself am not convinced that it's either useful or honest. He died from COVID-related complications in prison, where he inevitably ended up, serving a 19-year sentence for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson. You see, gradually Spector's status as a legendary producer and creator of the famous "Wall Of Sound" was eroded by his huge personality flaws: the tyrannical behaviour towards his associates, the gun threats, the terror he inspired and abuse he inflicted on his wife and (step)children. It was an interesting one, because it was the only one I've ever read that tried to minimize the departed's achievements and give all the credit to the singers and musicians whom he collaborated with. I was recently reading Phil Spector's obituary on MOJO.
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