Music Legend Phil Spector has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the 2003 shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson.
The jury composed of six men and six women returned the verdict after 30 hours. Recently, the defense was hit with a series of negative rulings by the court. I discussed these rulings with Spector, 69, only a couple days ago.
Clarkson, 40, was found dead, slumped in a chair in the foyer of Spector’s home with a gunshot through her mouth. The defense argued suicide. The first trial resulted in a mistrial in September 2007.
Clarkson starred in 1985’s “Barbarian Queen” and the 1987 spoof “Amazon Women on the Moon.” She was working at the House of Blues as a hostess when she died.
Spector’s bio contains the following information:
Phillip Spector (born December 25, 1940) is an American musician, songwriter and record producer.
Coming to prominence in the early 1960s, Spector became one of the most distinctive producers in the history of popular music. He was hailed in his heyday by Tom Wolfe as the “First Tycoon of Teen.” The originator of the famous “Wall of Sound” production technique, Spector was a pioneer of the 1960s’ girl group sound and clocked in over twenty-five Top 40 hits between 1960 and 1965. In later years he worked with various artists, including Ike and Tina Turner, The Beatles, and Ramones with similar success. In 1989, Spector was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer.
I previously wrote a column on the case, here.
For the full story, click here.
Dredd:
While I appreciate your and your girlfriend’s doubts, the jury who presumably heard all the evidence had none–or at least no reasonable ones. Would you consent to your daughter (if you have one) dating the talented Mr. Spector? If not, and given your misgivings about the prosecutor, why so?
Karen,
The evidence and testimony we observed led me and I my girlfriend to doubt his guilt.
This would not be the first time California Courts railroaded the innocent:
http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2009/04/wicked-witches-of-west.html
FFLEO, Gyges & Slipperly,
It’s all good musically. Where people go wrong is in hoping that talent is an exemplar of being a good person. Sadly unrelated qualities. There are so many music genres that move me that I can’t play favorites, but for all those mentioned I’m certainly there.
I really like jazz piano but jazz fiddle is the best of that genre, but then there’s the sax, and the…
Thanks for that entertaining link Gyges. ‘Hestitation Blues’ is a good one. YouTube is a boon to the history of music.
FFLEO,
Don’t forget that Jelly Roll Morton was a pimp.
To: Former Federal LEO
Well lest we forsake the foreloin, not to be confused with the foreskin music you spoke of last.
And you do not even give Honorable Mention to George Jones or Hank Snow, Charlie Pride, Woodie Gutherie, Arlo (in my day), Kris Kristopherson (Taught at West Point, Claims never to have smoked), the Irish and African indulgence into what we call Country and Western or Country or Western Swing (Music and Dancing for those with a mind like mine).
The real country fanatics did not want that “N” beat in the group. Red Necks did not realize that Charlie Pride were black. Nor do many of you know he play MLB on a farm team and got hurt. It was not until he went to Montana and was working in a mine that he was encouraged to sing.
For all of that I bet most of you all did not know that Fidel Castro played for the Washing (DC) Senators as a pitcher. He got cut and well the rest is history.
As I reflect back on the 1950s/60s discography of the songs Phil Spector wrote, co-wrote, or produced, he is—in fact and without a doubt—a musical genius. I remember those songs when they first hit the charts and I still listen to them often, including today. The important aspect to me is that his conviction will not tarnish my respect for his extraordinary musical talents.
There are many fine musicians and songwriters who were/are flawed and Spector is just one more in a long list. Some, like Spade Cooley who was a fine fiddler, committed murder—of his wife—while others abused drugs and/or their wives, or they were just common drunkards. Elvis Presley, Hank Williams Sr.(my personal favorite singer of all time), George Jones, Ike Turner, and the list continues in all of the musical genres…
Some of the worst contemporary examples, in my opinion, include the enormously flawed Michael Jackson and many in the Hip-Hop, Gangsta-Rap categories.
FFLEO,
Have you noticed as we’ve aged we’ve become craftier? Yours was a crafty save for me and I’m crafty enough to own it.
Hey, Mike is ancient, like me; besides I just thought that Mike was agreeing that Mr. Spector—in his defense in this case—had the right to bear arms, or bare arms, or…?
As one gets older, you will find that the age-related excuses come in quite handy, at times.
SlipperlyOne,
I don’t know if it was Freudian, but it sure was a hell of a mistake. Thank you for catching it before it went to far.
Ok, Mike you have me on this one. Did you mean Second Amendment as a Freudian Slip or am I as confused as Totally Stoned?
I have no idea as to Spector’s guilt or innocence. What I did observe was the old prosecutorial tactic of trying its’ case in the media. Whenever I see this it sets my teeth on edge, because I think it taints the trial and therefore the legal system. The media can’t be held to account because their desire for ratings/headlines is insatiable and because of the Second Amendment. Therefore it is the prosecutors, police, judges and defense counsels that must be reined in. While the Defense is not always blameless in use of this tactic, it is overwhelmingly the province of the prosecutorial side of the equation.
Totally Stoned:
“I am unamused, Who sayth Phil Spector is a real person? I thought he was a legend. I am crushed.”
************
And I thought he was “totally stoned.”
I am unamused, Who sayth Phil Spector is a real person? I thought he was a legend. I am crushed.
Karen:
“Phil Spector is not only a “real person,” but he is a good person. He does good things to help people in need.”
**********
Leave out the “good person” part and the same could be said for Hamas. The point is that old Phil has a history (14 times) of pointing guns at women (even pistol whipping a few)and despite all the politics swirling around the prosecution and the defense, it’s hard for a jury to disregard this fact. Tell me of the other people that you know and like, has any one of them pointed a firearm at you? If they did, would you think that relevant to a subsequent charge for murder of another?
The jury was also likely influenced by Spector’s driver who recalls that immediately after the gunshot, Spector said, “I think I killed somebody.” Do you really need the testimony of forensic experts with these two facts except maybe to explain why someone who had just shot someone in the mouth was uncertain as to his culpability?
Spector is a bullying, self-indulgent, fraud who thought himself above the law when it came to his relationships with women. The jury disabused him of that notion yesterday. Friends are wonderful, but they make poor judges.
I don’t know why the defense just didn’t blow up the picture, present it as the only evidence and rest their case. Not guilty by reason of insanity! Jonathan, are you buying these pictures from The Enquirer?
Although I’m making a joke above, I’m very sorry about the murder of Ms. Clarkson.
Can the Legal System be cured of the abuses?
In Defense of the Jury system.
Can Judges be rehabilitated?
Is a conviction worth your soul or is that sole?
I have had a number of trial, one specifically, where the Defendant was Black in a Fel Ass case. All white jury, 8 women 4 men, 3 day trial. Jury took 17 mins to decide NOT GUILTY. Prosecutor ran out of the Courtroom. Office across the hall from the courtroom (I have a problem with that) Judge fumed for about 45 mins and finally, congratulated the victory for my client.
Oh the minority make up of that county was less than 3/4 of 1 per cent.
You tell me.
Am I surprised the Judge shaped a Guilty Verdict? Not at All.
Spector revolutionized music with his ‘wall of sound’ and I’m glad for his contribution, and I am equally sorry he now takes a picture like that.
And the fact that he took Clarkson, who appeared in one of my favorite spoof comedies of the eighties is just intolerable.
… the humanity …
Phil Spector is not only a “real person,” but he is a good person. He does good things to help people in need. I know him, and I like him. I hate what the media has done to him, and what people have been saying about him. They do not know him. They know only a caricature of him that belies the truth. The prosecution and the judge in this case abused their positions, and so did many others, including one who blogged about him every single day, grossly placing value judgements on him, creating a lynch-mob-like mentality of followers. These “jury addicts” were like the “Salem Witch Trial Mob,” who salivated for his “scalp” with every comment they wrote on that blog. They would be satisfied with nothing less. One can only speculate whether or not the jury read that blog before or while deliberating, (which included raving compliments about the “wonderful prosecutor,” noting his promotion resulting from the Spector case, and even showing the prosecutor’s resume). A grave injustice has been done to Phil Spector! I only hope it is possible to correct it before it kills him!
Phil Spector is a real person, so he is not a legend. I know that the media use “legend” to mean “famous person” (especially a famous person who has just died), but people who care about language should not use it that way. Sorry to be pedantic; your blog is one of my favorites.