He's brilliant. He's troubled. And he's also one of the greatest producers in rock-and roll history, if not THE greatest. (For you newbies, yes, unfortunately, this is the same one who's been in the news recently.)
Born Harvey Philip Spector in the Bronx, New York , (His father, under severe stress because of the family's financial condition, committed suicide in 1949. His mother relocated to Los Angeles in 1953.) the youngster was always a loner, but excelled in music, studying piano, guitar, drums, bass, and French horn in high school, and began writing songs with classmate Marshall Lieb.
Spector was drawn to the LA music scene and began hanging around the studios. He officially entered the music business in 1958 as the songwriter, guitarist, backup singer, and producer for the group, The Teddy Bears, with "To Know Him Is To Love Him."
The song and title was about his late father. The grave's inscription-"To Know Him Was To Love Him." (The group consisted of Spector, Lieb, and another high school friend, Annette Kleinbard.)
The song became a No. 1 smash and the group appeared on several TV shows, including "Bandstand", but were unable to follow up with another hit. And there were also royalty problems with the record company.
The Teddy Bears soon disbanded, only to resurface as The Spectors Three, but the "new group" was unsuccessful; the trio broke up for good.
Annette Kleinbard became a successful songwriter.(You may know her better by the name Carol Conners). She co-wrote "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" (by Vicki Lawrence in 1973 and then Reba McEntire in 1992), co-wrote "Hey Little Cobra" by The Ripchords and "Gonna Fly Now", the first Rocky movie theme.
She helped write the theme songs for Sophie's Choice and Mr. Mom. She's been nominated for two Academy Awards and four Emmys. Not bad!
Spector worked for a while with independent producers Lester Sill (an old friend) and Lee Hazelwood yes, THE Lee Hazelwood) who sent Spector back to New York in 1960. In 1961 Spector and Sill formed the New York-based Philles Records, which Spector fully owned by 1962. ("There's No Other (Like My Baby)" by the Crystals was the first release.) And another important chapter of rock-and roll history was made.
Spector co-wrote and produced "Spanish Harlem" with Jerry Leiber (of the equally legendary Leiber and Stoller) a Top Ten smash for Ben E. King. He also produced "Only Love Can Break A Heart" and "Every Little Breath I Take" by Gene Pitney, "Pretty Little Angel Eyes"-Curtis Lee, "I Love How You Love Me"-The Paris Sisters, "He's A Rebel"-The Crystals, and other hits, primarily for them, The Ronettes, Darlene Love, and Bobb B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans.
Born Harvey Philip Spector in the Bronx, New York , (His father, under severe stress because of the family's financial condition, committed suicide in 1949. His mother relocated to Los Angeles in 1953.) the youngster was always a loner, but excelled in music, studying piano, guitar, drums, bass, and French horn in high school, and began writing songs with classmate Marshall Lieb.
Spector was drawn to the LA music scene and began hanging around the studios. He officially entered the music business in 1958 as the songwriter, guitarist, backup singer, and producer for the group, The Teddy Bears, with "To Know Him Is To Love Him."
The song and title was about his late father. The grave's inscription-"To Know Him Was To Love Him." (The group consisted of Spector, Lieb, and another high school friend, Annette Kleinbard.)
The song became a No. 1 smash and the group appeared on several TV shows, including "Bandstand", but were unable to follow up with another hit. And there were also royalty problems with the record company.
The Teddy Bears soon disbanded, only to resurface as The Spectors Three, but the "new group" was unsuccessful; the trio broke up for good.
Annette Kleinbard became a successful songwriter.(You may know her better by the name Carol Conners). She co-wrote "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" (by Vicki Lawrence in 1973 and then Reba McEntire in 1992), co-wrote "Hey Little Cobra" by The Ripchords and "Gonna Fly Now", the first Rocky movie theme.
She helped write the theme songs for Sophie's Choice and Mr. Mom. She's been nominated for two Academy Awards and four Emmys. Not bad!
Spector worked for a while with independent producers Lester Sill (an old friend) and Lee Hazelwood yes, THE Lee Hazelwood) who sent Spector back to New York in 1960. In 1961 Spector and Sill formed the New York-based Philles Records, which Spector fully owned by 1962. ("There's No Other (Like My Baby)" by the Crystals was the first release.) And another important chapter of rock-and roll history was made.
Spector co-wrote and produced "Spanish Harlem" with Jerry Leiber (of the equally legendary Leiber and Stoller) a Top Ten smash for Ben E. King. He also produced "Only Love Can Break A Heart" and "Every Little Breath I Take" by Gene Pitney, "Pretty Little Angel Eyes"-Curtis Lee, "I Love How You Love Me"-The Paris Sisters, "He's A Rebel"-The Crystals, and other hits, primarily for them, The Ronettes, Darlene Love, and Bobb B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans.
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