Phil Spector arrested for suspected murder

Attorney Robert Shapiro, whose clients have included O.J. Simpson, was representing Spector. "I don't know answers to any of this," Shapiro said by telephone from the Alhambra Police Department before Spector's release.

Authorities did not immediately identify the woman or her relationship to Spector.

The victim, found in the foyer, appeared to be in her early to mid-20s and authorities were trying to locate her relatives, sheriff's Lt. Daniel Rosenberg said. He said deputies had found the murder weapon but released no details.

Police arrived after someone in the home called to report shots had been fired, Rosenberg said.

"Someone else was there at the time of the shooting," he said, declining to elaborate. A black Mercedes-Benz sedan with the driver's door open was parked in the driveway of the home, which records show Spector bought in 1998 for $1.1 million. Authorities towed the car away later in the day.

A friend of Spector's, attorney Marvin Mitchelson, said the producer lived alone and didn't have a girlfriend. He said he and Spector had been trying to put together a movie about Spector's life.

"His mental state has been great -- very rational, very together," the attorney said.

Spector is famous for creating the "wall of sound" effect that involved overdubbing to create a full, dramatic sound. The technique, which combines multiple instruments, vocals and sound effects, changed the way pop records were produced while bringing fame to groups like the Ronettes and the Crystals.

In his storied career, Spector produced records for Elvis Presley, Ike and Tina Turner, the Righteous Brothers and Darlene Love. He produced the last Beatles album, "Let It Be," in 1970, worked with John Lennon on "Imagine" and helped Yoko Ono produce Lennon's work after he was killed in 1980.

Among the hits with his style are "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Then He Kissed Me" by the Crystals; "Walking in the Rain" by the Ronettes and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" by the Righteous Brothers.

His session players, known as the "Wrecking Crew," included guitarist Glen Campbell, pianist Leon Russell, drummer Hal Blaine and the late Sonny Bono, who learned the producer's trade under Spector.

But his production style, involving heavy use of echo, went out of style. Paul McCartney is known to hate Spector's work on "Let it Be," done without his consent, and has said he wants to release the album stripped of Spector's contributions.

Spector, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, has been reclusive over the past couple of decades. His last major album was "End of the Century," a 1980 collaboration with the Ramones.<