Spector Hitmaker Greenwich Dead At 68

ELLIE GREENWICH, the woman behind some of music mogul PHIL SPECTOR’s biggest hits has died from a heart attack, aged 68.

The legendary songwriter penned the Ronettes’ Be My Baby and Baby, I Love You, the Shangri-La’s Leader of the Pack and River Deep, Mountain High for Ike & Tina Turner among other huge hits.

Discovered by composers Leiber and Stoller, Greenwich was inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in 1991.

Broadway show Leader of the Pack, which she co-wrote, is based on her life.

As well as writing hits, she can be heard backing up stars like Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Dusty Springfield and Neil Diamond on record.

As well as composing hits for Spector’s fabled Wall of Sound, Greenwich also wrote Manfred Mann’s Doo Wah Diddy Diddy and festive favourite Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), which was recorded by Darlene Love.

She also released one album, Ellie Greenwich Composes, Produces and Sings, in 1968.