Inland Empire Community Newspapers • April 4, 2013 • Page A5 Former San Bernardino father, daughter were Spector business associates for 50 years By Harvey M. Kahn

op music producer Phil Spector's murder story won't evaporate into the suPnset because he is associated with the biggest news making ma - chine in the world. It's called the entertainment industry. By the time he was 21, Spector produced two gold records and was a mil - lionaire. From 1962 to 1982, for - mer San Bernardino High School student Hal Blaine helped Spector bring in more gold while serving as his studio drummer on 20 hit records. The 73-year-old Spector is now serving 19 years for mur - der. It was Blaine's daughter, Michelle who got the first call that Spector had killed someone, even PHOTO COURTESY /Hal Blaine before the police. Although the Blaine's are proba - Hal Blaine and Brian Wilson pictured in Gold's Studio circa 1968. bly glad that they aren't portrayed in the current HBO motion picture detectives came to his Palm Desert recordings. Blaine met Glen Phil Spector, they were once the PHOTO COURTESY /HBO closest semblance of friends that home after the Clarkson murder Campbell through Phil Spector 50 and interviewed him. He told de - years ago. Earlier this year, Blaine the bizarre record producer had. Helen Mirren and Al Pacino in HBO movie "Phil Spector". Hal Blaine was the only musician tectives that he had never seen finished work on Campbell's doc - that Spector gave carte blanche to Spector in possession of a gun. umentary and one about Brian in the studio. Blaine was usually Despite feeling betrayed by Spec - Wilson, both for Warner Bros Pic - from testifying since you can't tes - "Even with the disclaimer, it did all business but could fulfil the tor after 40 years of accepting him tures. tify against a spouse. nothing for me. Pacino was great. "clown master" role to keep things as a family friend, the Blaine's did Michelle Blaine told True Crime In an email interview, Hal Mirren was great. The rest of it loose during late night Spector not make incriminating statements Investigations reporter Aphradite Blaine said that he and Spector was Hollywood writer's taking po - recording sessions. Michelle about Spector during the trials. Jones that the job of managing spoke after Clarkson's shooting etic justice," said Blaine. "When Blaine was Spector's personal sec - "He had no buddy, buddy friends. Spector eventually turned into and that he believed Spector about you play with fire you will even - retary. He was "Uncle Phil" to Something was amiss. He had only babysitting. She stayed with Spec - it being an accident. "I've known tually get burned!! I don't think Michelle when she was a little girl working relationships. That was tor for a week following the Clark - Phil for 40 years. I never had any Phil will beat the third and final and later to her children. Phil," said Hal Blaine. son death. She said the official doubts about his original story," new trial that is coming up. I feel Neither Hal or Michelle Blaine Hal Blaine was in the San answer from Spector was that stated Blaine, who said that Spec - that Phil is not a murderer. I also was called to testify in either of Bernardino High School band in Clarkson was shot and killed by tor had lied to him. "He did it and feel that his gun play just went a Spector's murder trials, nor were the mid-1940's and a 2008 Route accident. She felt that Spector's pe - he said, 'They'll never convict me, little too far that fateful night. But they consulted by makers of the 66 Cruisin' Hall of Fame inductee. culiar behavior resulted from an I'm too rich.' Of course the truth Phil will always be remembered as Phil Spector movie staring Al Pa - He was selected to the Rock and abusive mother and his father who came out in the second trial. I still the record producer that came cino and Helen Mirren that will Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Among committed suicide when Phil was owe a lot of my success to Phil and from New York and created some run on HBO through May 1st. Hal his many projects, he worked with nine. But Michelle Blaine must the hits that we made." of the greatest hits that came out of Blaine said Los Angeles homicide Spector on John Lennon's Rock have known more. She said Spec - Hal Blaine had mixed feelings the L.A. recording industry." and Roll album and other Lennon tor wanted to marry her to keep her about the Phil Spector movie. Words to think about: Mexico’s iIllustrious and violent history By G. W. Abersold Ph.D and most important venues was ples and tabernacles overturned in much as ye have done it unto one men because of his mastery of the advent of the Mexican mural - ruins amid the spoils of war, as of the least of these my brethren, death—this is the revolutionary arlos Slim Helu. Have ists. Their emergence followed the though some terrible earthquake ye have done it unto me—Enter Christ, whose message will be Ju - you heard of him? He’s Mexican Revolution. Their em - had made scorn of the religions of thou into the joy of thy Lord.’ bilate.” considered the richest phases were often political and so - man. Christ, alive and free from an OROZCO SPEAKS AS mCan in the world. More money cial. They depicted violence and Rising above shattered stone and imprisoning cross before which CLEARLY AND AS LOUDLY than Bill Gates and Warren Buffet. conflict. splintered timber is the Christ. many bow to worship but from TODAY AS HE DID A HUN - He’s a Lebanese/Mexican. He and Four men in particular received Then one sees that the ax has been which too few hear the summons, DRED YEARS AGO. NO MES - his wife and their children were all international acclaim. Jose laid to the root of the tree. The ‘Follow me’—how can he march, SAGE IS MORE RELEVANT born and raised in Mexico. Clemente Orozco, Diego Rivera, cross itself has been cut down. It if he be nailed to a cross?—a liv - AND DEMANDING FOR He owns all the communication David Alfaro Siqueiros and lies beside the stump from which ing Christ, who, having been lifted CHRISTIANS TODAY at systems in Mexico, plus hotels and Rufino Tomayo. They were all it has been severed, and the Christ up, does draw all men because of this EASTER season. a myriad of other businesses. He’s left-wing liberals and anti-estab - stands astride it. his gift of self but who leads all Amen. Selah. So be it. not alone. Mexico has more mil - lishment. In fact, Siqueiros was an And then I knew that a dead fig - lionaires in proportion to their out and out communist. ure hanging from a cross is not the population, than any other country. To see their murals, many of sign of my faith. FINAL TRIBUTE Including the U.S.A. Tomayo’s are in a museum in No, he is Christ triumphant, liv - FINAL TRIBUTE Mexico has and has had an illus - Oaxaca; Rivera’s in Cuernavaca, ing now and forever more, freed Funeral & Cremation Service trious and violent history. Revolu - Siqueiros’ in the government from the flesh, victory over men tions, genocide, social upheavals buildings in Mexico City, and who vainly believe they can de - Orozco’s in Guadalajara. stroy the spirit by crucifying the DIRECT CREMATION and political unrest. The recent 00 drug crimes and murders are dev - My personal favorite is Jose body. $760. COMPLETE astating the entire Mexican econ - Orozco. He was a liberal Christian. He lives; his eyes do see, be - omy. Tourism is particularly in One of his most dramatic murals is holding in every man a brother and We have five complete funeral jeopardy. in Baker Library at Dartmouth envisioning what man may be - There are a number of Mexican College. It’s called, “The Revolu - come as a son of God; his ears do packages, casket included! features that are worthy of notice. tionary Christ.” I have a copy of it; hear the cries of the oppressed, the The tourist centers like Acapulco, a gift from the college. low moan of the sorrowful, the Cancun, Cabo and Puerto Vallarta Some years ago I read an im - glad shouts of children at play, They are so Beautiful! are known world wide. They still pression of it by Bishop Garfield and, like the sound of the sea, the attract millions of visitors each Oxnam of the Methodist Church. swelling notes of joy chanted by 738 S. Waterman Ave. San Bernardino year. He described it this way. “My first the millions of men in that morrow on corner of Waterman & Central The ruins in Mexico are still a reaction was one of revulsion! when justice shall roll down as a major attraction for natives and Orozco had gone too far. mighty stream and righteousness tourists alike. The pyramids out - It was Orozco’s last panel, done shall cover the earth. side of Mexico City; the ruins in in rich colors. A towering figure of His hands and feet are free, the (909) 234-4476 the Yucatan, Palenque, Monte Christ dominates all. He stands hands of healing, the feet of the Alban and countless others offer with feet apart, flesh torn, tri - second mile; he speaks, and men FD1731 exciting viewing. umphant. At his side is an ax, the learn of the way and the truth and However, one of the least known handle grasped tightly by his right hear that judgment will be ren - hand. In the background are tem - dered upon the simple rule, ‘Inas -