Phil Spector, who is serving life in prison for murder: his latest album, his first professional work since 1980, stars his wife

Can a man build a wall of sound when he's stuck behind bars? That's what fans of Phil Spector have been asking following news the legendary music producer, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder last year, will shortly release his first new record in almost three decades.

The star of Spector's latest album will be somewhat less influential than the Beatles, Leonard Cohen, Ben E King, Tina Turner, and all the other stars of the '60s and '70s whose careers he shaped. She's an unknown singer and trombonist by the name of Rachelle Spector. And she happens to be Phil's wife. Her debut album is called Out of My Chelle, and when it hits iTunes next week, it will be Spector's first professional work since he collaborated with the Ramones in 1980.

He wrote several of Rachelle's tracks, including a single called 'Here in My Heart', which is billed as a heart-rending love song to a now-absent husband.

The couple worked on the project during downtime from the three-year court case that ended last May with Spector found guilty of having shot a struggling B-movie actress called Lana Clarkson in the face, during a late night dispute at his Alhambra mansion seven years ago.

"Making this record was his escape, during a very hard time," Rachelle said. "The idea of releasing it is now to put people's focus back on Phil's music, and to show them that after everything that's happened, he's still the genius he always was, an incredibly gifted producer who is way ahead of his time."

Whether her lofty aim will be achieved depends on the public. But regardless of its commercial reception, Out of my Chelle will represent yet another bizarre twist in an unlikely saga that began when Spector (70) met Rachelle (29) at a Hollywood nightclub on 3 September 2003.

Rachelle, an aspiring singer, said she felt an instant "connection" when they were introduced. They chatted, "mostly about religion and politics" until 6am and exchanged phone numbers. Rachelle did not find out that her new suitor – who, by the by, had picked up the unfortunate Clarkson at an eerily similar Hollywood nightclub – was facing murder charges until several weeks later. And by then it was too late: she had fallen "completely in love".