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Terry MelcherAmerican rock musician, composer and producer
Date of Birth: 08.02.1942
Country:  USA |
Content:
Early Life and Family
Terry Melcher was born in New York City to Al Jorden, a trombonist, and Doris Day, an actress and singer. His parents' marriage was marked by tension, with Doris seeking a divorce from Al due to his impulsive and abusive behavior. Upon learning of Doris' pregnancy, Al pressured her to have an abortion and continued his violent treatment throughout the duration of it. After Terry's birth, his mother divorced Al, leaving the infant with her grandmother in Ohio while she resumed her singing career with bandleader Les Brown. Al Jorden had minimal contact with Terry after the divorce and played no significant role in his life. He eventually committed suicide.
Doris Day's career led her to Hollywood, where she made occasional guest appearances on radio shows. After a brief marriage to her second husband, saxophonist George Weidler, she married Martin Melcher, who became her manager and produced many of her films. Despite their eventual mutual dislike, Martin adopted Terry and gave him his last name. Following Martin's death in 1968, it was discovered that he had embezzled and squandered around $20 million of Doris Day's money.
Musical Career
Bruce & Terry and The Rip ChordsIn the early 1960s, Terry Melcher formed a vocal duo with Bruce Johnston, which they simply called "Bruce & Terry." Their repertoire included hits such as "Custom Machine" and "Summer Means Fun." They later formed the group The Rip Chords, whose song "Hey, Little Cobra" reached the top ten. Bruce Johnston eventually moved on to The Beach Boys, while Terry landed a job at Columbia Records, where he worked with The Byrds.
Producer and Songwriter
After a conflict with The Byrds' manager, Melcher worked as a producer and songwriter with Gram Parsons, The Mamas and the Papas, Paul Revere & the Raiders, and others. He later worked with the legendary group Rising Sons, featuring Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder.
By the early 1970s, Melcher's influence had waned, and he had limited involvement in music during his later decades. He briefly returned to producing The Byrds, dabbled in real estate, and produced his mother's CBS television show. He also released two solo albums, "Terry Melcher" and "Royal Flush." In 1985, he co-produced the cable TV show "Doris Day's Best Friends" and served as director and vice president of the Doris Day Animal Foundation. He co-owned a small hotel, the Cypress Inn, in California with his mother. Throughout his life, Terry maintained a close bond with his mother.
Later Career and Death
In 1988, Melcher co-wrote the song "Kokomo" with The Beach Boys, which was nominated for a Golden Globe Award. The composition was written for the 1988 film "Cocktail," starring Tom Cruise. Terry Melcher passed away on November 19, 2004, from melanoma (a skin cancer) at his home in Beverly Hills, California.
