Who was Terry Melcher? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Terrence Paul Jorden

Died At Age: 62

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Jacqueline Carlin (m. ?–1997), Melissa E. Brown (m. 1974–1977), Terese Edwards (m. 1998–2004)

father: Al Jorden

mother: Doris Day

children: Ryan Melcher

Born Country: United States

Record Producers American Men

Died on: November 19, 2004

place of death: Beverly Hills, California, United States

Cause of Death: Melanoma

Ancestry: German American

U.S. State: New Yorkers

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1

What role did Terry Melcher play in the music industry?

Terry Melcher was a record producer, songwriter, and musician known for his work with prominent artists such as the Beach Boys and the Byrds.
2

What is Terry Melcher's connection to the Manson Family murders?

Terry Melcher was initially targeted by Charles Manson for a music recording deal, but ultimately declined. Manson and his followers later carried out the infamous murders at the home rented by Melcher, which was then occupied by Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate.
3

What impact did Terry Melcher have on the music of the 1960s?

Terry Melcher played a significant role in shaping the sound of the 1960s music scene through his production work with influential bands like the Byrds, contributing to the development of the folk rock and psychedelic rock genres.
4

How did Terry Melcher contribute to the success of the Beach Boys?

Terry Melcher produced several successful albums for the Beach Boys, including "Pet Sounds" and "Smiley Smile," which helped solidify the band's reputation as one of the leading groups of the era.
5

What is Terry Melcher's legacy in the music industry?

Terry Melcher is remembered as a key figure in the music industry of the 1960s, known for his innovative production techniques and collaborations with iconic artists that left a lasting impact on the sound of the era.

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Childhood & Early Life

Terry Melcher was born Terrence Paul Jorden, on February 8, 1942, in New York City. His father, Al Jorden, was a trombonist, and his mother, Doris Day, was a singer and actress. He was named after the hero of his favorite comic book, ‘Terry and the Pirates.’

Doris Day was still a teenager when she gave birth to Melcher. Though Al Jorden pressurized her to get an abortion done, she did not yield to his demands. Soon after Melcher’s birth, his parents divorced. Young Melcher was sent to Ohio, to live with his maternal grandmother, Alma. Melcher never had any relations with his paternal family.

Following her first divorce, Doris Day married George Weidler. This relation also ended in divorce. Her third husband, Martin Melcher, adopted young Terry, and gave him his surname. Thus Terrence Jorden officially became Terry Melcher. He attended the ‘Loomis Chaffee School,’ in Connecticut, for his early education. Later, he attended the ‘Beverly Hills High School’ in California.

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Career

In the 1960s, Terry Melcher started his career in music by forming a music duo with the American singer, Bruce Johnston. It was called ‘Bruce & Terry.’ They produced several hits such as ‘Custom Machine,’ and ‘Summer Means Fun.’

Melcher joined hands with Johnston, on another musical group, called ‘The Rip Chords.’ It was formed in the 1960s. The first song of the group, ‘Here I Stand,’ was produced by Melcher. It was released in December, 1962. ‘Hey Little Cobra’ was one of the biggest hits of the group. It was released in 1963. Melcher was the lead singer of the song. The song peaked at number 4, on the ‘Billboard Hot 100.’

In the mid 1960s, Melcher joined ‘Columbia Records,’ as one of its staff. He worked with the rock band, ‘The Byrds,’ to produce several of their hit albums. He was the producer of their debut album, ‘Mr. Tambourine Man.’ It was a cover version of the song, ‘Mr. Tambourine Man,’ by Bob Dylan. The album belonged to the folk rock genre, and it reached number six spot, on the ‘Billboard Top LPs’ chart.

Melcher was the producer of the album, ‘Turn! Turn! Turn!’ by ‘The Byrds.’ It had the folk rock version of the original song, ‘Turn! Turn! Turn!’ by Peter Seeger, and several other popular charts. ‘The Byrds’ version of the song reached number one spot, on the ‘US Billboard Hot 100’ chart. It was released in 1965.

Melcher had some conflicts with ‘The Byrds,’ due to which he was removed from the position of producer. He later worked with several other music bands such as ‘Paul Revere & the Raiders,’ ‘Gentle Soul,’ and ‘The Mamas & the Papas.’ He worked with the ‘Beach Boys,’ on their platinum album, ‘Pet Sounds.’ Melcher was the background vocalist for the album. Melcher was a board member of the ‘Monterey Pop Foundation.’ He was a producer of the ‘Monterey Pop Festival,’ held in 1967.

Terry Melcher was associated with the cult leader and criminal, Charles Manson, who was an aspiring musician also. Melcher was initially interested in recording music with Manson. Later, he declined the project, after witnessing a fight in which Manson was involved. This caused altercations between Melcher and the Manson family. As the Manson family was notoriously involved in several murders, Melcher feared for his life. For several years, he led a life in seclusion.

In 1969, Melcher worked as the producer of the album, ‘Ballad of Easy Rider,’ released by ‘The Byrds.’ He was the executive producer of the sitcom, ‘The Doris Day Show,’ which was telecast on the ‘CBS’ network. Melcher’s mother played the protagonist in the series.

In 1988, Melcher received a ‘Golden Globe’ nomination for writing the song, ‘Kokomo.’ It was co-written by Terry Melcher, John Phillips, Scott McKenzie, and Mike Love, and was recorded by the ‘Beach Boys.’ It was featured in the movie, ‘Cocktail.’ The song reached the number one spot on the ‘Billboard Hot 100.’ It was certified gold in the United States.

Family & Personal Life

Terry Melcher was married thrice. He was married to Melissa E Brown, from 1974 to 1977. Later, he married Jacqueline Carlin. The couple has a son, Ryan. His third marriage was to Terese Edwards.

Melcher suffered from melanoma, during the last years of his life. After battling the life-threatening illness for a long time, Melcher succumbed to it. On November 19, 2004, he breathed his last at his home. He was 62 years old. He was survived by his wife, Terese; son, Ryan; and his mother, Doris Day.

Facts About Terry Melcher

Terry Melcher was not only a successful music producer, but he also had a brief career as a recording artist himself, releasing a few singles in the early 1960s.

Melcher was a talented songwriter and co-wrote several hit songs, including "Kokomo" by The Beach Boys.

Before his music career, Melcher briefly pursued a career in acting and appeared in a few films and TV shows in the late 1950s.

Melcher had a passion for surfing and was known to spend a lot of time at the beach, soaking in the California sun and catching waves.

In addition to his work in the music industry, Melcher also dabbled in real estate and was involved in developing properties in the Los Angeles area.

Terry Melcher Biography

You wanted to know

What role did Terry Melcher play in the music industry?

What is Terry Melcher's connection to the Manson Family murders?

What impact did Terry Melcher have on the music of the 1960s?

How did Terry Melcher contribute to the success of the Beach Boys?

What is Terry Melcher's legacy in the music industry?