Terry Melcher (Record producer/songwriter) dead

[Maccagirl]

Just saw this on Yahoo. He was 62 years old, Doris Day's only son and was heavily involved with the surfer/Beach Boys sound. He sublet the house to Sharon Tate (of Charles Manson fame) and had just rejected Manson's songs when the murders happened. He died today of cancer and is survived by his mother, wife and son Ryan. Anyone remember him?

[OldLeftieLawyer]

1. Oh, yeah

That name got bandied a lot in the late sixties. I was in LA when the Manson gang did the Tate-LaBianca murders. Scary time in the city.

Never heard about him after that. Poor Doris Day. Outliving your only child is the worst thing imaginable.

[chookie]

2. Sad

I know this guy.

Good friend of Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere and the Raiders (who my MUCH OLDER sister had a crush on).

[robertarctor]

3. Yeah.

Melcher was partners with Bruce Johnston, who wrote the odious Barry Manilow hit "I Write the Songs," in the duo Bruce & Terry, and also the early '60s band the Rip Chords. He started a label through ABC/Dunhill called Equinox and signed a couple of bands from here, the first of which (Glad) had Tim Schmit, later a member of Poco and the Eagles; the second (Public Nuisance) recorded an album that never came out, because Melcher shut everything down and went into hiding when the Manson murders happened in August, 1969; the Manson gang wasn't arrested until November or December, and much of L.A. was scared shitless. (The Public Nuisance album finally got issued two years ago on a little indie enthusiast label; the singer/guitarist is a friend of mine who still plays around town here and the drummer went on to remaster catalog reissues for EMI (Capitol, Blue Note, etc.).

[flamingyouth]

4. Sad

Too bad he'll always be known for renting the house where Sharon Tate, et al, were killed by the Manson family. He produced some great records, and "Hey, Little Cobra" is a classic of its genre.

[anamandujano]

5. sympathy to Doris Day

who I love.