Biography
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Years Active
1963 – present (61 years)
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Members
- Bruce Johnston
- Terry Melcher
Bruce & Terry were Bruce Johnston and Terry Melcher. The pair were instrumental in the development of surf rock, recording under a variety of names, most notably with the band The Rip Chords.
Johnston was a well-known session musician and Melcher (the producer of The Byrds records and the son of actress/singer Doris Day) had a minor solo career as Terry Day before becoming the youngest staff record producer in Columbia Records' history. In 1963, they began recording together and helped produce the album "Surfin' Round the World".
While producing a "surf-frat" band called The Rip Chords, whose "Here I Stand" had reached No. 51 in early 1963, they ended up vocal arranging and singing all of the vocal parts on the band's hit "Hey Little Cobra" in 1964. The song was the first in a series of hit singles (most of which were released under the name Bruce & Terry), reaching No. 4 on the U.S. pop charts.
Johnston later joined The Beach Boys, singing on "Pet Sounds" and performing with them well into the 21st century, while Melcher became a full-time producer.
Terry Melcher died at 62 after a long battle with melanoma on November 19, 2004.
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