Representative Albums: "Hey Little Cobra and Other Hot Rod Hits," "Best of the Rip Chords," "Three Window Coupe"
Representative Songs: "Hey Little Cobra," "Three Window Coupe," "Hot Rod U.S.A."
Biography
Contrary to popular belief, the Rip Chords were actually a real group, a duo featuring Ernie Bringas and Phil Stewart, overdubbed into a bigger group sound by producer Terry Melcher and his partner, Bruce Johnston. After two failed singles, Melcher and Johnston took over the lead singing reins (and most of the backups as well) and the "group" suddenly had its first hit with "Hey Little Cobra." When original member Bringas left to study the ministry, Stewart brought in two new members -- Rich Rotkin and Arnie Marcus -- who became the official touring Rip Chords. Neither Marcus nor Rotkin participated in any of the future Rip Chords sessions, but neither did Stewart on the majority of them, as Melcher and Johnston provided almost all the lead and harmony vocals. Subsequent singles and albums (the group released two) failed to ignite any chart action and the group had disbanded by late 1965, although they put in an appearance singing "Red Hot Roadster" in a grade Z rock & roll movie titled A Swingin' Summer, which also featured the talents of Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Donnie Brooks, the Righteous Brothers and Raquel Welch, making her movie debut. In 2005 Rotkin revived the Rip Chords name for a release on Collectables titled Shut 'Em Down ...Again. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide
They began working together while Johnston was a well-known session musician and Melcher, the son of actress/singerDoris Day, had a minor solo career as Terry Day before becoming the youngest staff record producer in Columbia Records' history. Together, they began recording as Terry recorded and also helped produce the 1963 album "Surfin' Round the World."
Producing a 'surf-frat' band called The Rip Chords, whose "Here I Stand" had reached #51 in early 1963, they ended up taking over most of the vocal parts on that band's Beach Boys soundalike hit "Hey Little Cobra" in 1964 (along with Rip Chords band members, Phil Stewart, Rich Rotkin, Arnie Marcus and Ernie Bringas). The song was the first in a series of hit singles (most of which were released under the name Bruce & Terry), reaching #4 on the U.S.pop charts.
Johnston later joined The Beach Boys, whilst Melcher became a full time producer. On November 19, 2004, Melcher died at his home after a long battle with melanoma. He was 62 years old.
