Bruce & Terry was an Americanrock music duo from Los Angeles that was active from 1963 to 1965. Consisting ofColumbia Records staff producersBruce Johnston andTerry Melcher, the pair recorded under a variety of names, and most notably with the bandthe Rip Chords.[1][2] After 1965, Johnston and Melcher reduced their collaborations together, but both producers continued to occasionally contribute to tracks bythe Beach Boys, including on the albumsPet Sounds (1966),Still Cruisin' (1989), andSummer in Paradise (1992).
Johnston was asession musician and Melcher had a minor solo career as "Terry Day" before becoming the youngest staff record producer inColumbia Records' history.[1][2] In 1963, they began recording together and helped produce the albumSurfin' Round the World.[1]
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.[1] The song was the first in a series of hitsingles (most of which were released under the nameBruce & Terry), reaching No. 4 on the U.S.pop charts.[citation needed]
The duo virtually disbanded when Johnston joinedThe Beach Boys, singing onPet Sounds and performing with them well into the 21st century, while Melcher became a full-time producer.[1][3] The two occasionally worked on projects together until Melcher died at 62, after a long battle withmelanoma, on November 19, 2004.[2]
