Veteran record producer Terry Melcher, who helped produce The Beach Boys, The Byrds, Gram Parsons, The Mamas and The Papas and Ry Cooder, died at his home in Beverly Hills, California, after a long battle with skin cancer. He was 62. Melcher, who is the son of actress Doris Day, helped pen the hit “Kokomo” for The Beach Boys and produced The Byrds’ timeless classics “Mr. Tambourine Man” and “Turn, Turn, Turn”. He is also credited with introducing Brian Wilson to Van Dyke Parks.
What footnote in history does he own? Melcher was the A&R guy at Columbia in the ’60s and was linked to one Charles Manson of “Helter Skelter” fame. Apparently Manson, through his Beach Boys connection, had demoed some songs in 1968 for Melcher to which the future psychopath was turned down. Keeping that rage inside, cut to 1969 and the home where Manson and Melcher had hung out before, 10050 Cielo Dr. in Beverly Hills. Current occupant Sharon Tate and her guests would meet a fate perhaps meant as revenge for the A&R rep. Never proven and dismissed in LA because it is said Manson knew Melcher had moved to Malibu and had the new address, the plot will never be know because Manson is looney.
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