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 & 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, while Melcher became a full-time producer. Melcher died at 62 after a long battle with melanoma on November 19, 2004.
Famous quotes containing the words bruce and/or terry:
“The reason I’m in this business, I assume all performers are—it’s “Look at me, Ma!” It’s acceptance, you know—”Look at me, Ma, look at me, Ma, look at me, Ma.” And if your mother watches, you’ll show off till you’re exhausted; but if your mother goes, Ptshew!”
—Lenny Bruce (1925–1966)
“Usefulness! It is not a fascinating word, and the quality is not one of which the aspiring spirit can dream o’ nights, yet on the stage it is the first thing to aim at.”
—Ellen Terry (1847–1928)