Doris Day's Son Terry Melcher: 20 Years After His Tragic Death

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On November 22, 2004, it will be twenty years since music producer/composer Terry Melcher died from melanoma in Beverly Hills. He was only 62. The son of entertainment icon Doris Day, Melcher helped to shape the 1960s-era California surfing sound. He produced several hits for The Byrds including, “Mr. Tambourine Man,” among many other tunes for various artists. This is his story.

A Closer Look

Terry Melcher was born February 8, 1942, in New York City, the son of Doris Day and her first husband, Al Jorden. He was later adopted by Day’s third husband, Martin Melcher, and took his name.

The young Melcher commenced his career as “Terry Day,” utilizing his mother’s legendary moniker. But he eventually established his own merit and versatile talents singing background tracks, writing lyrics, playing the piano, composing, and producing.

In the early 1960s, Melcher partnered with future Beach Boy Bruce Johnston to form The Rip Chords, which in 1964 recorded “Hey, Little Cobra.”

Melcher also composed tunes with Bobby Darin and Randy Newman. By the mid-1960s, he joined Columbia Records as a producer, a benchmark moment that led to his stamp on the California sound.

Unique Tones

Terry Melcher was key in assisting with the creation of The Byrds’ pioneering hybrid rock and folk sounds and produced numerous chart-toppers for the band. Those included their renditions of Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” and Pete Seeger’s “Turn, Turn, Turn.”

A few decades later, Melcher co-composed “Kokomo” for The Beach Boys, which became a Number One hit. Heard in the film, Cocktail (1988), the song was nominated for a Grammy.

Melcher also collaborated with legendary music acts like Paul Revere and the Raiders, Taj Mahal, Ry Cooder, Glen Campbell, Gram Parsons, and the Mamas and the Papas, among others.

From 1968 to 1972, switched to TV, and became the executive producer of her The Doris Day Show on CBS. He also co-produced the talk show, Doris Day’s Best Friends.

Manson in the Horrific Mix

In 1969, Terry Melcher’s name became connected with convicted murderer Charles Manson and the demise of actress Sharon Tate and her friends.

The tragic murders occurred in a house that Melcher, who was married with one son, had sublet to Tate.

Meanwhile, Manson had become aware of the residence by way of an associate of Melcher’s.

Into this mix, Manson had auditioned for Melcher, who chose not to pursue a contract. Rumors later circulated Manson selected the Tate house for his gang to commit horrific crimes as an intended message to Melcher. But that theory was later discounted by law enforcement.

The Big Picture

Terry Melcher and his famous mother Doris Day were similar such that they each possessed several creative talents. When he did in 2004 at only 62, she was devasated and went into seclusion.

In 2019, Day, an animal rights activist and philanthropist, died at 96 from pneumonia.