Sad news broke on the 19 November 2004 as we learnt that Doris Day’s son, the American musician and pop producer Terry Melcher had passed away.
Terry Melcher was the son of Doris Day’s first husband Al Jorden, he was born Terry Jorden in New York in 1942. He adopted the name by which he was best known from Doris’s third husband & manager, Martin Melcher.
At the age of 22, Tery was hired as the youngest staff producer at Columbia Records. During the 1960s, he established himself as a successful record producer and songwriter whilst also helping to shape the sound of American West Coast rock music. Terry was renowned for aiding the careers of Ry Cooder, the Beach Boys and the Byrds for which he produced hits including “Mr. Tambourine Man” and “Turn, Turn, Turn”.
His midas touch also extended to his mother’s singing career when he penned her suggestive single “Move Over, Darling” which became a hit across Europe. Terry later supported Doris through the “shock” discovery that her fortunes had been mismanaged, following the death of Marty Melcher. He then took on the pivotal role as the Executive Producer in Doris’s CBS sitcom, ‘The Doris Day Show’ (1968-1972) for which she had been contracted by Marty without any prior knowledge.
Terry also became an unwitting footnote in criminal history when a house in Hollywood in which he had previously lived was the site of the savage murder of the actress Sharon Tate by killer Charles Manson. According to one theory, Terry, who had known Manson, was the intended victim of this deeply shocking incident.
Terry also found time during the 1970s to refocus his sights on advancing his own solo singing career when signing to Warner/Reprise. A collaboration with his mother then notably followed on his 1974 eponymous album which featured Doris harmonising with Terry on his sad song “These Days”.
The mother and son bond which Doris had strived to protect during her early years as a big-band vocalist continued to present day. Terry would often be found helping his mother with her animal welfare work and business affairs.
Terry Melcher sadly passed away, aged 62, at his Beverley Hills home, after a long battle with Melanoma. We are sure that such a decent guy will be sadly missed. ‘Discovering Doris’ extends its heartfelt wishes to all of his family!