The Rip Chords

Rip Chords

LEFT TO RIGHT: .PHIL STEWART, RICHIE ROTKIN, ARNIE MARCUS, ERNIE BRINGAS
The Rip Chords, originally known as the Opposiites. were an early 60s vocal group that was associated with hot-rod and surf music. In early 1964, they made the top 5 with "Hey Little Cobra," one of the best hot rod hits not sung by the Beach Boys or Jan & Dean. It proved to be a one-shot, though they made the Top 30 again with the "Hey Little Cobra" soundalike "Three Window Coupe." Most of their limited output under the Rip Chords name was formulaic, upbeat hot rod and surf tunes

Members:
    Phil Stewart
    Arnie Marcus
    Rich Rotkin
    Bernie Bringas
    Terry Melcher
    Bruce Johnston

Touring Group Members
    Rich Rotkin
    Arnie Marcus
    Phil Stewart

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Phil Stewart and Bernie Bringas first met during the mid-1950s as students at Inglewood High School They discovered some complementary musical talents and struck up a friendship. Encouraged by their singing compatibility, they were determined to secure a recording contract. They eventually came to the attention of Arwin Records/Daywin Music in 1962.

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Actress-singer Doris Day and her husband, film producer Marty Melcher, owned Arwin Records and Daywin Music. Their son, Terry Melcher, had just been hired by Columbia Records as an Artist and Repertoire producer. Arwin Records vice-president Bob Crystal saw potential in Stewart and Bringas' voices, and quickly arranged for an audition at Columbia Records.

Following the audition, Terry Melcher signed Stewart and Bringas to a recording contract at Columbia. Their name, the Opposites, seemed right at the time because Bringas was studying for the ministry and Stewart was a private detective. Shortly before their first release, the name was changed to the Rip Chords. The change was prompted by concerns that the Opposites could falsely imply a positive versus negative image of the two friends.

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Terry Melcher and Bruce Johnston

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Rip Chords touring group: L-R: Phil Stewart, Richard Rotkin, Arnie Marcus

The Rip Chords were really a studio project for Bruce Johnston and Terry Melcher not a band were backed by studio musicians, though a touring group would be put together later.

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Terry Melcher produced the Rip Chords' first release, "Here I Stand", a remake of the Wade Flemons version. Recorded on December 17, 1962, it peaked at No. 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1963. Stewart and Bringas were the only singers on the first release. Bringas sang the lead, the falsetto, and also joined Stewart on the background vocals.

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The group's second single, again produced by Melcher, was "Gone", recorded April 26, 1963. Bringas sang the lead and the falsetto, with Stewart and Bringas doing layered background vocals and The Blossoms providing additional background vocals during the intro and outro. Bruce Johnston added an interjecting falsetto, and Blossoms member Gracia Nitzche performed the spoken word intro. Although the song made the Billboard Hot 100, it did not do as well as well as the previous hit, "Here I Stand".

Following the release of "Gone", a problem arose for the Rip Chords. Bringas had just graduated from California State University at Long Beach and was planning to do graduate work at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, where he eventually earned his Master of Divinity degree. His educational responsibilities would not allow time for the touring aspect of a recording group.

Due to his ministerial studies, Bringas was unable to get back to Hollywood for the next recording session. This left Stewart momentarily without a singing partner. Melcher and co-producer Johnston stepped in vocally to fill the void created by Bringas' brief absence; Johnston had already sung with Stewart and Bringas on their second single "Gone". Johnston and Melcher would prove to be a significant addition as the Rip Chords prepared to record and release their third single.

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The Rip Chords' third single was the hit "Hey Little Cobra", vocally layered by Johnston and Melcher, recorded on October 15, 1963. Melcher sang the lead vocal. He and Johnston did the background vocals. The song peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1964.

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The Rip Chords' first album (released in early 1964) was Hey Little Cobra and Other Hot Rod Hits, which peaked at No. 56 on the national charts. The album featured balanced contributions from Stewart, Bringas, Melcher, and Johnston.

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The group's Fourth single was "Three Window Coupe" released in April 1964 and peaking at #28 with The Three Window Coupe album three weeks after peaking at No. 28 on the national charts.

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The Rip Chords last significant single was "One Piece ToplessBathing Suit". After the group's final single "Don't Be Scared" failed to chart The Rip Chords broke up in late 1965.

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In 2006 Sundazed Music released Summer U.S.A.! The Best of the Rip Chords.

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In the 90s a new group was started by Rich Rotkin and Arnie Marcus but without any of the original members. The new group tours and records as the Rip Chords. In 2010, the new group released a Spectra Records CD entitled The Best of the Rip Chords

Terry Melcher at the age of 62 died at his home in Beverly Hills, California from melanoma November 19, 2004.

The Story of the Ripchords