Veteran record producer TERRY MELCHER has died aged 62 after a long battle with skin cancer.
Melcher, who helped produce and write hits by Beach Boys, Byrds, and Ry Cooder, died at his home in Beverly Hills, California, according to BBC News.
The producer joined Columbia Records in the mid-1960s.
Melcher, who is the son of actress Doris Day, helped pen the hit ‘Kokomo’ for Beach Boys and produced Byrds smashes ‘Mr Tambourine Man’ and ’Turn, Turn, Turn’.
Melcher also worked with Gram Parsons and The Mamas And The Papas and he had hits as part of a duo with Beach Boys’ Bruce Johnston.
His name became linked with the Charles Manson murders in 1969.
Actress Sharon Tate and four of her friends were killed at a home Melcher once rented.
It was thought that he was the killer’s real target, because the producer refused him a record deal.
But Los Angeles dismissed the rumours because Melcher had moved to Malibu and Manson knew his new address.