The Rip Chords

by Cub KodaContrary to popular belief, the Rip Chords were actually a real group, a duo featuring Ernie Bringas and Phil Stewart, overdubbed into a bigger group sound by producer Terry Melcher and his partner, Bruce Johnston. After two failed singles, Melcher and Johnston took over the lead singing reins (and most of the backups as well) and the group suddenly had its first hit with Hey Little Cobra. When original member Bringas left to study the ministry, Stewart brought in two new members — Rich Rotkin and Arnie Marcus — who became the official touring Rip Chords. Neither Marcus nor Rotkin participated in any of the future Rip Chords sessions, but neither did Stewart on the majority of them, as Melcher and Johnston provided almost all the lead and harmony vocals. Subsequent singles and albums (the group released two) failed to ignite any chart action and the group had disbanded by late 1965, although they put in an appearance singing Red Hot Roadster in a grade Z rock & roll movie titled A Swingin Summer, which also featured the talents of Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Donnie Brooks, the Righteous Brothers and Raquel Welch, making her movie debut. In 2005 Rotkin revived the Rip Chords name for a release on Collectables titled Shut Em Down ...Again.