THE COLUMBIA
YEARS
The Rip Chords are known for their 1964 million-seller smash hit "Hey Little Cobra" written by Carol Connors,and their chart hits "Three Window Coupe," "Here I Stand," "Gone," "409" and "Red Hot Roadster" from the Beach Movie "A Swingin' Summer." Produced by the team of Terry Melcher and Bruce Johnston,who also performed on the recordings. As a matter of fact, it was Bruce and Terry's voices that propelled "Hey Little Cobra" to the top of the charts! The 60's Rip Chords started out with Phil Stewart and Ernie Bringas,who originally called themselves,"The Opposites", soon to be changed to "The Rip Chords". Their first hit as The Rip Chords, "Here I Stand" was a chart success and laid the ground work for more hits to come. Rich Rotkin and Arnie Marcus were brought into the band from the Group "The Upper Classmen" who had a minor hit in the late 50's/early 60's with "Cha Cha With The Zombies". Ernie was preparing to go to Seminary School, and took a leave of absence from the The Rip Chords. Although Phil, Ernie, Richie and Arnie were photographed together,and spent some time together in the studio,all personal appearances were done by Phil, Rich and Arnie, who performed their hits thousands of times in front of millions of fans across the country on Dick Clark's Caravan Of Stars Tours in 1963 and 1964,as well as countless concerts nationwide. Ernie did return to the band to record,but did not take to the road, as a condition of his seminary studies. The original band disbanded in 1965.
THIS PAGE INCLUDES MEMORABILIA FROM THE YEARS 1961 THRU 1965.
HERE'S A CLIP FROM THE 1965 FILM, "A SWINGIN' SUMMER" WHICH FEATURED A VERY YOUNG RACQUEL WELSH. "THE RIP CHORDS" PERFORMED "RED HOT ROADSTER" IN THE FILM...LEFT TO RIGHT, ARNIE MARCUS, PHIL STEWART,RICHIE ROTKIN
IN THE STUDIO..1964. LEFT TO RIGHT..PHIL STEWART,RICHIE ROTKIN,ARNIE MARCUS,ERNIE BRINGAS
THE RIP CHORDS..1964.. TAKEN FROM A ROOFTOP..LEFT TO RIGHT...ERNIE BRINGAS,ARNIE MARCUS,RICHIE ROTKIN,PHIL STEWART
PROMO SHOT WITH A COBRA CAR..1964
The Rip Chords in 1964 With Some Boss Jocks
RICHIE ROTKIN...CIRCA 1960...PRE RIP CHORDS DAYS,with The UPPER CLASSMEN...RICHIE IS THE THIRD FROM THE LEFT.
Original Promo copy of "The Upper Classmen" hit, "Cha Cha With The Zombies. Richie Rotkin & Arnie Marcus were members of this band prior to joining The Rip Chords, and are featured on this record. It has become a mainstay of Dr. Demento's Halloween radio shows for years.
THE RIP CHORDS WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY PROMO SHOT...1963
ORIGINAL,FOUNDING RIP CHORDS MEMBER,ERNIE BRINGAS
A RECENT REISSUE OF THE ORIGINAL RIP CHORDS RECORDINGS...ON SUNDAZED RECORDS.
THE FIRST ALBUM..."HEY LITTLE COBRA" PRODUCED BY TERRY MELCHER AND BRUCE JOHNSTON
THE SECOND ALBUM,"THREE WINDOW COUPE" PRODUCED BY TERRY MELCHER AND BRUCE JOHNSTON
TERRY MELCHER & BRUCE JOHNSTON
CAROL CONNORS, CIRCA 1963. CAROL CO- WROTE "HEY LITTLE COBRA" WITH HER BROTHER MARSHALL. SHE'S HOLDING THE SHEET MUSIC TO THE SONG IN THIS PHOTO. CAROL WENT ON TO BE NOMINATED FOR 2 ACADEMY AWARDS. SHE IS ALSO THE CO- WRITER OF "THEME FROM ROCKY" AND "WITH YOU I'M BORN AGAIN" . CAROL IS STILL VERY MUCH A PART OF THE RIP CHORDS FAMILY. SHE WROTE THE LINER NOTES FOR THE 2008 CD, "THE RIP CHORDS...NOW" AND SHE ALSO CO-WROTE A SONG FOR THAT ALBUM FOR THE BAND ALONG WITH "BODY GLOVE" PRESIDENT RUSS LESSER CALLED "SURF CITY AIN'T NO CITY"
THE RIP CHORDS ONSTAGE IN 1964...ON THE DICK CLARK CARAVAN OF STARS TOUR...ARNIE MARCUS,RICHIE ROTKIN ,PHIL STEWART
IN HAWAII DURING THE 1964 "CARAVAN OF STARS" TOUR..LEFT TO RIGHT...RICHIE ROTKIN, ARNIE MARCUS, PHIL STEWART
HOPE YOU ENJOYED LOOKING AT THESE CLASSIC RIP CHORDS PHOTOS AND VIDEO.
