Jerry Riopelle
Encyclopedia
Jerry Riopelle is a musician and record producer raised in Tampa, Florida
, and known primarily for his hard rock performances and for his record production.
, a single called "The Thrill is Gone". This exposure helped Riopelle land staff writer and producer job with Phil Spector
at Philles Records.
Riopelle produced his first Top 20 single, "Home of the Brave," which was recorded by Bonnie & The Treasures. He later produced top 40 singles for The Parade
(he was a member) and April Stevens & Nino Tempo. This led to an opportunity to work as an A&M Records
producer and a role as a staff writer at Irving Music.
, We Five
, and Shango
. His songs have been covered by Leon Russell
, Herb Alpert
, Kenny Loggins
, Rita Coolidge
, Meat Loaf
, and others. Jerry also wrote various pieces for Hollywood TV shows and films.
divide their time between homes in Scottsdale
, Arizona
, and Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
.
Jerry and Paul are co-founders of the beamz
music system and serve as company executives for beamz Interactive.
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, and known primarily for his hard rock performances and for his record production.
Early career
Riopelle began his music career in the 1960s in Los Angeles working as an independent record producer. He played drums for the Hollywood Argyles and later signed with Screen Gems as a staff song writer. At Screen Gems, he wrote and produced, along with Clydie KingClydie King
Clydie Crittendon is an American singer, best known for her session work as a backing vocalist....
, a single called "The Thrill is Gone". This exposure helped Riopelle land staff writer and producer job with Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
at Philles Records.
Riopelle produced his first Top 20 single, "Home of the Brave," which was recorded by Bonnie & The Treasures. He later produced top 40 singles for The Parade
The Parade
The Parade was an American sunshine pop group from Los Angeles, California.-Career:The group featured Jerry Riopelle, who played keyboards on several Phil Spector-produced records; Murray MacLeod, an actor who appeared on Hawaii Five-O and Kung Fu; and Allen "Smokey" Roberds, another actor...
(he was a member) and April Stevens & Nino Tempo. This led to an opportunity to work as an A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
producer and a role as a staff writer at Irving Music.
Later career
Riopelle produced and wrote for The Parade, Brewer & ShipleyBrewer & Shipley
Brewer & Shipley were an American folk rock music duo of the late 1960s through 1970s, consisting of singer-songwriters Mike Brewer and Tom Shipley. They were known for their intricate guitar work, vocal harmonies and socially conscious lyrics. Their greatest success was the song "One Toke Over the...
, We Five
We Five
We Five was a 1960s folk rock musical group based in San Francisco, California. Their best-known hit was their 1965 remake of Ian and Sylvia's "You Were on My Mind", which reached #1 on the Cashbox chart, #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart...
, and Shango
Shango (rock group)
Shango was a rock quartet in the late 1960s, led by Tommy Reynolds, later of Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds, which included actor Stuart Margolin....
. His songs have been covered by Leon Russell
Leon Russell
Claude Russell Bridges , known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career in music....
, Herb Alpert
Herb Alpert
Herbert "Herb" Alpert is an American musician most associated with the group variously known as Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass, or TJB. He is also a recording industry executive — he is the "A" of A&M Records...
, Kenny Loggins
Kenny Loggins
During the next decade, Loggins recorded so many successful songs for film soundtracks that he was referred to as, King of the Movie Soundtrack.He began with "I'm Alright" , "Mr. Night", and "Lead the Way" from Caddyshack...
, Rita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge is a multiple Grammy Award-winning American vocalist. During the 1970s and 1980s, she charted hits on Billboard's Pop, Country, Adult Contemporary and Jazz charts.-Career:...
, Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday , better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor...
, and others. Jerry also wrote various pieces for Hollywood TV shows and films.
Family and Current Projects
Riopelle and his wife Naomi have two children, daughter Angela and son Paul. Jerry and Naomidivide their time between homes in Scottsdale
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, and Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
.
Jerry and Paul are co-founders of the beamz
Beamz
The beamz is a laser-based music device, similar to a Theremin. It is a W-shaped table-top optical control device with several laser beams. Users operate the device by using their hands to interrupt the beams.-History:...
music system and serve as company executives for beamz Interactive.
Discography
- Jerry Riopelle (Capitol RecordsCapitol RecordsCapitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
, 1971) - Second Album (Capitol, 1972)
- Saving Grace (ABCABC RecordsABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H....
, 1974) - Take a Chance (ABC, 1975)
- Hush Money (Rhino Records, 1994)
- Tongue N Groove (The Orchard, 1999)
- Sunshine Girl: The Complete Recordings by The Parade (Now Sounds, 2008)