Writer of the song "Cherish" and many other hits. Founding member and purportedly the leader of musical group "The Association" started in the 60's.
Co-wrote some material with groupmember and friend, Jules Alexander. His "Requiem For The Masses", A song, originally written about a tragic viet nam death , whose 6 voice harmony had the power of a much larger group.
The music fell between that of The Beach Boys & The Beatles in both style and popularity.
First Association hit "Along Comes Mary" possesses excellent jazz type changes blended with harmony and L.A. folkrock rhythm section complete with a fender tele and the engineer who had previously recorded "The Monster Mash", Gary Paxton. This song was not written by Terry Kirkman but by an artist Tandym Almer whose idenity reportedly was not beach guru Brian Wilson.
A very active touring group they would do 250 one nighters in a year. I saw a line of cars 2 miles long for one of their concerts at Chicago's Ravinia venue around 1970, the first and only time I have ever witnessed that.
The song "Cherish" is for many "The" classic kissing/love song. Kirkman at one time, early on, partnered with Frank Zappa.Their musics SHARE A COMPLEXITY RARE IN ROCK & something quite difficult to pull off .
Other hits sung by The Association include, Never My Love and Windy, both songslarge commercial hits.
Terry Kirkman is currently vice president of an L.A. organization that helps musicians with substance abuse habits. 2003
