Jerry Riopelle
record producer · composer
- December 24, 2018
- 77 years
- cancer
About Jerry Riopelle
Jerry Riopelle, 77, American musician (The Parade), cancer.
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Full Biography
|Jerry Riopelle (May 5, 1941 – December 24, 2018) was an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer born in Detroit, and raised in Tampa, Florida, and known primarily for his hard rock performances and for his record production. He mixed rock, country and jazz with R&B and was an inductee into the Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.
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 songwriter. At Screen Gems, he wrote and produced, along with Clydie King, a single called "The Thrill is Gone" (not to be confused with the one made famous by B.B. King). This exposure helped Riopelle land staff writer and producer job with Phil Spector and Lester Sills label Philles Records.
Riopelle had his first charting record as producer of "Home of the Brave," which was recorded by Bonnie & The Treasures reached #77 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1965. 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.
Later career and death
Riopelle produced and wrote for The Parade, Brewer & Shipley, 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.
Riopelle had a fan base in Arizona during the 1970s, and performed in New Year's Eve performances at Phoenix venue Celebrity Theatre, featuring a revolving stage. Acts opened for Riopelle on these occasions, including The Dixie Dregs.[citation needed]
In 2001, Riopelle invented and patented the Beamz device for creating music using lasers.[citation needed]
He died of complications from cancer on December 24, 2018, at the age of 77.
Discography
Albums (vinyl)
- Jerry Riopelle - Capitol ST-732 - 1971
- Jerry Riopelle -(re issue) Capitol SM-732 - 1977
- The Second Album - Capitol ST-863 - 1972
- The Second Album -(re issue) Capitol SM-863 - 1977
- Saving Grace - ABC ABCX-827 - 1974
- Saving Grace -(Ariola Holland) ABC 27 205 ET - 1974
- Take A Chance - ABC ABCD-886 - 1975
- Take A Chance -(RCA Canada) - 1975
- Little Bit At A Time - Little Eskimo 7 - 1977
- In The Round - Little Eskimo 8 - 1978
- In The Round - (Ariola Holland) - 1979
- Dangerous Stranger - Little Eskimo 9 - 1979
- Dangerous Stranger - (Ariola Holland) - 1979
- Juicy Talk - Little Eskimo 10 - 1982
- Livin’ The Life (UK import)- See For Miles SEE 70 - 1986
Cassettes
- Little Bit At A Time - Little Eskimo LE 7 - 1977
- In The Round - Little Eskimo LE-C-8 - 1978
- In The Round (2 extra songs)*-Little Eskimo LE-CX-8 - 1990
- Dangerous Stranger - Little Eskimo LE 9 - 1979
- Juicy Talk - Little Eskimo LE 10 - 1982
- Hands On - Little Eskimo LE 11 - 1988
- In The Blood* - Indio LE-CDX 1122 - 1998
- Note these cassettes made especially for Celebrity Theater New Year shows.
CDs
- Hands On - Little Eskimo LECD 11 - 1986
- In The Blood - Indio ICD-9303 - 1993
- Hush Money - Mesa R2 79078 - 1994
- Tongue 'n' Groove - Evening Star/Little Eskimo LE 2000 - 2000
- Tongue 'n' Groove (+In The Round) - Evening Star/Little Eskimo LE 2000X - 2000
- The Works 1970-2000 - Little Eskimo LE 2005 - 2005
- In the Round-Deluxe - Little Eskimo LE 2009 - 2009
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Riopelle
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 5, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Jerry Riopelle's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what city was Jerry Riopelle born?
- A.Tampa
- B.Los Angeles
- C.Detroitcorrect
- D.Phoenix
Jerry Riopelle was born in Detroit on May 5, 1941.
Source: biographical introduction
2.In which state was Jerry Riopelle raised?
- A.Arizona
- B.Michigan
- C.California
- D.Floridacorrect
Jerry Riopelle was raised in Tampa, Florida.
Source: biographical introduction
3.Jerry Riopelle was an inductee into which hall of fame?
- A.Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- B.Songwriters Hall of Fame
- C.Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Famecorrect
- D.Detroit Music Hall of Fame
Jerry Riopelle was an inductee into the Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.
Source: biographical introduction
4.During the 1960s, in which city did Jerry Riopelle begin his music career?
- A.Tampa
- B.Los Angelescorrect
- C.New York City
- D.Detroit
Riopelle began his music career in the 1960s in Los Angeles working as an independent record producer.
Source: Early career section
5.Which instrument did Jerry Riopelle play for The Hollywood Argyles?
- A.Piano
- B.Guitar
- C.Drumscorrect
- D.Bass
Riopelle played drums for The Hollywood Argyles during his early career.
Source: Early career section
6.What was the name of the song Jerry Riopelle wrote and produced with Clydie King?
- A.Saving Grace
- B.The Thrill is Gonecorrect
- C.Take A Chance
- D.Home of the Brave
At Screen Gems, Riopelle wrote and produced a single called The Thrill is Gone with Clydie King.
Source: Early career section
7.What was Jerry Riopelle's first charting record as a producer?
- A.In The Blood
- B.Hands On
- C.Home of the Bravecorrect
- D.The Thrill is Gone
Riopelle had his first charting record as producer of Home of the Brave, which reached #77 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Source: Early career section
8.Jerry Riopelle worked as a staff writer for which music publisher?
- A.Little Eskimo
- B.Irving Musiccorrect
- C.Evening Star
- D.Screen Gems
Riopelle's career led to an opportunity to work as an A&M Records producer and a role as a staff writer at Irving Music.
Source: Early career section
9.Jerry Riopelle performed New Year's Eve shows at which Phoenix venue?
- A.The Greek Theatre
- B.Celebrity Theatrecorrect
- C.The Roxy
- D.The Hollywood Bowl
Riopelle performed in New Year's Eve performances at the Phoenix venue Celebrity Theatre.
Source: Later career and death section
10.Which band opened for Jerry Riopelle at the Celebrity Theatre?
- A.We Five
- B.The Parade
- C.The Dixie Dregscorrect
- D.Brewer & Shipley
Acts opened for Riopelle on these occasions, including The Dixie Dregs.
Source: Later career and death section
11.What device did Jerry Riopelle invent and patent in 2001?
- A.A revolving stage
- B.The Beamz devicecorrect
- C.A recording console
- D.A digital synthesizer
In 2001, Riopelle invented and patented the Beamz device for creating music using lasers.
Source: Later career and death section
12.What was the cause of Jerry Riopelle's death?
- A.Cancercorrect
- B.Pneumonia
- C.A stroke
- D.Heart failure
Jerry Riopelle died of complications from cancer on December 24, 2018.
Source: Later career and death section
13.What was Jerry Riopelle's age at the time of his death?
- A.76
- B.77correct
- C.75
- D.78
Jerry Riopelle died at the age of 77.
Source: Later career and death section
14.Which artist is listed as having covered Jerry Riopelle's songs?
- A.B.B. King
- B.Clydie King
- C.April Stevens
- D.Kenny Logginscorrect
Riopelle's songs have been covered by Leon Russell, Herb Alpert, Kenny Loggins, Rita Coolidge, Meat Loaf, and others.
Source: Later career and death section
15.Which record label released the album 'Saving Grace' in 1974?
- A.Capitol
- B.ABCcorrect
- C.Indio
- D.Little Eskimo
The album Saving Grace was released on the ABC label in 1974.
Source: Discography section
16.Which cassette releases were noted as made especially for Celebrity Theater New Year shows?
- A.Hands On
- B.In The Roundcorrect
- C.Juicy Talk
- D.In The Blood
The In The Round cassette releases note they were made especially for Celebrity Theater New Year shows.
Source: Discography section
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