his name was terry melcher. one of l.a.'s top music producers.e late spring of 'kind, melcher agreed to come to spahn ranch to hear him sing. >> charlie expected somebody to come out with a pen and say now here you have a contract with colombia records. >> but there was to be no contract. because later, terry melcher politely but firmly rejected charlie manson. >> charlie was really crushed. >> he would not be a rock 'n roll star. he would not be rich and famous. he was a failure, which to manson, said his parole officer. >> charlie was in serious danger of losing the family. he did something that politicians are masterful at. >> that is he creates this horrible thing out there. there's going to be a race war. >> it was a time of racial strife in america. especially in l.a. and manson blended that information somehow with the book of revelation. he called it helter skelter after one of the songs on the beatles "white" album. his followers believed it. but did he? roger smith isn't so sure. >> i think it was basically used to keep them focused and