Jan Berry, of Jan & Dean, dies at 62.

[Harvey]

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Jan & Dean had a string of hits and 10 gold records in the 1960s with their tales of Southern California. Among them were 1964's The Little Old Lady from Pasadena, about a hotrod racing grandma, and Surf City, with its lines about taking the station wagon to a place where there are "two girls for every boy."

With Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, William Jan Berry co-wrote the lyrics for Surf City and Deadman's Curve, which featured the driving guitar licks and falsetto crooning of the wildly popular surf music.

Berry's hit-making career with high school friend Dean Torrence was cut short in 1966 when Berry's speeding Corvette hit a parked truck and he suffered severe brain damage that left him partially paralysed and unable to talk.

His recovery was slow, but eventually he was able to resume singing and writing songs.

Berry also is survived by his parents, William and Clara Berry of Camarillo; three brothers and three sisters.

I knew Jan, Dean & Arnie (Jan & Arnie predate Jand & Dean) back at University High, in L.A. I was one of the musicians who played backup in some music shows, back then, along with Bruce Johnston (a later member of the Beach Boys) and Sandy Nelson (Teen Beat... If you're really old enough to remember that).

I also know his brother, Ken, both from school days and later, through his company, Studio Instrument Rentals, both because rehearsed in his studios as a musicain and because I design pro audio electronics.

My condolences to Jan's family and friends. My memories of my experiences with him are significiant in my early life.

 

[Zim Hosein]

R. I. P. Jan Berry

 

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
R. I. P. Jan Berry

 

[anxi80]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
R. I. P. Jan Berry

btw, i cant help but have a flashback to 'high fidelity'... if anyone has a good recollection of the movie, you'll know what im talking about

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Wow Harvey ! My sister dated Steven Ball, of Ball Mason Jar(rich family). Dean Torrence lived at Steve's house in the
Hollywood Hills for awhile, the house was Humphrey Bogart's during the 40's. I met and partied with Dean, Kat Stevens and a bunch of famous ppl I can't remember. That was early 70's I think. That period of my life is a blur

Dean Torrence did the art work for album covers, the group "Caned Heat" being one of them.


RIP for Jan.