Encyclopedia:
Jan and Dean,
Category:Jan and Dean songs
Jan Berry (
April 3,
1941,
Los Angeles –
March 26,
2004) and
Dean Torrence (born
March 10,
1940,
Los Angeles) were a
rock and roll duo popular from the late 1950s through the mid-1960s. Although Jan & Dean pre-dated
The Beach Boys, they became most famously associated with the vocal "
surf music" craze inspired by The Beach Boys.
Beginnings
Jan & Dean began singing together after football practice at
University High School (Los Angeles) in Los Angeles. Primitive recording sessions followed soon after, in a makeshift studio in Jan's garage. They first performed on stage as
The Barons at a high school dance. Their first commercial success was "Jennie Lee" (1958), a Top-10 ode to a local burlesque performer which Jan Berry recorded with fellow Baron
Arnie Ginsburg.
Jan & Arnie released three singles in all. After Dean returned from a stint in the army reserves, and Arnie went off to other pursuits, Berry and Torrence began to make music as
Jan & Dean.
With the help of friend
Herb Alpert and producer
Lou Adler, Jan & Dean scored another Top-10 smash with "Baby Talk" (1959), and then scored a series of hits over the next couple of years. Playing local venues, they met and performed with the Beach Boys, and discovered the appeal of the latter's "surf sound". By this time,
Jan Berry was co-writing, arranging, and producing all of Jan & Dean's original material. Jan signed a series of contracts with Screen Gems to write and produce music for Jan & Dean, as well as other artists such as
Judy & Jill (which included Berry's girlfriend
Jill Gibson and Dean's girlfriend
Judy Lovejoy),
Vic Diaz and
Pixie (a young female solo singer).
Surf's golden boys
Jan Berry and Brian Wilson collaborated on roughly a dozen hits and album cuts for Jan & Dean, including the number one national hit "
Surf City" (1963). Subsequent Top-10 hits for Jan & Dean included "Honolulu Lulu" (1963), "Drag City" (1963), "
The Little Old Lady from Pasadena" (1964) and the eerily portentous "Dead Man's Curve" (1964). Their commercial peak came between 1963 and 1966, and the duo scored an impressive total of twenty-six chart hits over eight years.
In 1964 at the height of their fame, Jan & Dean hosted and performed at
The T.A.M.I. Show concert. The live show was held in the
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and was made into a concert film by
Steve Binder. This historic show also featured such great acts as
The Rolling Stones,
Chuck Berry,
Gerry & The Pacemakers,
James Brown,
Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas,
Marvin Gaye,
The Supremes,
Lesley Gore,
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, and
The Beach Boys (whose sequence was later cut from the film).
Along with
Phil Spector,
Brian Wilson, and
Lee Hazlewood, Jan Berry enjoyed a reputation as one of the best record producers on the West Coast. Brian Wilson has cited Jan as having a direct impact on his own growth as a record producer.
Jan's car wreck and its aftermath
On
April 12,
1966 Jan was involved in a serious motor vehicle accident, resulting in severe head injuries. Earlier that month, Berry had separated from his girlfriend of seven years, singer-artist
Jill Gibson, later a member for a short time of
The Mamas and the Papas who had co-written many songs with Jan. As a result of Berry's accident, Jan & Dean did not perform again until the mid-1970s. Jan traveled a long and difficult road toward recovery from brain damage and partial paralysis.
In Berry's absence, Dean Torrence recorded
Save for a Rainy Day, a
concept album featuring all rain-themed songs, to meet their contractual obligations, imitating Berry's voice and posing with his brother Ken for the cover photos. While critically acclaimed, and loved by the fans who heard it, distributor
Columbia Records didn't put much support behind the album, and when it became clear Berry would have a long recovery, Columbia dropped their contract.
In February 1978, Jan & Dean were reintroduced to America when the film biography
Deadman's Curve aired on national television. The duo made steps toward an official comeback that year, touring with the Beach Boys. Jan & Dean continued to tour on their own throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and into the new
millennium — with 1960s nostalgia providing them with a ready audience.
Sundazed Records also reissued
Save for a Rainy Day, which drew new critical praise.
On
August 31,
1991, Jan Berry married Gertie Filip at
The Stardust Convention Centre in
Las Vegas, Nevada. Dean Torrence was Berry's best man at the wedding.
Jan and Dean finally ended with Jan's untimely death on
March 26,
2004, at the age of 62. Berry's body was donated to
science and later
cremated.
Miscellany
Neil Young's song "Tonight's the Night", is about Jan's brother Bruce, and its lyrics state "Bruce Berry was a working man, he used to load that Econoline van..."
Jan's brother Ken founded Studio Instrument Rentals (S.I.R) in Los Angeles in 1967, using Jan's instruments to get started, the instruments being unused following Jan's accident.
Brother Brian Berry went to Canada during the Vietnam war. He purchased trapping rights to the North Selkirk Mountains and became a mountaineering guide, hunter, and fisherman.
Dean became a
graphic artist while Jan recovered, starting his own company, Kitty Hawk Graphics, and designing album covers for other recording artists, including
Harry Nilsson and
The Beach Boys.
Dean continues to tour with his new band
The Surf City Allstars. Jan's role has now been taken by Matt Jardine, a second generation Beach Boy (Al Jardine's son).
Dean officially endorses the Jan & Dean Fan Site, and has regular contact with the site.
Dean Torrence appeared as lead singer on The Beach Boys hit single Barbara Ann, you can hear his participation on The Beach Boys CD release "Hawthorne California".
Discography
Here is a complete 1960's discography of all released Jan & Dean single releases that charted and did not chart. All subsequent singles released during the 1970's did not chart.
1959:01.
Jennie Lee / Gotta Get A Date
(Arwin) Recorded as Jan & Arnie #10 :02. Gas Money / Bonnie Lou
(Arwin) Recorded as Jan & Arnie #91
:03. I Love Linda / The Beat That Can't Be Beat
(Arwin) Did Not Chart:04.
Baby Talk / Jeanette Get Your Hair Done
(Dore) #10:05. There's A Girl / My Heart Sings
(Dore) #97
1960:06. Clementine / You're On My Mind
(Dore) #65
:07. White Tennis Sneakers / Cindy
(Dore) Did Not Chart:08. We Go Together / Rosie Lane
(Dore) #53
:09. Gee / Such A Good Nights Dreaming
(Dore) #81
:10. Baggy Pants / Judy
(Dore) Did Not Chart1961:11. Tomorrows Teardrops / Midsummer Nights Dream
(Ripple) Did Not Chart(Jan Berry Release)
:12. Heart And Soul / Midsummer Nights Dream
(Challenge) #25
:13. Don't Fly Away / Julie
(Challenge) Did Not Chart:14. Wanted One Girl / Something A Little Bit Different
(Challenge) #104
1962:15. A Sunday Kind Of Love / Poor Little Puppet
(Liberty) #95
:16. Tennessee / You're Heart Has Changed Its Mind
(Liberty) #69
:17. Who Put The Bomp / My Favourite Dream
(Liberty) Did Not Chart:18. Frosty The Snowman / She's Still Talking Baby Talk
(Liberty) Did Not Chart1963:19. Linda / When I Learn How To Cry
(Liberty) #28
:20.
Surf City / She's My Summer Girl
(Liberty) #1:21.
Honolulu Lulu / Someday (You'll Go Walking By)
(Liberty) #11
:22.
Drag City / Schlock Rod Part 1
(Liberty) #101964:23.
Dead Man's Curve / The New Girl In School
(Liberty) #8 / #37
:24.
The Little Old Lady From Pasadena / My Mighty G.T.O
(Liberty) #3:25.
Ride The Wild Surf / The Anaheim Azuza And Cucamonga Sewing Circle Book Review And Timing Association
(Liberty) #16 / #77
:26. Sidewalk Surfin' / When It's Over
(Liberty) #25
1965:27. (Here They Come) From All Over The World / Freeway Flyer
(Liberty) #56
:28. Summertime Summertime / Theme From Leons Garage
(Brer Bird) Did Not Chart (Dean Torrence Release)
:29. You Really Know How To Hurt A Guy / It's As Easy As 1,2,3
(Liberty) #27
:30. It's A Shame To Say Goodbye / Submarine Races
(Liberty} Did Not Chart:31. I Found A Girl / It's A Shame To Say Goodbye
(Liberty) #30
:32. The Universal Coward / I Can't Wait To Love You
(Liberty) Did Not Chart1966:33. A Beginning From An End / Folk City
(Liberty) #109
:34. Batman / Bucket "T"
(Liberty) #66
:35. Popsicle / Norwegian Wood
(Liberty) #21
:36. Fiddle Around / A Surfer's Dream
(Liberty) #93
:37. Summertime Summertime / California Lullaby (J&D Records)
Did Not Chart1967:38. Like A Summer Rain / Louisiana Man
(J&D Records) Did Not Chart:39. School Days / The New Girl In School
(Liberty) Did Not Chart:40. Yellow Balloon / Taste Of Rain
(Columbia) #111
1968:41. Hawaii / Tijuana
(J&D Records) Did Not Chart:42. Fan Tan / Love & Hate
(J&D Records) Did Not Chart:43. Vegatables / Snowflakes On Laughing Gravy's Whiskers
(White Whale) Did Not Chart (Released as Laughing Gravy)
:44. Only A Boy / Love & Hate
(Warner) Did Not Chart:45. I Know My Mind / Laurel & Hardy
(Warner) Did Not Chart:46. Girl You're Blowing My Mind / In The Still Of The Night
(Warner) Did Not Chart External links
*
http://www.jananddean-janberry.com/mail/mailform-booking.html The Jan & Dean Show LIVE featuring DEAN TORRENCE - Book the Band Today for Your Event!*
http://www.jananddean.moonfruit.com/ Official Jan & Dean Fan Site*
http://www.jananddean.com/ Official Jan & Dean Web Page*
http://www.jananddean-janberry.com/ Official Jan Berry Website*
http://jananddean.proboards29.com/ Jan Berry and Jan & Dean Central - Message Board *
http://www.geocities.com/shakin_stacks/deantorrence.txt/ Dean Torrence History *
http://www.history-of-rock.com/jan_and_dean.htm Jan and Dean from History-of-rockBerry, JanBerry, JanTorrence, DeanCategory:Surf groupsCategory:Celebrity duosCategory:Duosde:Jan and Deanfr:Jan & Deanpl:Jan Berrysv:Jan and Dean