Jan & Dean - Music, Songs, and Lyrics

Jan Berry (Born 3 April 1941, Los Angeles, California, USA) and Dean Torrence (Born 10 March 1940, Los Angeles, California, USA). Students at Emerson Junior High School, Berry and Torrence began singing together on an informal basis. They formed an embryonic group, the Barons, with Bruce Johnston and Sandy Nelson, but its members gradually drifted away, leaving Berry, Torrence and singer Arnie Ginsburg to plot a different course. The trio recorded "Jennie Lee" in 1958. A homage to the subject of Ginsburg's affections, a local striptease artist, the single became a surprise hit, reaching number 8 in the US chart in May. Although featured on the song, Torrence was drafted prior to its success, and the pressing was credited to Jan And Arnie. Subsequent releases failed to achieve success and the pair split up. Berry and Torrence were reunited the following year. They completed several demos in Berry's makeshift studio and, having secured the production and management services of local entrepreneur Lou Adler, the reshaped duo enjoyed a Top 10 entry with "Baby Talk". Jan And Dean scored several minor hits over the ensuing four years until a 1963 release, "Linda', heralded a departure in their style. Here the duo completed all the backing voices, while the lead was sung in falsetto. The sound was redolent of the Beach Boys and the two performers" immediate future became entwined. Brian Wilson co-wrote "Surf City", Jan And Dean's first number 1 hit; this glorious summer hit evokes fun, sunshine and "two girls for every boy".

The Beach Boys' leader also made telling contributions to several other notable classics, including "Drag City", "Dead Man's Curve" and "Ride The Wild Surf", although Berry's contribution as writer, and later producer, should not be underestimated. However, despite the promise of a television series, and a role in the movie Easy Come, Easy Go, relations between he and Torrence became increasingly strained. Dean added fuel to the fire by singing lead on "Barbara Ann", an international hit pulled from the informal Beach Boys Party. The exploitative "Batman" single, released in January 1966, was the last session the pair recorded together. Within weeks Jan Berry had crashed his sports car receiving appalling injuries. He incurred severe brain damage, but although recovery was slow, the singer did complete a few singles during the early 70s. Torrence kept the Jan And Dean name alive, but failed to recapture the duo's success and subsequently found his true vocation with his highly respected design company, Kittyhawk Graphics. However, the pair were reunited in 1978 when they undertook the support slot for that year's Beach Boys tour.

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