JPatrick

Jan & Dean Singer Berry Dies at 62

Saturday March 27, 2004 8:01 PM


By ROBERT JABLON

Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Jan Berry, a member of the duo Jan & Dean that had the 1960s surf-music hits ``Deadman's Curve'' and ``Little Old Lady from Pasadena,'' has died. He was 62.

Berry had a seizure and stopped breathing Friday at his home. He was pronounced dead that evening at a hospital, said his wife, Gertie Berry.

He had been in poor health recently from the lingering effects of brain damage from a 1966 car crash.

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 paralyzed and unable to talk.

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

In addition to his wife, Berry is survived by his parents, William and Clara Berry of Camarillo; three brothers and

:blueangel:

Mr. Wonderful

Sad.... I grew up listening to their songs on my a/m radio :blueangel:

Nowhere Man

:cry :blueangel:

NBM LS1 M6

:blueangel::blueangel:

Crushinator

Bummer! :sad: They had some great songs!

Torch Red

Wondered if anyone else would remember Jan.

He was a good and nice guy to about everyone he ever met!

Jan will be missed! :blueangel: :blueangel: :blueangel:

Corz

:( I remember about 10 years ago. Jan & Dean played a local fair.

Dean pulled me on stage and had me playing with them.

:blueangel:

Rair67

I grew up with them too- I always thought 'Dead Man's Curve" was too ironic..........


RIP :blueangel:

LT1driver

I had the pleasure of growing up in "the day" in california, saw him and Dean perform in 79 at Disneyland, great trip down memory lane, a sad day indeed for one so young to leave us :cry

ET

I turned 16 years old in 1964. I got my Drivers License and my folks financed my car.....a '63 Corvair Monza Spyder. Although under age, my best bud and I would go Drag racing at an IHRA 1\8th. mile "Outlaw" Drag Strip in Fonda, New York with the likes of Shirley Muldowney, Connie Kalitta and other local crazies of those times. Sometimes "Big Daddy", "TV" Tommy Ivo, even Art Arfons Jet Dragsters.

Jan and Dean WAS the background music for the Carguys of that era...... :yesnod:

MassVette

His music meant a lot to me growing up in the sixties, and I still listen to it now. It really does bring back pleasant memories of the beach, the girls and the hot rods that were such a part of that nicer, simpler time.
He was also an innovator. He pioneered many studio techniques used by most of the other surf and hot rod groups at the time, and are still used to this day.
His passing marks the death of part of us all who grew up in those times.

God bless you, Jan Berry- and thank you for your gift to us.
:blueangel:

surfboardtrader

he was driving and rear ended a dumptruck in his corvette, not sure what year vet he was driving. :steering: :sad: :nonod:

kyosho

:blueangel:

7vettes

Sad to hear that news.......

The only thing I didn't like about their music was the fact that I liked it so much I'd listen to it over & over.......then later I couldn't get the tune out of my head!!!!

silverja

A sad moment indeed. I remember buying my first Corvette, a 1966 Convertible, in 1977. Whenever I was driving and heard a Jan and Dean song, it felt as if my Sting Ray perked up a little bit.

He'll be missed.

Corvette Kid

Another part of our youth gone... but not forgotten.