Jump to content

Jan and Dean

From Alfawiki
Jan and Dean
Company typeMusic duo
IndustryMusic
Founded1959
FounderWilliam Jan Berry, Dean Ormsby Torrence
Headquarters
Los Angeles
,
United States
ProductsMusic recordings, singles such as "Surf City", "Baby Talk", "Drag City", "Dead Man's Curve", "The Little Old Lady (from Pasadena)"

Jan and Dean comprised an American rock duo made up of William Jan Berry (April 3, 1941 – March 26, 2004) and Dean Ormsby Torrence (born March 10, 1940). During the early 1960s, they were instrumental in developing the California Sound and vocal surf genres that were subsequently popularized by the Beach Boys.

Their biggest hit, the 1963 single "Surf City", was notable for being the first surf-themed track to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Additional top ten successes included "Baby Talk" (1959), "Drag City" (1963), "Dead Man's Curve" (1964; later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008), and "The Little Old Lady (from Pasadena)" (1964).

In 1972, Torrence earned a Grammy Award for Best Album Cover for the debut album of psychedelic rock group Pollution. He also received three further nominations in this category for his work on albums by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. His design efforts on the Surf City Allstars' In Concert CD were recognized with a Silver Award of Distinction at the Communicator Awards in 2013.

Early lives

William Jan Berry was born on April 3, 1941, in Los Angeles, to Clara Lorentze Mustad (1919–2009) and William L. Berry (1909–2004), an aeronautical engineer. Raised in Bel Air, his father served as project manager for Howard Hughes on the "Spruce Goose" and was aboard its sole flight.

Dean Ormsby Torrence, born March 10, 1940, also in Los Angeles, was the son of Natalie Ormsby (1911–2008) and Maurice Dean Torrence (1907–1997). Maurice graduated from Stanford University and worked as a sales manager at the Wilshire Oil Company.

1957–59: formation

Berry and Torrence first crossed paths as football teammates at Emerson Junior High School located in Westwood, Los Angeles. By 1957, both attended University High School, continuing their involvement with the Warriors football team. With lockers adjacent to each other, they began harmonizing after practice alongside teammates including future actor James Brolin.

The Barons

To participate in a talent show at University High School, Berry and Torrence established a doo-wop ensemble called "The Barons," named after their school's Hi-Y club. The lineup featured William "Chuck" Steele as lead vocalist, Arnold P. "Arnie" Ginsburg singing first tenor, Wallace S. "Wally" Yagi and John 'Sagi" Seligman both on second tenor parts, with Berry handling bass vocals and Torrence performing falsetto.[1]

During its short lifespan, Sandy Nelson—who lived next door to Torrence—played drums for the group, while future member of Beach Boys, Bruce Johnston occasionally contributed piano and vocals. The Barons dedicated considerable time rehearsing in Berry's parents' garage, which was outfitted with an upright piano and two Ampex two-track reel-to-reel tape recorders.[2][3]

In 1958, The Barons appeared at University High School’s talent competition performing covers such as "Get a Job" and "Short Shorts".[4] Following this period, most members left except Berry and Torrence,[5] who then focused on creating original compositions.

Jan & Arnie

Motivated by a poster of Hollywood burlesque star Virginia Lee Hicks (known as Jennie Lee, the "Bazoom Girl"), Ginsburg composed a tribute track titled "Jennie Lee". Berry reworked the Civil War melody "Aura Lea" and developed the vocal harmonies. After several weeks of rehearsals, they aimed to record a demo in Berry's garage. However, Torrence was called into service with the United States Army Reserve, so Berry and Ginsburg proceeded without him,[6] employing a children's metal high chair as a percussion instrument.[3] Berry then brought the recording to Radio Recorders for transfer onto an acetate disc.[3] Joe Lubin, Vice President and Head of A & R at Arwin Records, agreed to produce and distribute the record.

In March 1958, contracts were signed by Berry’s and Ginsburg’s fathers, granting Lubin management authority over their sons.[7]

Produced under Lubin’s guidance, "Jennie Lee" (Arwin 108) with the B-side "Gotta Get a Date" unexpectedly achieved commercial success. Mark A. Moore, Berry's biographer, describes the track as having a lively R&B style paired with an energetic vocal hook that became a hallmark for Jan Berry.[8] Distributed through Dot Records,[9] it entered the charts in May 1958 following their performance on ABC's The Dick Clark Show. By June, "Jennie Lee" reached No. 3 on Cash Box, No. 4 on R&B charts, and No. 8 on Billboard. Cover versions by artists such as Billy Ward had minimal commercial effect.[10]

In July 1958, their follow-up single "Gas Money," backed with "Bonnie Lou," both co-written by Berry, Ginsburg, and Altfeld, was released. This record incorporated early surf music characteristics and attained No. 81 on Billboard.[11] During July, they toured the US East Coast as part of the Summer Dance Party and made another appearance on The Dick Clark Show in Manhattan.

On August 24, 1958, Jan & Arnie performed at the inaugural rock-n-roll concert held at the Hollywood Bowl, sharing the stage with prominent performers like Bobby Darin and the Champs,[12] entertaining an audience of nearly 12,000 attendees.

Their third single, "The Beat That Can't Be Beat," backed with "I Love Linda," was released on September 6 but did not chart due to distribution problems. They showcased this song on CBS's Jack Benny Show in October.[13]

In January 1959, prior to Jan and Dean’s debut release, Arnie Ginsburg recorded a one-time single with the Rituals on Arwin Records. This session featured notable musicians such as Richard Podolor and Sandy Nelson.[14]

By the end of that year, after Torrence completed his Army Reserve service at Fort Ord, Ginsburg exited the music scene to pursue architecture studies at USC. He graduated in product design in 1966 and collaborated with renowned architects including Charles Eames,[15] earning a U.S. patent for a table design in 1973.[16]

In 1975, Ginsburg moved to Santa Barbara where he worked as an architectural designer,[15] developing innovative projects such as the Ginsburg House.[17] The following year he co-held a patent for a portable batting cage.[18]

1959–62: Initial Recordings

Following Torrence's completion of a six-month mandatory service in the US Army Reserve, he and Berry established the duo "Jan and Dean." With the backing of producers Herb Alpert and Lou Adler, they secured a Top 10 hit on the Dore label with "Baby Talk" in 1959, originally credited as Jan & Arnie by mistake. Over the subsequent years, they released multiple successful tracks, performing primarily in their local scene and forging connections with the Beach Boys, whose signature "surf sound" heavily influenced their musical direction. Berry was instrumental in co-writing, arranging, and producing all original compositions for Jan and Dean.

In addition to their work as a duo, Berry contributed as co-writer or producer for other artists, including the Angels with their Top 30 hit "I Adore Him," the Rip Chords’ "Three Window Coupe" also reaching the Top 30, as well as Shelley Fabares and Johnny Crawford.

Distinct from many peers of their era, Jan and Dean managed to juggle their musical careers alongside academic pursuits. Torrence pursued advertising design studies at USC, where he became a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. Berry attended UCLA for science and music courses, joined Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, and later enrolled at California College of Medicine (present-day UC Irvine School of Medicine) in 1963.

1963–66: Height of Success

Jan and Dean experienced their most commercially successful period between 1963 and 1964 through collaboration with Brian Wilson. They achieved sixteen Top 40 hits on both Billboard and Cash Box charts, accumulating twenty-six charting singles from 1959 through 1966. Their alliance with Wilson yielded notable hits such as "Surf City" (No. 1 in 1963), "Drag City" (No. 10 in 1964), "Dead Man's Curve" (No. 8 in 1964), and "The Little Old Lady from Pasadena" (No. 3 in 1964).

In 1964, they hosted and performed at The T.A.M.I. Show concert film alongside prominent artists including the Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys. That same year they recorded the title song for Columbia Pictures’ film Ride the Wild Surf—a Top 20 single co-written by Berry, Wilson, and Roger Christian. Their planned appearance was ultimately canceled due to ties with Barry Keenan, involved in the Frank Sinatra Jr. kidnapping case.

The duo also produced two television pilots that were never released: Surf Scene (1963) and On the Run (1966). Their Paramount Pictures movie Easy Come, Easy Go was shelved following a severe railroad accident during filming in Chatsworth, California in August 1965 that left Berry and crew seriously injured.

After the surf music trend declined, Jan and Dean still managed two Top-30 singles in 1965: "You Really Know How to Hurt a Guy" (No. 27) and "I Found a Girl" (No. 30), both featured on the album Folk 'n Roll. They also experimented with comedic concepts through unreleased projects such as Filet of Soul and Jan & Dean Meet Batman; notably, Filet of Soul’s cover depicts Berry with his leg casted due to his accident.

In 1966, Berry recorded "The Universal Coward," an answer to Donovan’s anti-war track "Universal Soldier," despite having no military service experience himself.

1966–68: After Berry's Automobile Accident

On April 12, 1966, Berry was critically injured in a car crash near Dead Man's Curve in Beverly Hills while traveling to a business appointment. He remained unconscious for over two months and suffered brain trauma along with partial paralysis, necessitating relearning basic skills such as walking and writing with his non-dominant left hand. During Berry’s recovery period, Torrence released several singles under J&D Record Co. and produced the rain-themed concept album Save for a Rainy Day in 1966. Columbia Records issued singles from this album including "Yellow Balloon" performed by Gary Zekley and the Yellow Balloon band.

Torrence also founded Kittyhawk Graphics, specializing in creating album artwork and logos for artists including Harry Nilsson, Steve Martin, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Michael Nesmith, Dennis Wilson and Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Linda Ronstadt, Canned Heat, and the Ventures. In recognition of his work, he earned a Grammy Award in 1971 alongside Gene Brownell for Best Album Cover for Pollution by Pollution.

Berry returned to music production and songwriting by April 1967. Later that year in December, Jan and Dean signed with Warner Bros. Records, releasing three singles; however, the Warner Bros.-produced album Carnival of Sound (1968) remained unreleased until Rhino Records issued it in 2010 along with additional outtakes and remixes.

Later years

In 1971, Jan and Dean issued the Jan & Dean Anthology Album through United Artists Records, compiling their hits from 1958 to 1968. During the early 1970s, Berry resumed performing with his Aloha band, while Torrence joined forces with Papa Doo Run Run.

On August 26, 1973, Torrence and Berry reunited for a lip-synced performance at the Hollywood Palladium as part of Jim Pewter's "Surfer's Stomp." Their inaugural live concert featuring multiple songs as Jan and Dean took place in 1978 at New York City's Palladium. This was followed by East Coast appearances alongside the Beach Boys and four nationwide tours extending through 1980. Berry continued to cope with partial paralysis and aphasia resulting from his earlier accident.

The duo’s comeback gained momentum after Paul Morantz's 1974 Rolling Stone feature "Road back from Deadman's Curve," which inspired a CBS television movie adaptation. On February 3, 1978, CBS broadcast the made-for-TV biographical film Deadman's Curve, starring Richard Hatch as Berry and Bruce Davison as Torrence. The production included cameo appearances by Dick Clark, Wolfman Jack, Mike Love, Bruce Johnston, and Berry himself. After the film premiered, Jan and Dean toured alongside the Beach Boys and Papa Doo Run Run. In the Netherlands, TV broadcasts of the movie revived interest in their re-recorded singles "Surf City" and "Deadman's Curve," leading to renewed chart success.

During the early 1980s, Papa Doo Run Run moved on to other ventures; meanwhile, Berry battled substance abuse but managed to perform over 100 shows in 1979 with frontman Randy Ruff. Torrence briefly toured under the moniker "Mike & Dean" with Mike Love before reuniting permanently with Berry. Torrence took charge of touring activities for the following decades.

Capitalizing on nostalgia for the 1960s throughout the 1980s into the new millennium, Jan and Dean headlined numerous oldies concerts across North America. In 1996, Sundazed Music reissued Torrence's Save for a Rainy Day on CD and vinyl formats along with an instrumental EP.

Between the 1970s and early 2000s, Torrence released a variety of re-recordings of Jan and Dean as well as Beach Boys classics. Rhino Records issued a double album titled One Summer Night / Live in 1982. For Jan & Dean’s 25th anniversary in 1985, Torrence collaborated with Mike Love on Silver Summer, which credited Berry as co-producer and vocalist despite his lack of involvement. In 1986, Torrence worked together with Berry on Port to Paradise, a cassette-only release. Berry unveiled his solo album Second Wave in 1997, followed by Torrence’s solo effort Anthology: Legendary Masked Surfer Unmasked in 2002.

On August 31, 1991, Berry wed Gertie Filip in Las Vegas; Torrence acted as best man at the ceremony.

Berry's death

Berry passed away on March 26, 2004, at age 62 due to a seizure. He was an organ donor and was cremated following his death. A "Celebration of Life" event took place on April 18 at the Roxy Theatre on West Hollywood’s Sunset Strip, attended by family members, friends, and musicians associated with Jan and Dean as well as the Beach Boys.

In February 2010, Rhino Handmade released the Jan and Dean album Carnival of Sound, featuring cover artwork by Torrence. A limited edition version included a ten-track LP. The album was subsequently issued in Europe in April 2010.

In 2012, Torrence reunited with Bruce Davison—who portrayed him in the 1978 film Deadman's Curve—to collaborate on Bamboo Trading Company’s album From Kitty Hawk To Surf City. This project featured contributions from Dean’s daughters Jillian and Katie Torrence, who appeared in the music video for "Shrewd Awakening."

After Berry’s passing, Torrence occasionally toured with the Surf City All-Stars and became an ambassador for Huntington Beach, California—promoted as "Surf City USA," partly due to his advocacy. His official website provides rare photographs, a comprehensive discography, biography, and career timeline. Torrence currently resides in Huntington Beach with his wife and two daughters.

Legacy

In 1964, Jan and Dean took on hosting duties for The T.A.M.I. Show, recognized as the inaugural multi-act rock and roll concert transformed into a widely circulated film. Employing cutting-edge Electronovision technology alongside advanced audio recording techniques, the production established benchmarks for music cinema and videos, subsequently impacting early MTV content. Their participation as both hosts and performers significantly boosted their visibility until Berry's accident occurred two years later.

Rock journalist Dave Marsh attributed the foundational elements of punk rock’s public image to Jan and Dean’s distinctive attitude.

Brian Wilson credited Berry with having a direct impact on his growth as a record producer.

Dean Torrence has voiced that, despite some industry reluctance stemming from their unconventional style, Jan and Dean deserve recognition in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame due to their successful hits and influential musical endeavors.

The duo was honored with induction into the Hollywood Rock Walk of Fame in 1996, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of Berry's accident.

On January 28, 2023, Jan and Dean were formally inducted into the California Music Hall of Fame.

The Who recorded a cover of Jan and Dean's "Bucket T" on their 1966 UK EP Ready Steady Who, featuring Keith Moon as lead vocalist.

Alternative rock group Red Hot Chili Peppers made mention of Jan and Dean in the track "Did I Let You Know" from their album I'm with You.

Sources

  • Berry, Torrence, Jan & Dean Archives Volume 1. White Lighting Publishing (2013)
  • Berry, Torrence, Jan & Dean Archives Volume 2. White Lighting Publishing (2013)
  • Berry, Torrence and Kelly, Mike, Jan & Dean Archives Volume 1. White Lighting Publishing (2014)

External links

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Twist 2002
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Ben Marcus 2005
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ReferenceA
  4. ↑ Ben Marcus, Surfing USA!: An Illustrated History of the Coolest Sport of All Time (MVP Books, 2005): pp. 88–89.
  5. ↑ The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music, ed. Colin Larkin, 2nd ed., (Guinness Pub., 1995):2134.
  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ReferenceB
  7. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  8. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  9. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Covering Jan and Dean
  11. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  12. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  13. ↑ Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT: October 19, 1958).
  14. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Making The Most Of A Minimal Life
  16. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  17. ↑ Nora Richter Greer, Outdoor Decorating and Style Guide: Interior Design and Architecture (Rockport Publishers, 2003)
  18. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=Jan_and_Dean&oldid=83990"