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Author Topic: Very Sad News  (Read 4883 times)

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Very Sad News
« on: April 05, 2004, 12:33:03 PM »

I just found out that Jan Berry of Jan and Dean has died. Jan and Dean were VERY popular with me and my mates when were at school - skateboarding had just made a come-back, and Jan & Dean had had a big hit in the Sixties with a song called Sidewalk Surfing!

Last year I ordered a signed copy of Jan's CD from their website - it is one of my most treasured possessions.

Rest in peace Jan.

Jan (standing) in the studio.



Here's an article I found all about his amazing life:

On Saturday (March 27), the world was shocked to hear that Jan Berry, one half of the popular 1960s surf duo Jan & Dean, had died from a brain seizure, according to Berry's wife. Berry was just one week shy of turning 63. Gertie Berry reported that Jan had a seizure and stopped breathing Friday at their home in Brentwood, California. Berry, who had been in poor health recently from the lingering effects of the brain damage he sustained in a terrible car accident in 1966, was pronounced dead on Friday night (March 26).

Jan Berry and his partner, Dean Torrence, formed a group called the Barons while attending high school in Los Angeles. They practiced their unique harmonies by singing in the shower room after football practice. Bruce Johnston, who would later go on to become a Beach Boy, helped the two by recording them on a two-track tape recorder in Berry's garage, which he had turned into an amateur recording studio. Along with another member, Arnie Ginsburg, they recorded the song "Jennie Lee" in Berry's garage. Shortly after, Dean Torrence left for a six-month hitch in the army, at which point Berry signed with Doris Day (news)'s record company, Arwin. The label released the song "Jennie Lee"--about a burlesque dancer--and another called "Gas Money," under the name Jan & Arnie, because Dean was unavailable to sign the recording contract. "Jennie Lee" reached Number Eight in the charts in 1958.

When Dean returned from the army, Arnie left for a hitch in the navy. At that point the legendary duo of Jan & Dean was born and they signed with Herb Alpert's record label, Dore. Their first release, "Baby Talk," reached Number 10 in 1959. Despite their growing success in the music industry, the two continued with their education--Jan Berry, who reportedly had a genius I.Q., studied medicine, while Dean Torrence studied design.

By 1961, they changed record labels again to Challenge Records, and began singing about their passion--surfing. After a show with the Beach Boys, Brian Wilson (news) played them a demo of his song "Surf City." Jan Berry co-wrote the lyrics of the song with Wilson, and with Wilson's help, Jan & Dean recorded that song, which quickly went to Number One in the charts and began a string of hits for the duo, mostly about surfing and hot-rodding, including a pair of 1964 classics, "Dead Man's Curve" and "The Little Old Lady (From Pasadena.)"

Jan & Dean were on a roll, with chart hits and 10 Gold records, before it all came to a tragic end. In 1966, while the two were filming the movie Easy Come Easy Go, Berry was speeding in his Corvette and hit a parked truck. The catastrophic accident caused severe brain damage that left him partially paralyzed and unable to talk. His recovery was agonizingly slow, but eventually he was able to resume singing and writing songs, and the duo made a brief comeback in 1978.

Berry is survived by his wife, Gertie, his parents, three brothers and three sisters.

Jan & Dean's official web site is www.jananddean-janberry.com
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Beatle Ed

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Re: Very Sad News
« Reply #1 on: April 08, 2004, 11:37:12 AM »

That is sad. Although I've never heard of em. :-\
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Re: Very Sad News
« Reply #2 on: April 08, 2004, 12:34:12 PM »

[quote by=Beatle_Ed link=Blah.pl?b=news,m=1081168383,s=1 date=1081424232]That is sad. Although I've never heard of em. :-\[/quote]

Have you heard of "Surf City", "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena" or "Dead Man's Curve"? Those were their really big hits of the Sixties.

One song you definitely must have heard... "Barbara Ann" by the Beach Boys - that's Dean Torrence singing the high-pitched lead vocal!
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pc31

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Re: Very Sad News
« Reply #3 on: April 08, 2004, 11:11:34 PM »

dean was hurt on dead mans curve.he was a draft dodger too.....
they were great
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pc31

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Re: Very Sad News
« Reply #4 on: April 08, 2004, 11:13:29 PM »

yeah i know its there above...so?
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Ssarah

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Re: Very Sad News
« Reply #5 on: April 12, 2004, 01:01:57 AM »

You have never heard of them? Wow...I thought everyone had.. I also was sad when I heard the news. Great Great person. I love the songs they did.
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Beatle Ssarah on the forum,
Everyday she posts some more on.
Sometimes triv and sometimes questions,
Chooses tracks and lists the best uns!

Beatle Ed

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Re: Very Sad News
« Reply #6 on: April 12, 2004, 06:16:00 AM »

Yeah I've heard those.
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Re: Very Sad News
« Reply #7 on: April 12, 2004, 11:15:15 AM »

[quote by=Beatle_Ed link=Blah.pl?b=news,m=1081168383,s=6 date=1081750560]Yeah I've heard those.[/quote]

I thought you must have heard those tracks - a lot of people assume it's the Beach Boys though becase they do sound very similar :)

Guess what! I went to a Karaoke night on saturday and sang Surf City! AND Twist And Shout of course!!!! :D
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bryan

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Re: Very Sad News
« Reply #8 on: May 16, 2004, 01:42:01 AM »

 :'(thas sad
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Patton

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Re: Very Sad News
« Reply #9 on: May 16, 2004, 05:05:09 AM »

Never Heard of him but it's sad he died. hell it's sad when anybody dies. Even if you didn't know them.
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Adam Priestle

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Re: Very Sad News
« Reply #10 on: May 16, 2004, 05:35:39 PM »

[quote by=bryan link=Blah.pl?b=news,m=1081168383,s=8 date=1084671721] :'(thas sad[/quote]

No it's not... I'm a good singer!!! LOL ;D
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