Berry, Jan

▪ 2005

      American singer and songwriter (b. April 3, 1941, Los Angeles, Calif.—d. March 26, 2004, Los Angeles), composed songs that reflected the free-spirited surfing and hot-rod culture of California during the 1960s and was the creative force behind the pop music duo Jan & Dean. Berry and partner Dean Torrence reached the height of their success in 1963–64 after releasing their first number one hit song, “Surf City” (1963), which was co-written by Berry's friend Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. Other notable hit songs included “The Little Old Lady from Pasadena,” “Sidewalk Surfin',” and “Dead Man's Curve.” Jan & Dean's successful partnership ended in 1966 when Berry slammed his Corvette Stingray into a parked truck at a speed of 145 km/h (90 mph) on a Beverly Hills street. Although he suffered partial paralysis and brain damage from the accident, Berry pursued his music career well into the 1990s; his solo album Second Wave was released in 1997.

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