Paul L

I still play these fellows' songs. Love them, especially "Gotta Drive," "The Little Old Lady from Pasadena" and "Deadman's Curve."

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.

Never Finished

Their music was great. I have a CD burned with may of their songs mixed with some Beach Boy songs. It is named the "Car/Surf Song CD". The 60's were a fun time to be a teenager. Muscle cars were everything. The music was great. Jan and Dean certainly added to the memories of both. Jan Berry will be missed, but his music will live forever.

Edzred72

Another 60's icon passes to that "Great Dragstrip In The Sky". I'll bet he pulled a hole shot in his Vette, and was at the "Pearly Gate" in under 10 seconds. :blueangel: :blueangel: :blueangel: :blueangel:
Eddie

Eddie 70

Sad news indeed. :blueangel:

Paul L

You have to love those days. A guy, his girl and a car. Life was much simpler then.

Gotta Drive/Jan and Dean

(Spoken)
Been waiting for this day for such a long time
My engine's tuned up and it's running real fine
There's my girl
Wow she looks pretty!
She came to watch me race today
Here at drag City

(Music)
If it's the last thing that I do I gotta win this race
Gonna lap the field and really set the pace
The inside lane is where I'm gonna stay
Gonna grab the lead and really show the way

(Refrain)
She loves me now but she's gonna love me more
So I gotta drive like I never drove before

I'm taching seven grand but it's not enough
Just one car left to pass and it's gonna be mine
Now the last turn's here and he's drifting wide
So I'll powershift down and then I'll slide inside

(Refrain)
With a length to spare I just crossed the line
And there's the checkered flag, this race is mine
I hear a thousand voices at the racetrack roar
But her's is the only one that I'm listening for

She loves me now but she gonna love me more
Because today I drove like I never drove before.

Richard Cooper

Sad news, I really loved all their songs. There was some GREAT music in those days and GREAT cars too. I have their CD and listen to it all the time. He will be missed, but the music will go on forever. :blueangel: :blueangel:

Casper

:seeya I lived my teenage years with there songs. :blueangel:

Paul L

Me too. And still do! Helps me remember gentler, kinder days.

Fevre

I have to give credit where credit is due, truely pioneers in Rock and Roll.

Sad news indeed.

:blueangel:


[Modified by Fevre, 6:24 PM 3/27/2004]

PRNDL

62 ? wow... 2 girls for every boy.. :( MJ

phxraptor

My high school days were filled with the songs they sang and wrote :blueangel:

My69

Those songs bring back great memories. It was a different life style back them.
Mike :blueangel:

Paul L

Life style-Fun and stress free.

MassVette

He was one of the originators of the "West Coast Sound", along with Dick Dale and Gary Usher. He was very influential in the careers of many West Coast surf and hot rod groups- including Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys, for whom he freely lent his studio expertise and co-wrote music.
He, and his partner Dean Torrance, often sat in on Beach Boys recording sessions. As a matter of fact, it was Dean's voice that was singing lead vocals in the Beach Boy's 'Barbara Ann' hit song.
Jan & Dean, along with Gary Usher (producer of the Byrds & The Turtles) , were also instrumental in the 'Folk Rock' movement of the 60's.
Jan Berry was a brilliant man with a genius IQ. It was truly a shame for his body and career to be devastated by that fateful crash in his Sting Ray, and from which he never fully recovered. He will be sorely missed.
God bless you, Jan Berry-
:blueangel:
Your music changed my life- thank you.
:)

Macs73

I am of the "Mtv" generation but I still listen to the oldies. My dad always says his generation had the best cars and best music when he was growing up. I tend to agree. :blueangel:

Raydon 3000

The older we get the more the greats are passing on. I only hope there will be new greats to replace them. God bless you Jan.

AlwaysWave

:iagree: :blueangel:

DJ Dep

Paul: You can imagine how sad I was to hear this on the radio. Along with the Beach Boys, they were legends in the hot rod music scene. Truly he will be missed.

Dep

vetteonr

:blueangel: :blueangel: :blueangel: :blueangel: :blueangel: God's speed, Jan Berry :blueangel: :blueangel: :blueangel: :blueangel: :blueangel:

Paul L

Dep,
They wrote and sang songs that were about fun: cars, girls, beaches, etc. Music today is ? and can't compare.