'Deadman's Curve' Singer Jan Berry Dies

Yahoo News ^ | Sat, Mar 27, 2004 | ROBERT JABLON, Associated Press Writer

[Chi-townChief]

LOS ANGELES - 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 three sisters.

[Chi-townChief]

RIP, Jan - I think my favorite is still Jennie Lee recorded by Jan and ARNIE in the late 50s.

[international american]

BUMP

[NRA2BFree]

Ping!

[Squantos]

Damn......

[gracie1]

What a strange coincidence. I came home last night and the husband was playing his old Jan & Dean records. "I don't know, I just decided hear them, it's been a long time."

[mombonn]

Way too young!

[Nea Wood]

Very sad. I attended many of their concerts. Jan Berry was a funny and gentle soul. He'll be missed.

[Chi-townChief]

Here's the Jan and Dean Homepage:

http://www.jananddean-janberry.com/

[Dr. Eckleburg]

"Dear Man's Curve" -- major irony.

Jan had been a med-student before the Sunset Boulevard accident which left him with major handicaps. Drive carefully.

[Chi-townChief]

It seem that Dead Man's Curve was moving up the charts when Jan almost bought it but I may have my years mixed up.

[Fracas]

FYI.

[archy]

I was cruisin' in my Stingray late one night
When an XKE pulled up on the right
And rolled down the window of his shiny new Jag
And challenged me then and there to a drag
I said, "you're on, buddy, my mill's runnin' fine
Let's come off the line, now, at Sunset and Vine
But I'll go you one better if you've got the nerve
Let's race all the way
To Dead Man's Curve"

Dead Man's Curve, it's no place to play
Dead Man's Curve, you must keep away
Dead Man's Curve, I can hear 'em say:
"Won't come back from Dead Man's Curve"

The street was deserted late Friday night
We were buggin' each other while we sat out the light
We both popped the clutch when the light turned green
You shoulda heard the whine from my screamin' machine
I flew past LaBrea, Schwab's, and Crescent Heights
And all the Jag could see were my six taillights
He passed me at Doheny then I started to swerve
But I pulled her out and there we were
At Dead Man's Curve

Dead Man's Curve, it's no place to play
Dead Man's Curve

Spoken:

Well - the last thing I remember, Doc, I started to swerve
And then I saw the Jag slide into the curve
I know I'll never forget that horrible sight
I guess I found out for myself that everyone was right.

"He won't come back from Dead Man's Curve"

[onyx]

OH NO.
I knew Jan.
I really did.
Oh Lord.
How sad.
This is really strange,
but right at this moment,
on Direct TV channel 825,
the Golden Oldies channel,
Dead Man's Curve is playing.

[Revolting cat!]

How about we get Bill Medley and Dean Torrence to form a supergroup Torrentious Brothers?

[veronica]

I used to see him around the Brentwood section of LA all the time. He lived in a sweet little house in the area. He was obviously damaged but made his way around. Sad...

[x1stcav]

I flew past LaBrea, Schwab's, and Crescent Heights

Isn't this line, "We flew past the flesh pots of Crescent Heights" ? I could swear that's what I heard in those tinny speakers in my '62 Grand Prix.

[My2Cents]

"Jan and Arnie" just doesn't have the same ring to it.

[I still care]

Just a few days ago, the movie was aired - I sat and watched it.

[CathyRyan]

RIP Jan. On a side note..... G*d I am not that old.

[GreenHornet]

Rest in Peace, Jan. May God bring comfort to his family in their time of loss.

[archy]

RIP, Jan - I think my favorite is still Jennie Lee recorded by Jan and ARNIE in the late 50s.

I'll settle for anything circa 1957 from *The Barons*, with Bruce Johnson [later of the Beach Boys] on keyboards, Jan and Dean, plus drummer Sander *Sandy* Nelson, who later got the drum hits *Teen Beat* in '59 and *Let there be drums* in '61.

Even in '57 Nelson was already a veteran of *Ki Tyler and the Flips*...and Phil Spector was in University High with them then, too.

Not a bad lineup for a high school band....

[Chi-townChief]

Yeah but Jennie Lee was one wild ride!!

Click here >>> http://www.bigbobh.com/dowop/jennie.ra

[Mudboy Slim]

Thanks fer the head's up...he penned some pretty memorable tunes in his day.

FReegards...MUD

[archy]

I flew past LaBrea, Schwab's, and Crescent Heights

Isn't this line, "We flew past the flesh pots of Crescent Heights" ? I could swear that's what I heard in those tinny speakers in my '62 Grand Prix.

Oh dude! That's SUCH a Mondegreen!

Unfortnutely, more *here*. Many, many more....

[The Radical Capitalist]

Growing up in the midwest and with no internet to search for lyrics, or even lyrics printed on the album (until 1967 when Sgt. Pepper made it popular) that was the only line of the song I could never figure out. I always thought it ended with "Saturday night." Finally, I know. I live in LA, so I'll take a swing past dead man's curve tonight for old time's sake.

[speedy]

Got to meet Jan a few times at some fairs he and Dean were playing around LA in the late 90s -- he struggled to perform, but always made it just when you thought he couldn't. Actually communicated better singing than talking. But what a great, sweet guy he was -- friendly as can be. He and Dean used to bring Dana Rohrabacher up on stage at their appearances at the OC Fair -- from the era when there were rock singers who were actually Republicans. Hoping there's two girls for every boy wherever Jan goes. Go Granny go Granny go Granny go.

[ChevyZ28]

Though I was born in 1971, I listened to the oldies by Jan and Dean, the Beach Boys, and the Monkees along with other groups of that period. His death is a shock. Certainly, He will be missed. Ironically, The Movie about Jan and dean was on the TV the other night.

How sad, so long my friend.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Just damn....I really love Jan and Denn. I think my fave tune of theirs is "The Anaheim, Azuza and Cucamonga Sewing Circle, Book Review and Timing Association", the perfect triangulation of J&D, Brian Wilson and Phil Spector.

[MeekOneGOP]

http://www.grabow.biz/Nostalgia/JanAndDean.htm

Jan & Dean

            

When the Southern California Sound hit the pop music scene like against wave, Jan & Dean were at the forefront with such hits as, 'Surf City', 'Ride the Wild Surf', 'Honolulu Lulu' and 'Little Old Lady From Pasadena'.

[don-o]

Rest in Peace, Jan.

Your music was a background of a lot of lives. I have a vauge memory of a take-off of Deadman's curve that my friends and I created, so many years ago

[knarf]

bump

[speedy]

I am so glad you mentioned that one -- it's one of my favorites too -- "they wear organdy dresses and high-button shoes; they read Playboy Magazine and Hot Rod News." Yeah -- how about "Drag City" or when they came out skateboarding in the TAMI Show singing "From All Over The World" -- can you imagine -- a movie that had Lesley Gore, James Brown, the Rolling Stones and Jan and Dean on the same bill? What a fun time.

[uglybiker]

Oh dude! That's SUCH a Mondegreen!

Jillions more here.

[archy]

Finally, I know. I live in LA, so I'll take a swing past dead man's curve tonight for old time's sake.

It's on Sunset Boulevard near the Bel-Air Estates north of UCLA's Drake Stadium. I made my first pilgrimage back that way in the summer of 1965 on an old Triumph 500. Of course, at the time, it was a new Triumph 500. US Highway 50 out from the Illinois state line to Sacramento, then across to Oakland and San Francisco, then down PCH to L.A.

I took Route 66 back. I was a couple of months past 17 at the time.

[speedy]

Hey, maybe make one down Colorado Boulevard too if you have the time. Sidewalk Surfin' bump.

[MeekOneGOP]

Onyx KNEW him, Mud ...

[international american]

"It's on Sunset Boulevard near the Bel-Air Estates north of UCLA's Drake Stadium. "

Bel Air Eastgate! Dick Van Dyke almost bought the farm there too!

[onyx]

This is how I want to remember Jan.
He was so good-looking and nice.
Last time I saw him was in '88 back stage
at the Imperial County Fair of all places.
He really never came all the way back from "Deadman's Curve."

[gracie1]

Bel Air Eastgate! Dick Van Dyke almost bought the farm there too!

So did Mel Blanc.

[MeekOneGOP]

Hope 'n Inspiration

Jan Berry continues to forge ahead—an enduring symbol of hope in the face of adversity; and a shining example of accomplishment despite the limitations of physical disability.

Rest in peace, Jan Berry ...

[archy]

This is how I want to remember Jan.

[MeekOneGOP]

There ya go. That's a nice pic !

[luvbach1]

To me, Jan and Dean, along with the Beach Boys, represent quintessentially American, surfer/rock/pop/music that vividly evokes good times in the California sunshine, even if you lived in Ohio.

[international american]

So did I...and I was sober:)You get in front of or behind the wrong driver and LOOK out:)

[speedy]

Exactly. But they have straightened that curve somewhat since the time of those accidents. BTW, Mel Blanc's tombstone at the Hollywood Cemetery is one of the all time greats -- it has "Th-th-that's all folks" chiseled on it.

[Lady Jag]

He hit a parked truck with a Stingray? I always wondered what happened to them.   Was it ever revealed exactly what happened? Like was it pilot error or equipment malfunction?

[luvbach1]

These were really good-looking guys!


Posted by straight guy!

[gracie1]

Jan Berry continues to forge ahead—an enduring symbol of hope in the face of adversity; and a shining example of accomplishment despite the limitations of physical disability.

I work in a step-down unit in a level 1 trauma center. I've seen a lot of head and spinal cord injury patients. I've always been impressed at the recovery Jan made after his accident.

[onyx]

He was so sharp.
So talented.
So smart.
He really never came back
from "Deadman's Curve"
but he TRIED.
He was just too damaged
from the crash: motor skills.
Even the look in his eyes.
Never quite the same.