Surf City: The Jan and Dean Story - Softcover

Torrence, Dean

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1590793951 ISBN 13: 9781590793954

Publisher: SelectBooks, 2016

Synopsis

The Jan and Dean Story is a personal story of the iconic musician and entrepreneur Dean Torrence. As a memoir The Jan and Dean Story has elements of humor, tragedy and redemption. It tells their story from the early high school friendship struck up between Jan Berry and Dean Torrence and their ascent to the dizzying heights of stardom riding the crest of the surf” craze. The Jan and Dean Story is as much about the culture of the 1960s as it is about music. Dean has lived an incredible life and continues to promote a lifestyle and surf culture that is now universally admired and followed throughout the world.
The story also recounts Jan’s tragic car accident and his ability to recover enough to continue to perform will be inspiring to many readers even those not familiar with surf music. For pop culture addicts and music buffs alike this book is indispensable. As early teen icons, Jan and Dean left an indelible mark on the music of the 60’s and the American psyche.
Dean Torrence is still touring and creating music and often appears with the Beach Boys and other groups from the heyday of surf music.

About this title

From the Back Cover

Welcome to the musical vision of 1960s Southern California where the skies are always blue, and the summer lasts all year long. Riding high on the wave of the West Coast craze were the rock duo legends Jan Berry and Dean Torrence who played a pivotal role in crafting and popularizing the surf music styles and sound.

Surf City is the story of Jan & Dean’s rise to stardom told through the eyes of Dean Torrence. After meeting on their high school football team, the two quickly discovered their mutual love of singing. From harmonizing in the locker rooms, they soon went on to dominate the charts. With hit singles like Surf City,” The Little Old Lady from Pasadena,” and Dead Man’s Curve,” Jan & Dean helped pioneer the California Sound that would sweep the nation.

In Surf City, Torrence documents Jan & Dean’s years of success followed by Jan’s near-fatal accident and struggle with addiction. Filled with stories of Dean’s time in the industry, including his long and storied relationship with The Beach Boys, anecdotes include a game of football with Elvis, scamming an ex-con, a near encounter with the Manson Family, and performing their first hit on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand.

Surf City encapsulates the vibe of Southern California surf music in the sixties as Jan and Dean live a rock-and-roll lifestyle filled with surfing, hot rods, sun, fun, and girls.

About the Author

Dean Ormsby Torrence is the cofounder of the rock-and-roll duo Jan & Dean. Born in Los Angeles in 1940, Torrence helped pioneer both the California Sound and the styles of Southern California surf culture during the sixties with top ten hits like Surf City,” Little Old Lady from Pasadena,” and Dead Man’s Curve.” At the height of their career Jan & Dean had sixteen Top 40 hits, a total of twenty-six chart records, and they hosted and performed at the historic T.A.M.I. Show. Their story was featured in the 1978 film Deadman’s Curve.

With six gold records to his name, one Grammy plus numerous nominations, and a successful graphic design studio, Dean Torrence is a rock legend. Torrence lives in Huntington Beach, Surf City,” and continues to tour with his band, The Surf City Allstars.

About this edition

• Publisher: SelectBooks
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1590793951
• ISBN 13: 9781590793954
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 256