Don Altfeld

Don Altfeld

JAN BERRY IS the Greatest Most Inspirational Human Being I've EVER met. I had the joy of BEING THERE...from the very beginning!!!!

Jan couldn't even sing, then.....but when Mark Moore, his biographer sent me a copy of the radio show that Jan and I used to do...I could hear Jan start to try to "sing along" with the songs."

The other day (HONESTLY) I said a prayer to Jan and my electric typewriter started typing ALL BY ITSELF!!!

Dean is also a phenomenal TALENT and is to be commended for the way he handled Jan and kept the group alive in the Post Accident Years.

Jan and Dean are on my car CD system and I play the Collector's Edition CD EVERY SINGLE DAY.

We have just completed (after ten years) a Trilogy of stories for feature films (scripts are done) of "The adventures of the "Little Old Lady from Pasadena."

I dedicated the movies, in loving Memory to Jan Berry.

Love YOU JANNIE from

Dr Don and GRANNY

Don Altfeld website

Listen to Don Altfeld's "Surfin' on the World wide Web"

Hal Blaine, the world's greatest drummer

Hal Blaine

My association with Jan & Dean started in the early sixties and lasted a lifetime with them. We had great parties with Jan at the Bel Aire house on many occasions. Jan was a great host and many of the Wrecking Crew and Sid Sharp, the concertmaster, was there with some of his string players and their guests. I contracted for Jan and Dean through all of those years. What a sensational time we all had. This was the Hollywood dream that we were all living. Most of the Wrecking Crew had been working niteclubs, a real chore, until Jan started us all on the road to our individual success stories. I was associated with Lou Adler the great record producer and he loved Larry Knechtel and Joe Osborn. Not only did we work for Lou and most of his recording artists we also worked for just about every artist that came to Hollywood and their producers that kept us working through all of those years. We usually recorded at Western Studios in Hollywood, 6000 Sunset Blvd. studio number 3 was the studio preferred by so many of the new young rock artists on the charts and on the horizon to fame. The Beach Boys did just about all of their recordings at Western also and often times, Jan & Dean would come by to visit each others sessions and did many times do vocals on each others recordings. Rock & Roll was just starting to catch on and Jan & Dean, the Beach Boys, Dick Dale and his Del-Tones, the Ventures, the Challengers, Sloan and Barri, the Fantastic Baggies, Gary Usher, Terry Melcher and the Byrds and the list just goes on and on. You would have to hear my audio book "Hooray for Hollywood" thru my daughters site. www.halblaine.com - there you will hear so many of the stories that I could even attempt to recall. Surf music was taking over the young peoples world in California and the California dream was spreading throughout the world. I watched Jan go through his medical studies and when we were on the road I would sit up half of the night testing him on homework for medical school tests that were coming up. We did some concerts and they were great fun. I was happy to have been a part of their pilot for 20th Century Fox "Jan & Dean on the Run". Had Jan not had his severe accident they would probably still be on t.v. It is a great pilot, recently released, i don't know where you would get it ?? Jan actually did the entire pilot while wearing a leg cast from a previous accident. Then disaster struck Jan as most fans know, he was going to school one morning and somehow went under the flat bed of a truck. His head was almost sheared off from the eyebrows back. He was pronounced dead on arrival. But one of the medics seemed to feel that there was some life there, he was rushed to UCLA hospital and then started the very slow comeback of Jan Berry being just half a person. He was paralyzed completely on one side, like a stroke victim. He was in a coma for weeks and after awakening, he started a very, very slow process of rehabilitation. He did very well but unfortunately he never really came back as a whole person.(that was also the end of the t.v. careers for the boys). Jan lingered in this unfortunate state as you all know for the rest of his short lived life. Dean took over the reins and Jan & Dean continued to do concerts with a group of musicians led by Dean and Jan would appear and sing as best he could. The morning that Jans wonderful wife Gertie called to say that Jan had passed away seemed to be the end of a wonderful era in rock history. The camaraderie of Jan & Dean and the Beach Boys shows the world how close these rock groups were. They never tried to outdo each others music, they seemed only to enhance the entire genre and bring us all music from the golden age of recordings and that music, that so many of us were a part of, will live forever . Thanks Jan. May you rest in peace always. I am sincerely,,, Hal Blaine

Hal Blaine website

Lou Christie

Lou Christie

As a teenager growing up in Glen Willard, PA, I longed for the California dream...sun, surf and beautiful tan people in covertible corvettes! I wasn't able to go to California at the time so I lived the dream thru music...Jan and Dean's music. They covered it all, sun, surf, and cars...great cars! I remember thinking the first time I heard the expression "bust your buns" , can you REALLY say that on a record???

Their records were very well produced stories that painted pictures in my mind when I heard one of their songs. And, best of all, they were always FUN. Jan was the creative genius in the studio and Dean was the showman that brought the humor to their shows on stage. It was the perfect combination. When I had my first hit record, I made the move to California. I had a great house in the Hollywood Hills at the top of Sunset Plaza. I loved the California lifestyle and I remember thinking about all those great records and how it was all true...Jan and Dean were right! As my career progressed, I got to work with Jan and Dean and was always proud to share the stage with them. The last time we did a show together was in 1999 in Missoula, Montana. The music was as alive then as it was when I was listening to it on my transistor radio back in Glen Willard.

Lou Christie website 

Dick Dale, the King of the Surf Guitar

Dick Dale

My personal feelings for Jan & Dean will always be very special..........

they are not only very talented guys, but they represent americana as it should be....

My roof is their roof anytime........

Dick Dale      12-23-2000

Dick Dale website 

Bobby Figueroa (former Beach Boys drummer)

Bobby Figueroa

My recollection of  Jan and Dean is when we were touring together.  They were oppening for The Beach Boys, on one of the summer tours.  They were always eager and enthusiastic about performing and delivered a good and energetic show every time.  It was a real pleasure sharing the plane with them as well.  You have to remember those were crazy days.  We managed to have one heck of a summer.

All my best to them and their fans and continued success.                           

Sincerely,

Bobby Figueroa

Bobby's website

Billy Hinsche

Billy Hinsche

As some of you may know, I recently produced the 35th Anniversary 8 day event for The Whisky A Go Go nightclub on The Sunset Strip in Los Angeles (Saturday, January 16, 1999 - Saturday, January 23, 1999 ). The list of names of alumni acts was quite extensive and impressive, as you can well imagine.
I was delighted when I came across the names of Jan & Dean. They have both been friends of mine for many years both personally and professionally. Dean Torrence was one of the first artists I called to invite to participate in this historic series of shows (to benefit The National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation).
Dean couldn't have been more accommodating and accepted my offer immediately. He submitted a photo of him and Jan wearing vintage Whisky A Go Go tee shirts that were worn during an early performance at that venue. The photo was used to create a limited edition poster of the duo to commemorate their appearance on Friday, January 22, 1999.
Jan & Dean performed for no fee.
Their set was generous, fun and filled with songs that have become associated with them for all these years. I even "sat in" with them on piano for their dance medley of songs. It was an honor and a privilege to share the stage with them.
After the show, Jan expressed how happy he was to have been a part of this event, especially since it benefited those who suffer from multiple sclerosis.
If all the 28 other acts had been as easy to work with, gracious and kind as Jan & Dean were, it would have made my task as producer a lot easier. Thank you, Jan & Dean!
Billy Hinsche

Billy Hinsche website

Bones Howe

Bones Howe

Jan was a tireless taskmaster in the studio; but I always enjoyed working with him, and I learned a lot from those recording sessions.

Bones Howe

Bones Howe website

Paul Johnson of "Mr. Moto" fame, Belairs, Packards, Surfaris, etc

Paul Johnson

I joined the Surfaris ("Wipeout") in about 1990; since then we have played at least a couple of dozen shows with Jan & Dean (including their final performance in mArch 2004 in El Cajon).

As Jan Berry was one of my childhood heroes, I was delighted to have these opportunities to get to know him over time. This was a difficult process, as it required great effort on his part to communicate in any depth. But I was always struck by how determined he was to do this with anyone who was genuinely interested (and patient enough to allow him time to express himself - sometimes as much as a full minute or two just to get a single sentence out).

I discovered early on that I could ease the process for him (and bring a smile to his face) by simply telling him how much I appreciate his music. To convey the depth of my feeling about this, I would often remind him that I regard his very first hit, "Jennie Lee," (Jan & Arnie, 1958) as the true beginning of what came to be known as the "California sound." I would describe in detail how I vividly remember the first time I heard that record (when I was 12) and how I knew in that instant that a whole new sound had been born.

Now, what follows might seem a bit corny, or even contrived, but I swear it's the truth: perhaps the most poignant such conversation I ever had with Jan occurred backstage at that El Cajon show. Several of us, including two of my own kids, were relaxing in the green room before the show, and Jan was lying down on the couch. He began to try very hard to talk to us, and it was evident that he was working way too hard at it when he should have been resting for the show. So to save him the effort and to help him relax, I began to recount for him once again my regard for his early records; I told him again how hearing "Jennie Lee" affected my own early ideas about a musical sound.

This had the desired effect - he settled back and began to relax. Then, knowing how it would underscore how deeply I meant all this, I told him that my very favorite tune of his was "Gotta Getta Date" (the flip side of "Jennie Lee"). And as he closed his eyes with a benign smile lingering on his face, I actually sang the first verse of "Gotta Getta Date" to him, as if I was singing a lullaby to a child:

"Well, I gotta getta date for Saturday night...
I gotta getta gal, man, I gotta do it right;
I gotta find someone to be my own -
I gotta go where we'll be all alone;
Yeah, well I gotta gotta gotta gotta gotta getta date...
for Saturday night, for Saturday night..."

Then I left him to rest in the obvious joy it brought him to know that after forty years, people still remembered the words to even his most obscure B-sides.

It was the last conversation I would ever have with Jan Berry. I will always cherish having THIS as my final memory of him.

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson website

Mickey Jones, actor and musician. Drummer for Trini Lopez, Johnny Rivers, Bob Dylan, and, of course, on "Save for a rainy Day" 

Mickey Jones

Hi, I'm Mickey Jones and I want to say something here about my dear friends, Jan & Dean.

If you remember "Sidewalk Surfin", "Drag City" or "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena", then you not only remember but love Jan & Dean.

I am honored to tell you that I have known Jan & Dean since around 1964.  As the drummer with Johnny Rivers at the time, we recorded in the same studios and even did concert tours together.  I remember one night in particular.  After an all night recording session, I was not feeling too good because of just a little too much wine, I asked Jan, who was studying to be a doctor, "What should I do?, I feel terrible".  Jan replied, "Take two aspirin and call me at 10 o'clock in the morning".  Both Jan and Dean were always the cut up.

After Jan's accident, I played drums on the Jan & Dean album, "Save For A Rainy Day".  We recorded that album in Joe Osborn's garage.  Joe Osborn was probably the best and most successful recording bass player in our business. 

Dean and I rode motorcycles together quite often.  I had a 1966 Triumph, 650 Bonneville and Dean had a 1966 Triumph, TR-6.  Once Dean and I were riding with a group of friends through the Santa Susana mountains.  On a rather sharp turn, Dean laid his bike down.  We were very concerned.  We got to Dean, he stood right up and had the best line of the day.  "Great utility bike!"  That was Dean. 

We even rode our motorcycles straight on the stage of The Lloyd Thaxton Show.  Lloyd loved it.  Dean and I lip synced a song from "Save For A Rainy Day" on the Casey Kasem show, "Shebang".  Because of Jan's accident, I did Jan's part.  That was pretty cool.

We all miss Jan and will never forget him and we still support Dean for keeping Jan & Dean alive.

I still see Dean from time to time and we still call each other by the dumb names we called each other 40 years ago.

"Hey Spleen, I love you brother",

Markey

Mickey Jones website

Carol Kaye, bass player of the wrecking crew

Carol Kaye

It was enjoyable to work for Jan & Dean, Jan being the one in charge as a producer, but Dean would come in here and there too, and we'd chat a little. Jan definitely knew what he was doing and would like some of the creating efforts we'd throw out to him too. It was always special to play for Jan and very enjoyable to help him create the hits that they were both after. Two of the nicest people in the business and we also admired Jan for his great intellect too, being a medical student and all.
It was very sad to see him go through what he did with his head injuries and all, but thank God he made it back to do something more in the music biz. The groove on those Jan & Dean records (which had the fine Howard Roberts, jazz guitarist on main guitar, grooving away) was special. I forever hold them both in my heart as good people, wonderfully talented and good to work for.

I get about 100 emails from people all over the world every day (about 600-800 hits a day on my website), plus a very ACTIVE Message Board, plus personal interviews from magazines, and film companies, plus my own jazz concerts playing live (I am and have always been a jazz musician, like most of the studio musicians -- very few were rock and roll musicians, only the best were the jazz musicians who worked studios during the times they were raising their children) and some studio work.
Plus am working on my book about the studio work, and shipping out tons of video courses to people all over -- at 64, doing 16 hour days is too long for me - good thing I can type about 110 wpm. Especially with all the press after me.

The Carol Kaye web site

Scott McKenzie, "San Francisco"

Scott McKenzie

It was at a Mamas and Papas session in LA when I first met Jan. He had recently emerged from his coma and, despite difficulty in moving around, there he was, standing behind the control board beside Lou Adler, grinning excitedly and making suggestions. I remember looking into Jan's eyes; in them I saw a degree of passion and determination that I have rarely seen.

Years later, some time in the mid-to-late eighties, I encountered Jan and Dean backstage at an outdoor venue somewhere in the East. (Maybe in western Pennsylvania?) Much had happened to all of us since that first meeting -- success, failure, drug addiction, personal fights and separations.

What I remember most about that meeting was when Jan gave something to John Phillips. I remember the intensity of his smile as he handed it to John. Dean would know exactly what the gift was -- I believe it was a backstage pass, or something similar, related to a Hollywood Bowl gig in the sixties before Jan's accident. Evidently Jan and John Phillips had some sort of disagreement at the Bowl, and Jan wanted to make a peace offering. Phillips was deeply touched by Jan's gesture, and the two embraced.

That evening I watched Jan and Dean perform and once again looked into Jan's eyes. I saw in them the same passion and determination I had seen over two decades before, but I also saw something else I could not identify. Only years later would I realize what it was -- a combination of compassion, humility and wisdom that can come only from struggling against adversity that the rest of us cannot imagine.

All my life I have battled with mental illness and, like many others with my kind of problems, have spent some time hospitalized. The dignity and determination with which Jan fought his own battles will always inspire me to try more and complain less.

God bless and keep you, Jan.

Scott McKenzie

Scott McKenzie website

Eddy Medora of the Sunrays ("I live for the Sun") with Brian Wilson

Eddy Medora

First time working with Jan & Dean was at the  Pickwick   Recreation   Center  in   Burbank     . The venue was billed as the Teenage Fair. The crowd got up and danced on custom cars. We were billed as the band that broke up the teenage fair. tuned into a JR riot. My band was called the Renegades then . We backed them up. I told the crowd to dance, dance.  We turned into the Sunrays. Same guys.  I think I still have the poster of Jan & Dean on the front. I have to search it .    

We worked several car shows together after that.  When we were recording our album Andrea, Jan & Dean came in to listen to us at Western Records. I bought them a cola. Murray Wilson told them to leave .He called them pirates. We laughed. I purchased every one of their songs. My band the Sunrays performed most of their hits.  

I miss them. I wish ! could have gotten closer to them. If they need a bass player and guitar player and singer, I am available . I just did a gig with Dave Marks the Beach Boys All Star Band. My third gig with them. I finally got to meet Matt Jardine.  

I told him I toured with his dad in the 60's. As the Renegades we were a blues band. As the Sunrays, we sang 5 part. We played all of our instruments. Then the wrecking crew came in to sweetin the tracks up.

Sunrays website 

Mark Volman of the Turtles

Mark Volman

Dean sang on Turtles' songs...

Interesting,
But NOT TRUE.

Dean did do some album designing for us , but the only time he ever sang with us was when we pitched a project to Radio Shack to make a record of us singing J&D songs and them singing ours. Dean did a version of Elenore with us and we did Ride the Wild Surf.
That was the only time he ever sang.
He can't sing... Really... Hahhahhah."

Mark

Dean and Mark are still close friends !!

The Turtles web site

John Buck Wilkin (of Ronny & the Daytonas)

John Buck Wilkin

I played with Jan & Dean once in '64 or '65 at a resort in Pennsylvania,I don't remember the exact time or place. I was impressed with their energy and enthusiasm. They were larger than life. You couldn't believe they were real but they were. They worked with tracks and sang over them live with mikes but it was as good as if they had a band.

P.S. I still do "Bucket T" in my concert dates.

John Buck Wilkin
a.k.a. Ronny and the Daytonas
Nashville, USA

Ronny & the Daytonas website

Don Zirilli (keyboards, vocals) of Papa Doo Run Run

Don Zirilli

Papa Doo Run Run is the band responsible for reuniting Jan & Dean in 1976. From 1976 to the end of 1980 Papa Doo Run Run did 5 very successful major nationwide concert tours with Jan & Dean, performed on every TV music and variety show with them, including their own "California Special", and appeared in and did the soundtrack album for the TV movie "Deadman's Curve".

Papa Doo Run Run at that time consisted of Jimmy D. Armstrong (guitar), Mark Ward (guitar), Jim Shippey (drums), Jim Rush (bass), and me, Don Zirilli (keyboards). At the end of our 1980 tour, Papa Doo Run Run and Jan & Dean separated to do our own thing. Jimmy D and Mark chose to remain with Jan & Dean and stayed with them for a couple of years then left to persue other interests.

Papa Doo Run Run replaced Jimmy and Mark with Stevie Surf and Steve Barone who stayed with Papa Doo Run Run  for the next 15 years or so.

The Bel Air Bandits was the name of Jan & Dean's band in the 60's and again in the 80's and 90's. There have been numerous configurations of players in the band, including Chris Farmer and Phil Bardewell who bounce back and forth between the Beach Boys and Jan & Dean, and Gary Griffin, who on occassion has filled in for me in Papa Doo Run Run. There's a pool of us surf-music guys who show up from time to time in each others groups - kind of a cool thing, don't you think?

The Papa Doo Run Run web site