Biography
William Jan Berry entered the world on 3 April 1941 in Los Angeles, California, where he would also pass away on 26 March 2004. Alongside Arnie Ginsburg he scored a solitary US Top 10 hit prior to Berry’s later achievements as half of Jan And Dean, long regarded as one of rock’s most successful vocal duos. Earlier, Berry, Ginsburg and Dean Torrence had all belonged to the Barons, a lineup that at times featured drummer Sandy Nelson along with Bruce Johnston, who would later join the Beach Boys. After the Barons disbanded, the three remaining friends cut “Jennie Lee,” a homage to a local-club stripper, inside Berry’s garage. During Torrence’s brief stint in the US Army Reserves, Herb Alpert and Lou Adler—still unknowns at the time—delivered the recording to Arwin Records, the label owned by Marty Melcher, husband of actress Doris Day. Issued under the name Jan And Arnie, the single climbed to number 8 on the national charts in May 1958. Two additional Jan And Arnie singles followed, one of them the charting “Gas Money.” By then Torrence had completed his service and Ginsburg had left the act, clearing the path for the swift ascent of Jan & Dean.