Jan and Dean were an influential American rock duo from Los Angeles, California, consisting of William Jan Berry and Dean Ormsby Torrence. They were pivotal in pioneering the California Sound and vocal surf music styles in the early 1960s, which were later popularized by the Beach Boys. Their most notable hit, "Surf City," released in 1963, was the first surf song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Other top ten singles included "Baby Talk" (1959), "Drag City" (1963), "Dead Man's Curve" (1964), and "The Little Old Lady (from Pasadena)" (1964).

Jan Berry was born on April 3, 1941, and grew up in Los Angeles, where his father worked for Howard Hughes. Dean Torrence, born March 10, 1940, also hailed from Los Angeles. The duo met at Emerson Junior High School, where they began harmonizing together. They initially formed a doo-wop group called "The Barons" before becoming "Jan and Dean."

In addition to their musical achievements, Dean Torrence won a Grammy Award for Best Album Cover in 1972 and was recognized for his design work in subsequent years. Tragically, Jan Berry's career was interrupted by a severe car accident in 1966, which led to brain damage and partial paralysis. Despite these challenges, Berry continued to work on his recovery and musical pursuits until his death on March 26, 2004. Jan and Dean's legacy endures as pioneers of a distinctive musical era.