Jan Berry was born on April 3, 1941, in Los Angeles, California. He rose to fame as part of the American rock duo Jan and Dean, alongside Dean Ormsby Torrence. The duo achieved significant success in the 1960s with hits like "Surf City" and "Dead Man’s Curve," both co-written with Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.

Before forming Jan and Dean, Berry was part of another duo, Jan & Arnie, with whom he also found chart success. Throughout his career, Berry was not only a performer but also a prolific songwriter, arranger, and producer. He worked with various artists and contributed to the music industry as a staff songwriter and record producer for Nevins-Kirshner Associates and later for Screen Gems-Columbia Music.

In addition to his music career, Berry pursued higher education, enrolling at UCLA in 1959 and later attending the California College of Medicine in 1963. His promising career was tragically interrupted by a severe automobile accident on April 12, 1966, which resulted in brain damage and partial paralysis. Despite these challenges, Berry made efforts to return to music, including solo projects and reunions with Dean Torrence.

Berry continued to influence the music world until his later years, with projects like "Carnival of Sound" and various live performances. His life and career were characterized by his rebellious spirit and his impact on the West Coast sound, making him a notable figure in rock 'n' roll history.