Dead Man's Curve - by Mark A Moore (Paperback)

About the Book

"Jan Berry, leader of the music duo Jan & Dean from the late 1950s to mid-1960s, was an intense character who experienced more in his first 25 years than many do in a lifetime. As an architect of the West Coast sound, he was one of rock 'n' roll's original rebels--brilliant, charismatic, reckless, and flawed. As a songwriter, music arranger, and record producer for Nevin-Kirshner Associates and Screen Gems-Columbia Music, Berry was one of the pioneering self-produced artists of his era in Hollywood. He lived a dual life, reaching the top of the charts with Jan & Dean while transitioning from college student to medical student, until an automobile accident ended his seemingly charmed existence in 1966. Suffering from brain damage and partial paralysis, Jan spent the rest of his life trying to come back from Dead Man's Curve. His story is told here in-depth for the first time, based on extensive primary source documentation and supplemented by the stories and memories of Jan's family members, friends, music industry colleagues, and contemporaries. From the birth of rock to the bitter end, Berry's life story is thrilling, humorous, unsettling, and disturbing, yet ultimately uplifting"--

Book Synopsis

Jan Berry, leader of the music duo Jan & Dean from the late 1950s to mid-1960s, was an intense character who experienced more in his first 25 years than many do in a lifetime. As an architect of the West Coast sound, he was one of rock 'n' roll's original rebels--brilliant, charismatic, reckless, and flawed. As a songwriter, music arranger, and record producer for Nevin-Kirshner Associates and Screen Gems-Columbia Music, Berry was one of the pioneering self-produced artists of his era in Hollywood. He lived a dual life, reaching the top of the charts with Jan & Dean while transitioning from college student to medical student, until an automobile accident in 1966 changed his trajectory forever. Suffering from brain damage and partial paralysis, Jan spent the rest of his life trying to come back from Dead Man's Curve.

His story is told here in-depth for the first time, based on extensive primary source documentation and supplemented by the stories and memories of Jan's family members, friends, music industry colleagues, and contemporaries. From the birth of rock to the bitter end, Berry's life story is thrilling, humorous, unsettling, and disturbing, yet ultimately uplifting.

Review Quotes

"[Mark A. Moore] has written what is surely the definitive biography of Jan Berry-scrupulously researched and rich in color and detail. ...a meticulous account of Berry's life without any missing pieces or chronological holes. It's an incredible story...The triumphs and tragedies of his life, the highs and the lows, the thrills and the pain, make [this work] one of the most compelling music biographies you'll ever read."-Ugly Things

"A highly detailed account of the life and times of Jan Berry...with this comprehensive study (which was more than two decades in the making), Moore has created a masterwork that will stand as a primary go to source for its vaunted subject matter. Essential."-Blitz, the Rock and Roll Magazine for Thinking People

"Definitive Jan biography...great reading...both inspirational and harrowing...a feast for fans...The section of the book dealing with Jan's rise to fame is like reading about the greatest frat party of all time set to a killer soundtrack. If the goal here was to enrich the experience of listening to those Jan & Dean records once more or to encourage the uninitiated to think about them (and Jan) seriously for the first time, then I'd recommend you check out the book. It's a heck of a story . . . and a lot more than what they could ever fit into a made-for-TV movie."-Endless Summer Quarterly

"Essential...Bravo to author Mark A. Moore...a non-stop, page turning thrill ride that no self-respecting musical bookshelf should be without...highest recommendations."-Elliot Kendall, Film & Music Promoter, EK Media & Marketing, Santa Monica, California

"Moore, an avid Jan and Dean buff, has written the definitive biography of Jan Berry.... Draw[s] from dozens of interviews and an exhaustive survey of existing materials...A comprehensive, accurate, and balanced account of a rock icon who was talented, impulsive, and driven, though sometimes difficult and dismissive. Crammed with minutia and drawn-out stories, this work will appeal to rock fans."-Library Journal

"One of the best books about music I've ever read . . . By far the best thing I've ever read about [Jan & Dean] and the horrible [car] wreck. Can't imagine how much time and work went into it...this is a great book. This guy researched the dickens out of it. It's an easy read...And keep in mind, I don't endorse many books, but this one's really good. And great photographs that he managed to scratch up from family members and friends. Pictures that I've never seen before."-Scott Shannon, Deejay, WCBS-FM 1011, New York City, and the syndicated True Oldies Channel (United Stations Radio Networks)

"This one is a page-turner. I'm not kiddin' ya. This is really well researched. I learned everything I ever need to know about Jan & Dean, especially Jan Berry.. . . I'll tell you what. I couldn't put it down. Wonderful. I recommend it."-Scott Shannon, Deejay, WCBS-FM 1011, New York City, and the syndicated True Oldies Channel (United Stations Radio Networks)

About the Author

Mark A. Moore is a technical writer for the North Carolina Department of Information Technology and he has written various articles and album liner notes about Jan & Dean. He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.