The idyllic vistas of Southern California beaches don't really require any advertising but the 60s were chock full of bands singing about sun, sand and surf. The Beach Boys were the best representatives of the genre but Jan and Dean were worthy runners-up.

The two high school friends practiced their smooth harmonies in the tiled locker room after football practice. Jan liked what he heard and he and Dean would often invite other friends to impromptu doo-wop session. Jan peddled recordings of the duo's singing to local record company's until they released one of their singles. "Jennie Lee" was an instant hit and reached the #8 spot on the charts.

Jan and Dean buckled down and concentrated on their singing, determined to be more than a one-hit-wonder. They updated their early doo-wop sound and enjoy successes with "Baby Talk," "Heart and Soul" and "Linda."

Inspired by their touring with the Beach Boys, Jan and Dean tried their hand at surf music and scored a #1 hit with Brian Wilson's "Surf City." Maybe Brian should've kept that one for his own band.

Another surf anthem, "Honolulu Lulu" followed "Surf City"'s success and the duo delved deep into surf and hotrod rock. A series of hit by Jan and Dean dominated the charts in the mid-60s, including "The Little Old Lady from Pasadena," "Ride the Wild Surf," "The New Girl in School" and "Sidewalk Surfin'."

A serious car accident in 1966 almost ended Jan's life and career. The long time he spent in a coma left him brain damaged and paralyzed but the determined young man worked hard to come back to singing. With a a lot of physical therapy, Jan was able to rejoin his friend Dean in the recording studio, where the two continued their collaboration.

In 1978, the duo's story was the basis for a TV movie called Deadman's Curve, titled after one of the group's hit singles. The movie revived interest in Jan and Dean, who decided to reunite and tour together again, bringing a little California sunshine into the lives of their fans.