Kids & Family

Jan & Dean Singer Promotes 'Blessing of Waves'

Dean Torrence of Huntington Beach lends his voice to invite surfers and ocean-lovers to the Oct. 14 event, in which rabbis, ministers and imams bless the sea.

Adding a retro twist to this year's Blessing of the Waves event, singer Dean Torrence of the 1960s surf duo Jan & Dean is lending his voice to the annual gathering of clergy, surfers and ocean-lovers in Huntington Beach.

Two girls for every priest?

No, Torrence hasn't reworked the lyrics to Surf City, the unofficial anthem of Huntington Beach, but as the song plays in the background of an audio clip posted online, he invites people to the Oct. 14 event, which last year drew about 2,000 participants.

Find out what's happening in Fountain Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Blessing of the Waves, now in its fifth year, has become a fixture in Huntington Beach. Each year, priests, rabbis, imams, ministers and other faith leaders come together for a prayer service and blessing of the sea at the Huntington Beach Pier.

Torrence, a Huntington Beach resident, has been a regular at the gatherings and said he believes in a spiritual connection with the ocean.

“Our coastline is an incredible gift,” he said in a press release about the event. “We get so much from our beaches and the water. It’s our lifestyle and we need to appreciate and preserve it.”

Find out what's happening in Fountain Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Torrence’s voice message will be distributed via email to promote the event, a diocesan spokesman said. It's also posted on the event's Facebook page.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here