Vocal Surf

Vocal surf is the vocal-group variant of surf music that emerged in Southern California in the early 1960s, layering intricate multi-part harmonies — adapted from doo-wop, barbershop and the jazz voicings of *The Four Freshmen* — over the reverb-drenched guitars and driving rhythm section of instrumental surf rock. Its songs codify an idealized teenage California of surfing, hot rods and summer romance. Led by *The Beach Boys*, whose *Brian Wilson* raised the form's harmonic and studio sophistication to its peak, and by *Jan & Dean*, vocal surf dominated American pop between 1962 and 1965 before the British Invasion displaced it.