Brian Wilson, co-founder and principal songwriter of the Beach Boys, has died at age 82. He had been suffering from a neurocognitive disorder similar to dementia.
Brian Douglas Wilson was born in Inglewood, California, the first child of Murry Wilson and the former Audree Neva. Soon after he was born, the family moved to Hawthorne, CA. He taught himself to play piano after they acquired one when he was 12. In high school, he played quarterback on Hawthorne High's football team and ran cross country during his senior year. He also played American Legion Baseball. He enrolled in El Camino College in Los Angeles, but withdrew after a year and a half.
In the fall of 1961, Wilson formed the Pendletones, with himself on piano and vocals, his brother Carl on guitar and vocals, his brother Dennis on drums, their cousin Mike Love on vocals, and their friend Al Jardine on bass and vocals. Brian later learned to play the electric bass, after which Jardine moved to rhythm guitar. Their label, Candix Records, changed their name to the Beach Boys. The group was soon after signed to Capitol Records. Their first four studio albums were recorded with guitarist David Marks taking Jardine's place. Eventually Jardine returned and Marks left the group.
As a songwriter, Wilson mainly produced music and only occasionally wrote lyrics. He collaborated with variety of lyricists, including Mike Love, Gary Usher, Roger Christian, Van Dyke Parks and Tony Asher. In 1964, Wilson decided to stop touring and concentrate on studio work. He was replaced on live bass and vocals first by Glen Campbell, who went on to become a country musician, and later by Bruce Johnston, who eventually joined the Beach Boys. The group's hit songs included Surfin' Safari, Surfin' USA, Surfer Girl, Be True to Your School, Little Honda, Fun Fun Fun, I Get Around, Dance Dance Dance, Little Deuce Coupe, Help Me Rhonda, California Girls, Barbara Ann, Sloop John B, Wouldn't It Be Nice, and Good Vibrations. Most of these were co-written by Wilson.
Like many rock and roll musicians of the time, Wilson abused drugs during the late 1960s. He went into a "recluse period" in 1973 just after his father died. This lasted until 1975, during which he rarely left his house. Afterwards, he returned to performing with the Beach Boys. Starting in 1988, he released a series of 12 solo albums.
Wilson married Marylin Rovell in 1964. She was in a vocal group called the Honeys. They had two daughters, Wendy and Carnie, who formed the group Wilson Phillips with Chynna Phillips, the daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of the Mamas & the Papas. Brian and Marylin Wilson divorced in 1979. In 1995, he married Melinda Ledbetter, which whom he adopted five children. He was predeceased by his brothers Carl and Dennis, and by his second wife. He is survived by his seven total children.
Here's just a small sampling of Beach Boys songs written by Brian Wilson. In this video of Little Deuce Coupe, Mike Love introduces the band and their instrumental parts before they perform the song.
This is the official video for Good Vibrations, which was recorded with studio musicians from the Wrecking Crew. It's one of the most complex songs by the Beach Boys.
To wrap things up, here's a mimed and lip-synced performance of California Girls. At around 1:25, you can see Bruce Johnston playing bass instead of Brian Wilson.
There's a common notion that celebrity deaths come in sets of three. This seems to be the case the recent departures of Rick Derringer, Sly Stone and now Brian Wilson. Each was a greatly talented musician in his own particular genre. May they all rest in peace.
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