Last week, we lost Brian Wilson, the brilliant and enigmatic force behind The Beach Boys and one of the most innovative songwriters in American music history.
Born on June 20, 1942, in Hawthorne, California, Brian Douglas Wilson displayed obvious musical talent from a young age. Alongside his brothers Dennis and Carl, cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine, he co-founded The Beach Boys in 1961. Their harmonies and evocative lyrics came to define the sound of a generation and still are the soundtrack to summer for many people.
While The Beach Boys captured the early 60's light spirit of Southern California with hits like “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” “California Girls,” and “Fun, Fun, Fun,” Wilson’s ambitions went far beyond pop. With the groundbreaking 1966 album Pet Sounds, he elevated the art of record-making, blending lush orchestration, introspective lyrics, and sophisticated studio techniques. The album, now widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time, influenced artists from The Beatles to Radiohead.
Wilson’s life was marked by both triumph and struggle. Battling mental health issues, he withdrew from the public eye for many years, but his music never lost its relevance or resonance. In the 1990s and 2000s, Wilson reemerged with solo projects, critically acclaimed tours, and a full realization of his long-shelved masterpiece Smile.
He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2007. His unmistakable genius reshaped the soundscape of popular music, and his legacy continues to inspire generations of artists and fans.
He left music in a better place than before he started, and not many musicians have had that impact.
Some of Our Favorite Brian Wilson Songs
God Only Knows from Pet Sounds
This is one of the most timeless love songs in the history of music. From Pet Sounds.
Don't Worry Baby from Shut Down Vol. 2
One of the simplest and most impactful intro hooks in pop music history.
Our Prayer from The Smile Sessions
Just highlighting his vocal arranging chops.
Cabin Essence from The Smile Sessions
Good Vibrations from Smiley Smile
Likely the most famous use of a Theramin in pop music history.
Let's Go Away For Awhile from Pet Sounds
A beautiful instrumental.
Busy Doing Nothing from Friends
Just giving a deep cut some love.
This Whole World from Sunflower
Another deep cut that deserves more love than it gets.
One Kind of Love from No Pier Pressure
One of his later songs from his 2015 album, still showing his arrangement chops.
Til I Die from Surf's Up
