Brian Wilson, the creative genius behind America’s band The Beach Boys, just passed away at the age of 82. Born in Inglewood, southern California, in 1942, Wilson soon proved to be a prodigious musical genius. He had an incredible talent for perfect pitch that completely distinguished him. Even as an infant, he was able to vocalize back melodies that were sung to him, a precursor to his eventual evolution as a musical groundbreaker.
Wilson’s musical adventure began at a young age. He and his younger brothers, Carl and Dennis, taught themselves how to play piano by listening to their father’s big band. As musicians, together they created a passion and understanding of R&B, rock’n’roll, doo-wop, and pop music. In 1961, he penned his first hit for The Beach Boys: “Surfin’.” That simple track started the most successful songwriting career in pop history.
Between 1961-1964, Wilson wrote most of the Shirelles major hits. These legendary tunes were “Surfin’ Safari,” “Surfer Girl” and “Surfin’ USA.” His genius for writing irresistible melodies and universal themes is responsible for establishing the distinctive sound of California pop music. So as Wilson evolved as an artist, he evolved from a mid-level songwriter to a mid-level producer. He had even more influence in defining the band’s sound with their third album, “Surfer Girl.”
Wilson’s commitment to his art resulted in miraculous things. By the end of the 60s, The Beach Boys were still riding high, with an astounding 15 albums to their name. His ambitious approach to music production led him to introduce unorthodox studio techniques. Combined, he brought a roaring, symphonic bombast to their sound. His early hits were all about surfing, cars, and teenage fun in the sun. Yet as Wilson’s songwriting developed, he became more open to the idea of reflective, even psychedelic, material.
One of his greatest legacies was the album “Pet Sounds”. He wanted it to be one statement, not just a bunch of separate songs. This project cast a spotlight on Wilson’s elaborate charts. He artfully stitched together many different instruments like orchestral strings and even the sounds of day-to-day objects, including Coca-Cola bottles. Pet Sounds is considered by many to be one of the top three albums ever recorded in the history of music.
Unfortunately, even with all of these accomplishments in Wilson’s young life, he was falling apart personally by the end of the 1960s. He started hearing voices in his head and was in and out of psychiatric wards. His mental health struggles pushed him to try both cannabis and LSD. He would go on to publicly boast that these poisons afforded a creatively edifying effect on his productions. Most famously, he wrote the signature Beach Boys song “California Girls” on his first psychedelic LSD trip.
On the home front, Wilson was married twice. He first married Marilyn Rovell in 1964, with whom he had two daughters, Carnie and Wendy. Reflecting on his journey through mental illness, Wilson once shared, “There were times when [his mental illness] was unbearable but with doctors and medications I have been able to live a wonderful, healthy and productive life.”
Wilson’s impact on music is still felt today, well beyond his relatively short-lived mainstream success with The Beach Boys. His ability to “come to grips with what you are, what you can do [and] can’t do” has resonated with countless artists. His brilliance, depth and complexity of his work are a constant source of inspiration for countless musicians in every genre.
“It was the happiest time.” – source not specified