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Brian Wilson was born on June 20, 1942, in Inglewood, California, and grew up in nearby Hawthorne. From an early age, he exhibited a prodigious musical talent, showing a particular affinity for harmonies and vocal arrangements.
Encouraged by his father, Murry Wilson, himself a frustrated songwriter and a strict disciplinarian, Brian began experimenting with music alongside his younger brothers, Dennis and Carl, and their cousin Mike Love. Together with friend Al Jardine, they would eventually form the Beach Boys, a group that would come to define the sound of Southern California in the 1960s.
Brian’s early musical influences included the Four Freshmen, Chuck Berry, and George Gershwin, and he synthesided elements of jazz, rock, and classical music into a distinctive style. The Beach Boys signed with Capitol Records in 1962 and quickly found success with "Surfin' Safari" which Brian co-wrote. He soon took over the band's songwriting and production duties, transforming the group from a surf-rock novelty act into one of the most innovative bands of their era. Songs such as "Surfin' USA," which adapted Chuck Berry’s "Sweet Little Sixteen" to a California theme, and "Fun, Fun, Fun," which celebrated teen rebellion with a catchy melodic hook and a roaring guitar line, were co-written by Brian and Mike Love and established the Beach Boys as major hitmakers.
By 1964, while the Beatles were revolutionising rock music from the UK, Brian responded not by imitating them but by raising the bar in American pop. He began to focus more on studio work and less on touring, which allowed him to concentrate on songwriting and production. The resulting period of creativity yielded complex and emotionally resonant songs such as "Don't Worry Baby," a haunting ballad marked by exquisite harmonies and introspective lyrics, and "The Warmth of the Sun," written in the aftermath of President Kennedy’s assassination, which demonstrated Wilson’s growing maturity as a composer.
In 1965, Brian wrote and produced "The Beach Boys Today!" and "Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)", which featured hits like "Help Me, Rhonda," "California Girls," and "Let Him Run Wild." These songs reflected an increasing sophistication in his arrangements, incorporating orchestral instruments and layered vocal harmonies that set the stage for his magnum opus, "Pet Sounds", released in 1966. Inspired by the Beatles’ "Rubber Soul", Brian conceived "Pet Sounds" as a cohesive artistic statement. He collaborated with lyricist Tony Asher to write deeply personal songs such as "God Only Knows," "Caroline, No," "I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times," and "Wouldn’t It Be Nice." The album blended baroque instrumentation with introspective lyrics and emotional vulnerability. Though it was not initially a massive commercial success in the United States, it was critically acclaimed and profoundly influenced musicians around the world, including the Beatles, who credited "Pet Sounds" as a key influence on "Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band".
Brian Wilson’s ambitious vision reached its apex with the project "Smile", an experimental album he began in 1966 with lyricist Van Dyke Parks. Intended as a "teenage symphony to God," Smile was to be a landmark in American pop, combining avant-garde elements, modular song structures, and poetic lyrics. Tracks like "Heroes and Villains" and the eventually released "Surf’s Up" revealed a composer working at the edge of the pop music form. However, due to internal band tensions, pressure from Capitol Records, and Brian’s deteriorating mental health, the "Smile" project was abandoned in 1967.
Brian retreated from the spotlight for much of the late 1960s and 1970s, battling severe depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. During this period, the Beach Boys continued to record and perform, occasionally featuring Brian Wilson’s contributions. He wrote or co-wrote songs like "Till I Die" and "This Whole World," which reflected his introspective state, but his involvement in the band's activities became increasingly sporadic. Under the care of controversial therapist Eugene Landy in the 1980s, Brian re-emerged and released a self-titled solo album in 1988 that included the autobiographical "Love and Mercy," which became a staple of his solo performances. That same year, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Beach Boys.
The 1990s and early 2000s saw a revival of interest in his work, with artists and fans alike recognizing his genius. In 2004, nearly four decades after it was abandoned, Brian finally completed "Smile" as a solo project, performing it live and recording a studio version. This long-delayed triumph was hailed as a monumental artistic redemption and introduced his ambitious vision to a new generation. The suite included pieces such as "Cabin Essence," "Wonderful," and "Good Vibrations," the latter of which had been released as a single in 1966 and remains one of Wilson’s most celebrated achievements for its innovative use of the electro-theremin and layered, modular production.
Brian continued to tour and record into the 2010s, performing "Pet Sounds" in its entirety and releasing albums such as "That Lucky Old Sun" (2008) and "No Pier Pressure" (2015). Despite ongoing health challenges, including struggles with mental illness and the legacy of substance abuse, he remained a beloved figure in American music. His life and work were the subject of the acclaimed 2014 biopic "Love & Mercy", which portrayed both his 1960s creative peak and his troubled recovery in later decades.
Throughout his career, Brian Wilson was responsible for composing or co-writing many of the most iconic songs in American pop, including "In My Room," "Sloop John B," "All Summer Long," and "Do It Again." His mastery of harmony, his willingness to experiment with form and instrumentation, and his emotional honesty made him a singular figure in 20th-century music. Despite personal turmoil, his artistic legacy remained undiminished, standing as a testament to both his genius and his perseverance.
International Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame Member.
Brian Wilson died at the age of 82, on the 11th June 2025, in Los Angeles, California, USA, of respiratory arrest.
The above is just one of the many profiles of leading songwriters, singers, musicians and music industry personnel, published by the International Songwriters Association and "Songwriter Magazine". Please click HERE for more.
© Jim Liddane
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