Brian Wilson, musical genius and founder of the Beach Boys, has died at 82. Only a little information is being released by the family at this time, They are devastated and shocked by his loss, and they are asking the press and public to respect their privacy.
This post is not about how or why Brian Wilson died, but rather about how he lived and the musical legacy he has left behind. He founded the band in 1961 along with his brothers Carl and Dennis. They went rather quickly from being a local California group to becoming increasingly known and famous across the country and around the world.
The band's name and their songs with beach related themes – "California Girls," "Surfer Girl," "Surfin' Safari," and "Surfin' U.S.A." – inextricably linked them to good times in the sand and surf and what amounts to the idea of (like the title of one album) an Endless Summer.
Many musical groups and performers drew inspiration from Brian's work, especially his groundbreaking recording of their huge hit "Good Vibrations." Please watch the video below that explains the arduous but completely necessary (in the end) process that produced what is one of the greatest songs of all time.
Brian Wilson's loss has affected me personally and many people all over the world. He will always be remembered for the impact his group had on the musical world and the fans who loved them.
The Beach Boys have performed as a group (in one incarnation or another) longer than any other band in history. As they got older, and even after Dennis's death, the band still carried on.
Now, with Brian's death, the end has come for the Beach Boys. Even with Brian's loss, the musical legacy lives on. The songs about surfer guys and girls, the hotrods, the surf, and sand remain. Their songs linger lovingly as every summer rolls around, and now Brian has gone off to the great beach resort in the sky where unending summers are not just a dream.
Rest in peace, Brian Wilson.
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