GCAMS Episode 16: Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys

Brian Wilson, born June 20, 1942, in Inglewood, California, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer, best known as the co-founder and creative force behind The Beach Boys. Raised in Hawthorne, California, he showed early musical talent, influenced by his father, Murry Wilson, and 1950s vocal groups like The Four Freshmen. With brothers Dennis and Carl, cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine, he formed The Beach Boys in 1961, crafting their signature surf rock sound with hits like "Surfin' USA" and "I Get Around."

Wilson's genius shone in the mid-1960s with intricate harmonies and innovative production. The 1966 album *Pet Sounds*, a landmark in pop music, showcased his ambition, though it initially confused fans and bandmates. His work on the follow-up project, *SMiLE*, was derailed by mental health struggles, drug use, and band tensions, leading to its shelving (until its completion in 2004). By the late 1960s, Wilson’s mental health deteriorated, exacerbated by schizophrenia diagnoses, substance abuse, and his father’s domineering influence. He withdrew from the band, spending years in isolation, often under the controversial care of psychologist Eugene Landy.

Wilson staged comebacks in the 1980s and 1990s, releasing a solo album in 1988 and resuming sporadic Beach Boys tours. In 2004, he completed *SMiLE* as a solo project, earning critical acclaim. Despite ongoing health challenges, he continued performing and recording, with his life depicted in the 2014 biopic *Love & Mercy*. Married twice, with seven children, Wilson remains a revered figure in music, celebrated for revolutionizing pop production and enduring personal adversity.