Brian Wilson

SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here.

Many people refer to Frank Sinatra as being the soundtrack of their life. For me, as a teenager and young man, Brian Wilson was the soundtrack of my life growing up.

The Beach Boys was my favorite rock group and I listened to their music all through my adolescence, at home and especially in my car. Back then I really didn't appreciate what has come to be known as the genius of Brian Wilson, I only knew I loved the sound and the uplifting messages of their songs. Their music made me feel good.

Later, of course, I learned it was Brian Wilson who was behind it all. Brian Wilson died of respiratory arrest and other complications on June 11th at the age of 82. In Wikipedia's bio of Brian, it stated, he "was an American musician, songwriter, singer and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys.

Often called a genius for his novel approaches to pop composition and mastery of recording techniques, he is widely acknowledged as one of the most significant and innovative songwriters in rock music. His best-known work is distinguished for its high production values, complex harmonies and orchestrations, vocal layering, and introspective or ingenuous themes. He was also known for his versatile head voice and falsetto."

But sadly Brian had his demons, as it seems so many other creative types have had. He suffered a lifelong battle with mental illness which caused him to have a nervous breakdown in 1964.

By the late 1960s, his creativity and mental health had significantly declined to the point that he no longer was able or willing to go on concert tours. Long periods of substance abuse and overeating led to reclusion and depression.

There was a time when he was controlled by his psychologist in a very weird and controversial business/creative relationship which lasted several years in the late 1980's.

But Brian worked through it all and ultimately got back to his song writing, producing and album recordings. Through the years he has gotten countless music industry awards, including two Grammy Awards and Kennedy Center Honors, as well as nominations for a Golden Globe Award and Primetime Emmy Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000.

All of this was unknown to me in the middle to late 1960's as I drove around in my beloved old car with the radio cranked up high listening to “California Girls," and “Be True to Your School," and “Little Deuce Coupe," and “Surfin' Safari." Alone in my car I sang along with Brian, Carl and the rest of them without a care in the world.

Personally I never went surfing or worked on cars, or had a girlfriend. And I had no real interest in school, let alone being true to it. But I dug the Beach Boys' music and even wore a Pendleton wool shirt and Huarache sandals.

My wife, my brother, and my sister and I had the good fortune to see one of Brian's last concert performances at the Greek Theater about ten years ago. It was a wonderful, joyous evening comprised of great musical favorites and some new songs from his latest album. It was also his birthday, and near the end of the concert his children and grandchildren joined Brian on stage and along with all of us in the audience sang happy birthday to him.

An evening I'll always remember.

(COMMENT, BELOW)