Dear Editor,

Last Wednesday, June 11, the world lost a true musical genius. Brian Wilson was born June 20, 1942.

I suspect that he heard music in his head much like Beethoven or Mozart did. Early in his recording career, he became a master of the studio, utilizing the legendary Wrecking Crew, the best studio musicians then available in Los Angeles.  Combining these musicians with the harmony of the Beach Boys, Wilson crafted some of the best radio songs of the mid-sixties, including “Good Vibrations,” “God Only Knows,” “Wouldn’t it Be Nice,” and many others.    

The creative force behind The Beach Boys – comprised of the Wilson brothers, Brian, Dennis and Carl; their cousin, Mike Love; and their neighbor, Alan Jardine – Brian piloted the band to become what was probably the biggest rock-n-roll band in America during the early 1960s. Brian composed most of the music recorded by The Beach Boys, leaving the job of lyricist to Love. 

After the initial success of the band, Brian was given complete production authority.   As his compositions became more complex, and he honed his recording technique, he looked to others to provide the words to his music,

By 1964, Brian, overwhelmed by the touring required to maintain the band’s popularity, retired from touring to concentrate on composition and record production. The album Rubber Soul, released by The Beatles at the end of 1965, sparked his competitiveness and inspired Brian to create what has become to be considered by many to be one of the finest albums in popular music: the 1966 album Pet Sounds.

This album, the first on which Brian utilized the talents of The Wrecking Crew, is essentially a solo album, having been written, produced, and recorded while the rest of the group was on tour. 

For those interested in more information concerning either Brian Wilson or The Beach Boys, there are extensive Wikipedia articles on each. 

 John Clower

Denton, Texas