Brian Wilson, the musical visionary who captured the optimism of early 1960s youth culture as leader of the Beach Boys and crafted some of the most stylistically adventurous pop music of the era with the seminal album “Pet Sounds,” has died, his family confirmed Wednesday.
He was 82. His family did not immediately specify a cause of death.
“We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away,” Wilson’s family said in a post on Instagram. “We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world.”
The artist’s legal representatives said last year that Wilson was suffering from a “major neurocognitive disorder (such as dementia)” and suggested he be placed in a conservatorship.
Wilson is widely considered one of the most gifted singers, songwriters, and producers in the history of American pop music. The Beach Boys topped the charts and achieved global acclaim, becoming synonymous with the spirit of summertime escapism with hits like “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” “I Get Around,” and “Good Vibrations.” (Ironically, Wilson was not much of a surfer.)
The band embodied the popular image of Southern California as paradise on Earth, captivating record listeners and live audiences with its tonal range, sometimes breezy, sometimes wistful. Wilson’s brothers were part of the original lineup: Carl played lead guitar, and Dennis sat behind the drums.
In the middle of the ’60s, inspired by the ambition of the Beatles and guided by his own psychedelic visions, Wilson created the landmark concept album “Pet Sounds,” an idiosyncratic and symphonic fusion of pop, jazz, and avant-garde genres that helped cement his legacy.
“Pet Sounds” was not originally a commercial success. Still, it dazzled rock critics and wowed many of the recording industry’s leading lights — including the members of the Beatles, who credited it with stirring them to make “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”
“I figure no one is educated musically ’til they’ve heard ‘Pet Sounds,'” Paul McCartney once said. I love the orchestra, the arrangements — it may be going overboard to say it’s the classic of the century — but to me, it certainly is a total, classic record that is unbeatable in many ways. I’ve often played ‘Pet Sounds’ and cried.”
Wilson’s innovations—including using the recording studio as an instrument—led to greater recognition of pop music as a worthy art form. He was one of the first singer-songwriters and producers to be referred to as an auteur, heralded for his fierce creative control and personal vision.
