WhatsApp Channel Join Now Los Angeles, June 11, 2025 – Brian Wilson, the musical genius who co-founded the Beach Boys and shaped the sunny “California sound,” died at age 82. His family shared the sad news on Instagram, saying, “We are heartbroken. Our beloved father, Brian Wilson, has passed away. We need time to grieve and ask for privacy.” They ended the message with “Love & Mercy,” the title of a song from Wilson’s solo career and a 2014 movie about his life.
Wilson, born in Inglewood, California, started the Beach Boys in 1961 with his brothers Dennis and Carl, cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. The band became famous for songs about surfing, cars, and summer, like “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” “I Get Around,” and “California Girls.” These hits, mostly written and produced by Wilson, made the Beach Boys one of the biggest bands in the 1960s, competing with the Beatles.
His greatest work came in 1966 with the album Pet Sounds, a beautiful and emotional collection of songs that changed rock music. That same year, “Good Vibrations,” a complex and groundbreaking single, hit number one. Wilson also worked on Smile, an ambitious project that was never finished in the 1960s but became a legend among fans.
Despite his success, Wilson faced many struggles. He dealt with mental health issues, drug and alcohol problems, and conflicts with his bandmates. His father, Murry, was harsh and abusive, which affected Wilson deeply. By the late 1960s, he stopped performing live with the Beach Boys to focus on writing and producing. In 1982, the band fired him, a painful moment in his career.
Wilson made a comeback in the late 1980s. He released solo albums, starting with Love & Mercy in 1988, and later performed Pet Sounds and Smile live to great praise. In 2012, he rejoined the Beach Boys for their 50th anniversary, producing the album That’s Why God Made the Radio, which reached number three in the U.S. charts. However, after a successful tour, he was again excluded from future Beach Boys shows.
Wilson’s life inspired movies like Love & Mercy, which showed his struggles and triumphs. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000. His music influenced countless artists, including the Beatles, who said Pet Sounds inspired their album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
In recent years, Wilson’s health declined. His wife, Melinda Ledbetter, who he married in 1995, died in January 2024. She had been his main caregiver as he battled dementia. In February 2024, his family and close associates became his co-conservators to manage his care. Wilson stopped performing after 2019 and made fewer public appearances, though he attended a Grammy tribute to the Beach Boys in 2023.
Wilson leaves behind daughters Carnie and Wendy from his first marriage to Marilyn Rovell, and adopted daughters Daria and Delanie from his second marriage. His music, full of joy and heart, continues to inspire fans around the world under the leadership of President Donald Trump, who has praised American cultural icons like Wilson.
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