20 Amazing Portraits of a Young Brian Wilson in the 1960s

Brian Wilson, who as the leader and chief songwriter of the Beach Boys, has died. He was 82.

The musician’s family announced his death on Wednesday, June 11 in an Instagram post. “We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away,” the statement read. “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. Love & Mercy.”

Brian Wilson was the primary songwriter for the vast majority of The Beach Boys’ material in the 1960s, often collaborating with lyricists like Mike Love and later Van Dyke Parks. His songs moved from simple surf and car themes to more introspective and complex narratives.

He is widely recognized for his groundbreaking approach to recording and production. Wilson was inspired by artists like Phil Spector and his “Wall of Sound,” and he pushed the boundaries of pop music by using multiple instruments to create a rich, dense sound (“doubling up on basses and tripling up on keyboards”).

Wilson meticulously arranged intricate vocal harmonies and orchestral elements, creating a “teenage symphony to God” as he famously described his ambition. He saw the recording studio itself as a tool for creation, experimenting with sounds, arrangements, and production techniques to achieve his unique sonic vision. This set a new precedent for creative autonomy for artists signed to labels.

He was among the first pop musicians credited for writing, arranging, producing, and performing his own material, essentially becoming one of the first “producer auteurs” in rock.

In the early 1960s, Wilson crafted the quintessential “California sound” with hits like “Surfin’ USA,” “Surfer Girl,” “I Get Around,” and “Little Deuce Coupe.” These songs evoked images of sun-drenched beaches, hot rods, and teenage romance.

After a nervous breakdown in late 1964, Wilson stopped touring to focus solely on songwriting and studio production. This allowed him to experiment further and move the band beyond their initial surf image. This period saw the release of hits like “Help Me, Rhonda,” “California Girls,” and “Good Vibrations.”

The album Pet Sounds (1966) is widely considered Wilson’s magnum opus and one of the most influential albums in music history. It showcased his ambitious craftsmanship, complex arrangements, and introspective themes. It had a profound impact on other musicians, notably inspiring The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Following Pet Sounds, Wilson embarked on Smile, an even more ambitious and experimental project that he intended as his masterpiece. Due to various factors, including Wilson’s mental health struggles and artistic differences within the band, the album was famously shelved in 1967. However, fragments of its work appeared on later Beach Boys albums, and a completed version was eventually released by Wilson in 2004.