Brian Wilson, founder and former member of the beloved Beach Boys, has passed away at the age of 82.
According to Pitchfork, the beloved musician’s family announced he passed away on June 11th after having lived with a neurocognitive disorder akin to dementia.
Brian Wilson was the co-founder and primary songwriter of The Beach Boys. An official cause of death was not disclosed; however, it was revealed in early 2024 that the singer was living with a neurocognitive disorder akin to dementia.
He left quite a legacy on life as he helped pioneer the studio-as-instrument, influencing generations of musicians in pop and beyond. His family made a statement saying, “We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away. 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.”.
Of course, Brian Wilson was a part of some massive all-time hits like “Surfin’ U.S.A.”, “God Only Knows”, and “Surfer Girl”, to name only a few. He also left his mark on Disney.
The Beach Boys appeared in Walt Disney Productions’ film called The Monkey’s Uncle. It was released in 1965, and it’s where they performed the film’s Sherman Brothers-penned title song with Annette Funicello. Their iconic songs have also been heard in productions across Walt Disney Studios in both movies and television.
Before Paradise Pier became Pixar Pier, songs like “California Girls”, “Good Vibrations”, “Surfin’ U.S.A.”, “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”, “Fun, Fun, Fun”, and more were covered in a merry-go-round and used as part of the background music in Paradise Pier at Disney California Adventure from 2001 to 2012.
Brian Wilson even released a Disney album called “In The Key of Disney”. The album cover art is amazing — a car on the beach with a surfboard in the back, facing out to a Mickey-shaped sunset.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this difficult time.
Good Vibrations is easily in the top 5 songs of all-time. Pet Sounds is just behind Sgt. Pepper for best album. Brian Wilson was a musical genius.