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Brian Wilson

Brain Wilson is one of rock's most deeply revered figures, a legendary writer, producer, arranger and performer of some of the most cherished music in rock history. Indeed, it is no exaggeration to call Brian Wilson one of the most influential pop composers of the last 50 years.

Labor Day weekend, 1961, in Hawthorne, California It was then and there that nineteen-year-old Brian Douglas Wilson and his younger brothers Dennis and Carl assembled in their family's living room with cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine to rehearse a little tune that Brian and Mike had written for a try-out recording session.

As luck would have it, the Wilsons' parents were vacationing and had left the boys $250 for food money. Home alone, and promptly using that cash to rent the best musical equipment they could find, the budding Beach Boys got busy.

Written at Dennis' suggestion, "Surfin'" sang the praises of the newest southern California teen craze. Though primitive-sounding by today's standards, the song contained the raw matter that would define the Beach Boys' sound: the propulsive rhythms of Chuck Berry-style rock & roll combined with the sophisticated pop vocals of the Four Freshman.

It was a unique fusion that Wilson had been tinkering with in the family garage where, inspired by The Four Freshman and their complex vocal blends, and armed with a multi-track tape recorder, he'd spent hours exploring the intricacies of harmony and melody. By overlapping his own dynamic voice (which peaked in a soaring falsetto) and various instruments, he could create the effect of a full group.

Completely on his own, and despite near-deafness in one ear, modern audio technology gave Brian Wilson the power to create something beautiful, even magical. When "Surfin"' hit big locally and made ripples on the national charts, the Beach Boys were signed to Capitol Records. The label wanted more of the same, and Brian and the band gave it to them, tapping a potent source of surfing, hot-rod cars and hi-octane hormones at a time when an exploding population of post-World War II teenagers was craving something new.

Releasing hit after hit, the Beach Boys were like an irresistibly refreshing wave that flooded America. And Brian Wilson himself rode that sparkling swell as, beginning with 1962's Surfin' Safari, the early Beach Boys released seven albums (usually titled after their hit singles) in their first two years of existence, including Surfin' U.S.A., Surfer Girl, Little Deuce Coupe, Shut Down, Vol. 2, All Summer Long and Concert.

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Album Review

Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks: Orange Crate Art 25th Anniversary Edition (2 CD)

Read "Orange Crate Art 25th Anniversary Edition (2 CD)" reviewed by Doug Collette


Personal estrangement, lawsuits and terminal illness permeated the Beach Boys' world when Orange Crate Art was originally released in 1995. It is thus little wonder it was greeted with more than a little ballyhoo (even if that was bit tentative), but that's also because it was, apart from the single song “Sail On Sailor" from Holland (Brother Records, 1973) the first longplaying-length collaboration between Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks since they teamed for the mythic album Smile (formal archiving ...

8
Live Review

Brian Wilson Presents The Christmas Album Live

Read "Brian Wilson Presents The Christmas Album Live" reviewed by Mike Perciaccante


Brian Wilson with Beat Root Revival NYCB Theatre at Westbury Brian Wilson Presents The Christmas Album Live Westbury, NY December 5, 2018 Brian Wilson is many things. As one of the most influential songwriters of all time, a founding member and the musical force behind the Beach Boys, and a Grammy-winning inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, his story is well-known. On a cool early December evening, ...

6
Live Review

Brian Wilson at Radio City Music Hall

Read "Brian Wilson at Radio City Music Hall" reviewed by Mike Perciaccante


Brian Wilson Radio City Music Hall Pet Sounds 50th Anniversary World Tour: With Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin New York, NY September 23, 2017 Brian Wilson is a Grammy-winning member of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. He is considered to be one of the most influential songwriters of all time. Many see him as a tortured genius. His story is well- known. Wilson is known far and wide as the creative force ...

23
Live Review

Brian Wilson with special guest Rodriguez at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater

Read "Brian Wilson with special guest Rodriguez at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater" reviewed by Mike Perciaccante


Brian Wilson with special guest Rodriguez Nikon at Jones Beach Theater Wantagh, NY June 30, 2015 Brian Wilson and Rodriguez are both survivors. Wilson's story is well-known by almost everyone. Rodriguez' story is slightly more murky. Tortured genius, the primary architect of the California sound and the creative force behind the Beach Boys, Wilson is widely considered to be one of the moist influential songwriters of this or any era. Wilson is the ...

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London Calling

SMiLE, You're in Rock 'n' Roll Heaven with Brian Wilson

Read "SMiLE, You're in Rock 'n' Roll Heaven with Brian Wilson" reviewed by John Eyles


I don't really know why he came halfway across the world to do it, but he did. Brian Wilson came to London and took over the Royal Festival Hall for a week to give us six live performances of one of the most famous albums never to have been released -the legendary SMiLE -prior to touring with it.Back in 1966/7, SMiLE was to be the follow up to The Beach Boys' classic Pet Sounds album, itself often cited ...

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Event

Brian Wilson & Jeff Beck To Appear At The NYCB Theatre In Westury On October 12, 2013 And At The Beacon Theatre In NYC On October 15, 2013

Brian Wilson & Jeff Beck To Appear At The NYCB Theatre In Westury On October 12, 2013 And At The Beacon Theatre In NYC On October 15, 2013

Source: Mike Perciaccante

Legendary music icons and Grammy Award winners, Brian Wilson (co-founder Beach Boys) and Jeff Beck (Yardbirds) are co-headlining a North American tour. Two of the music industry's most celebrated entertainers will kick off their tour on September 27th in Hollywood, FL and will visit 20 cities as they bring an evening of historic musical collaboration to fans across North America. Tickets go on sale starting Friday, August 9th at NOON at livenation.com and will also be available at ticketmaster.com. Throughout ...

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Interview

Interview: Brian Wilson on Smile

Interview: Brian Wilson on Smile

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Last week I traveled to Los Angeles to spend time with Brian Wilson at his home in Beverly Hills. My interview with Brian is in today's Wall Street Journal (pick up a copy or go here if you're a subscriber). As the founding member of the Beach Boys and the musical wizard behind the group's most absorbing recordings, Brian also is probably rock's most direct link to the California's jazz scene of the 1950s. What many jazz fans may not realize ...

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Performance / Tour

Brian Wilson: Canadian Tour

Brian Wilson: Canadian Tour

Source: JamBase

TOUR STARTS JUNE 15 IN KITCHENER, ONTARIO Brian Wilson will embark on his first-ever cross-Canada tour in June of 2011. For many Canadians, the tour represents their first opportunity to directly experience and pay homage to this unrivaled mainstay of the cultural soundtrack. Audiences can look forward to a musical tour de force as Wilson performs his latest critically acclaimed album Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin in its entirety, along with a selection of classics from both the Brian Wilson and ...

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Performance / Tour

Brian Wilson: 2011 Tour Dates

Brian Wilson: 2011 Tour Dates

Source: JamBase

BRIAN WILSON RETURNS TO THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL IN SEPTEMBER 2011 For three nights only, Brian Wilson returns to the Royal Festival Hall—his 'spiritual home away from home'—in September 2011, following a series of hugely celebrated concerts there between 2002-2007. He performs his latest critically- acclaimed album Brian Wilson Re-imagines Gershwin in its entirety, as well as classics from the Beach Boys back-catalogue. Tour Dates: September 11, 2011: Glasgow, Scotland: Glasgow Royal Concert Hall September 13, 2011: Manchester, England: Manchester ...

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Video / DVD

Brian Wilson: Songwriter 1962-1969 out on DVD 11/23

Brian Wilson: Songwriter 1962-1969 out on DVD 11/23

Source: JamBase

FEATURES AN IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF WILSON'S SONGS THROUGH THE 60'S The songs Brian Wilson wrote for and recorded with The Beach Boys during the 1960s are re-assessed throughout Brian Wilson: Songwriter 1962-1969 which runs over three hours in length across two discs. The DVD will be released on November 23. There are exclusive contributions from fellow Beach Boys, Bruce Johnston and David Marks; Wrecking Crew musicians Carol Kaye and Hal Blaine; friend and Beach Boys manager Fred Vail; producers Russ ...

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Recording

Brian Wilson Reimagines George Gershwin out 8/17

Brian Wilson Reimagines George Gershwin out 8/17

Source: JamBase

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE TWO NEW SONGS WILSON CRAFTED FROM PREVIOUSLY UNPUBLISHED GEORGE GERSHWIN MUSIC

Brian Wilson It's an unprecedented meeting of two legendary musical minds, separated by 70 years. Pioneering musical genius Brian Wilson, co-founder of The Beach Boys, has teamed up with George Gershwin, in Wilson's Disney Pearl debut CD, Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin. Featuring timeless classics like “Rhapsody in Blue," “I've Got Rhythm" and “Summertime," the album makes history with “The Like in I Love You" and “Nothing ...

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Recording

Beach Boy Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin

Beach Boy Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin

Source: All About Jazz

'Match made in heaven': Brian Wilson and George Gershwin. Brian Wilson says he chose the George Gershwin songs “that I thought I could do justice to."

The album title alone is enough to make pop-music pundits drool, pairing two of the 20th century's most celebrated tunesmiths: Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin.

The recording itself, which arrives Aug. 17, was a “labor of love" for Wilson, 68, who was a George Gershwin fan long before he was a Beach Boy or had ...

83

Video / DVD

Super Bad Sunday: Brian Wilson

Super Bad Sunday: Brian Wilson

Source: JamBase

CAN WE BUY YOU A SANDBOX FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY, MAN?

JamBase's weekly triple-shot tips its hat to Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, who celebrates his 68th birthday today. Few “All-Time Top 10" lists fail to include Pet Sounds, Wilson's sixties masterpiece, and singles like “Good Vibrations" and “California Girls" continue to inspire musicians and audiences today. We begin this tasty threesome with a live version of “Good Vibrations" from 1976 that includes footage of Brian's birthday party with guests ...

265

Recording

Brian Wilson to Finish Some George Gershwin Songs

Brian Wilson to Finish Some George Gershwin Songs

Source: Michael Ricci

Wilson plans to finish and record at least two songs on an album of Gershwin music that could be released next year.

In a surprise union of two quintessentially American composers from different eras, one the 1960s mastermind of “Good Vibrations," the other the Jazz Age creator of “Rhapsody in Blue," former Beach Boy Brian Wilson has been authorized by the estate of George Gershwin to complete unfinished songs Gershwin left behind when he died in 1937.

He plans to ...

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Award / Grant

Brian Wilson Feted as Trailblazer

Brian Wilson Feted as Trailblazer

Source: All About Jazz

ASYM honors music legend Brian Wilson June 10th

The American Society of Young Musicians is set to fete music legend Brian Wilson with its 2009 Trailblazer award at the 17th annual spring benefit concert on June 10 in Hollywood.

The org, which awards scholarships to students of accredited music schools and programs, will induct Wilson into its hall of fame following the awards presentation.

Past attendees of the benefit have included ASYM committee members Quincy Jones, John Mellencamp and Chaka ...

"Wilson's That Lucky Old Sun, his most ambitious new work since returning from the wilderness, [recalling] "Pet Sounds" and "Smile," not least in its playfully baroque arrangements — a playground riot of glockenspiel, timpani, strings and harmonies all played with a smile — and melodic nods to the Beach Boy canon, complementing the autobiographical bent of the lyric-book."
Reviewing the London performance, England's Mojo magazine.

"Brian Wilson is an iconic talent with enormous musical influence all over the world and we are very proud to be representing him."
Guy Hands, executive chairman of Capitol's parent company, EMI Music.

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Orange Crate Art 25th...

Omnivore Recordings
2020

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That Lucky Old Sun

Capitol Records
2008

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Gettin' In Over My...

Zebra Records
2004

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Brian Wilson

Zebra Records
1988

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Words And Music

Zebra Records
1988

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Videos

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