Remembering Brian Wilson: A Tribute to the Beach Boys’ Genius

Well, I gotta tell you, it was a sad day when I heard that Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys had passed away—obviously a sentiment shared by many. It’s hard to put into words what Brian brought to the music industry, to the fans, and to those who believe in the transformative power of music.

Brian was born in 1942, and by the time he was 19, he formed the Beach Boys with his brothers Dennis and Carl, along with cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine, in Hawthorne, California, USA.

I became a Beach Boys fan when I first heard the *Pet Sounds* album in 1966, followed by *Smile* in 1967. I was hooked by the brilliance of the arrangements, harmonies, and the overall vibe of the songs and music. I was never a big fan of the surfing songs like “Surfin’ Safari” or “Surfin’ U.S.A.”—they just didn’t appeal to me, though millions of American kids obviously loved that stuff. For me, it was *Pet Sounds* and *Smile* that drew me in, opening doors in so many ways.

Of course, we’ve all heard how *Pet Sounds* influenced the Beatles for their *Sgt. Pepper* album—how could it not? Those two Beach Boys albums truly pushed the norms of popular music. As a kid, you don’t think about those things; you just know you like it and want more. Whether it was the Beatles, Hendrix, the Stones, Buffalo Springfield, or others, you just craved more—and there was so much more in those years. There’s not enough time to name all the incredible bands and musicians from that era who shaped what we’ve become today.

The word “genius” is one of those terms that’s overused and thrown around like loose change. That said, to me and many others, Brian may definitely fit the bill. Songs like “God Only Knows,” with its beautifully arranged and layered harmonies accompanied by lush orchestration, are the work of a mastermind. What about “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” in the key of F major? The use of some 7th chords in the verse adds a touch of mystery and tension, followed by minor 7th chords in section two, then opening up in the middle section with its Dmaj7th and Gmaj7th chords—like a box of tasty chocolates. Yum!

Brian drew inspiration from Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound” vibe, layering multiple instruments and vocal tracks into a bigger-than-life, lush sound of endless possibilities. He truly used the recording studio as an instrument. To a different degree and vibe, Jimi Hendrix did the same at his Electric Ladyland Studios with superb engineer Eddie Kramer. Both Brian and Jimi changed music forever, but let’s not forget the Beatles with producer George Martin and excellent, inventive engineer Geoff Emerick—without whom those Beatles records would have been very different. Perhaps they are all geniuses, extremely talented people with a love and drive for music, searching for that perfect song and moment that becomes music history. Goodbye for now, Brian—thanks for sharing your genius.

You will be missed … GB