Died On This Date (June 4, 1973) Murry Wilson / Beach Boys Manager
themusicsover Murry Wilson
July 2, 1917 – June 4, 1973
Murry Wilson was a songwriter, musician, record producer, and most importantly, the father of Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson and Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. Wilson began as a songwriter during the ’50s, having a couple of his songs covered but never gaining much success. All the while, he was teaching his own sons how to write, sing and play music. The brothers eventually added cousin Mike Love and schoolmate, Al Jardine to become the Beach Boys. The Beach Boys would soon become one of the most popular bands in rock history by almost single-handedly defining a musical genre. While managing the boys’ career, Murry was known to be a fierce negotiator, and was reportedly just as ruthless at home. He and his sons had a tough relationship that may have actually fueled their creativity and drive. Murry Wilson died following a heart attack at the age of 55.
Carl Wilson was the youngest of three brothers who formed the Beach Boys. With 
Dennis Wilson was the founding drummer of the Beach Boys. It was Dennis who originally approached brother, Brian Wilson to form a band to write and perform songs about the beach life. And if any member of the group best exemplified that lifestyle, it was carefree Dennis, who in fact, was the only one who actually surfed. Although he primarily played the drums and sang back-up for the group, Dennis occasionally sang lead and would play the guitar and piano on his later solo albums. For the Beach Boys, Dennis sang “Do You Wanna Dance?” and “This Car of Mine.” In 1971, Dennis flirted with movie stardom by co-starring with Warren Oates and James Taylor in the now cult-classic film, Two-Lane Blacktop. During the late ’70s, Dennis released Pacific Ocean Blue, which although it didn’t sell terribly well, was a critical success and built itself a cult following in later years. Until it’s reissue in 2008, copies of it could fetch over $100 on eBay. Dennis suffered from personal demons most of his adult life, and with that came struggles with alcohol. On December 28, 1983, an apparently drunk Dennis drowned while diving to recover lost personal items at the marina where his old boat had once been docked. He was 39. Dennis’ father, 
