Died On This Date (June 4, 1973) Murry Wilson / Beach Boys Manager

Murry Wilson
July 2, 1917 – June 4, 1973

murryMurry 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.

Died On This Date (February 6, 1998) Carl Wilson / The Beach Boys

Carl Wilson
December 21, 1946 – February 6, 1998

carl-wilsonCarl Wilson was the youngest of three  brothers who formed the Beach Boys.  With Dennis Wilson, Brian Wilson, cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine, Wilson helped create one of the best-selling and most influential bands in pop music history back in 1961.   Some have called them the “American Beatles,” a band with which they had a friendly rivalry during their early years while actually strongly influencing each other.  Carl was the lead guitarist for the band while handling an occasional lead vocal.  It was he who sang lead on “God Only Knows,” “Good Vibrations,” and “Darlin’.”  Carl released a handful solo albums during the ’70s and became the first Beach Boy to mount a solo tour.  The turbulent goings-on within the band as well as at the Wilson home have been well documented.  What many don’t know is that Carl was seen as the peacekeeper within the group.  It was he who generally tried to keep the peace within the family and band.  In 1997, Carl was diagnosed with brain cancer.  He died less than a year later at the age of 51.

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Pet Sounds (Mono / Stereo) - The Beach Boys

Died On This Date (December 28, 1983) Dennis Wilson / The Beach Boys

Dennis Wilson
December 4, 1944 – December 28, 1983

dennis-wilsonDennis 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, Murry Wilson had died ten years earlier, while brother, Carl Wilson died in February of 1998.

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Pacific Ocean Blue & Bambu (Deluxe Legacy Edition) - Dennis Wilson