Brian Wilson
Biography
Brian Douglas Wilson (June 20, 1942 — June 11, 2025) was an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. After signing with Capitol Records in 1962, Wilson wrote or co-wrote more than two dozen Top 40 hits for the group. He originally functioned as the band's songwriter, producer, co-lead vocalist, bassist, keyboardist, and de facto leader. Wilson was considered a major innovator in the field of music production, the principal originator of the California Sound, one of the first music producer auteurs, and the first rock producer to use the studio as its own instrument. The unusual creative control Capitol gave him over his own records effectively set a precedent that allowed other bands and artists to act as their own producers or co-producers. He was a major influence on the retrospectively-termed "sunshine pop" and Flower Power music that proceeded.
Also Known As
Movie Appearances
An All-Star Tribute To Brian Wilson
as Self
2001
The Beach Boys - California Surfin
as Self (archive footage)
2004
Musicares Presents a Tribute to Brian Wilson
as Self
2007
Brian Wilson: A Beach Boy's Tale
as Self
1999
Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution
as Self
1967
Live 8
as Self
2005
Good Timin': Live at Knebworth England 1980
as Self
2003
Paul McCartney: Back in the U.S.
as Self
2002
Party at the Palace: The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace
as Self - Performer
2002
A Grammy Salute to The Beach Boys
as Self
2023
Brian Wilson: Songwriter 1969-1982
as Self (archive footage)
2014
Brian Wilson: Songwriter 1962-1969
as Self (archive footage)
2010
The Beach Boys: Endless Harmony
as Self
2000
Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile
as Self
2004
The Beach Boys: An American Band
as Self
1985
Reinventing Elvis: The 68' Comeback
as Self (archive footage)
2023
Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey
as Self – Founder of The Beach Boys
1995
Jan & Dean: The Other Beach Boys
as Self
2002
Cease to Exist
as Self (archive footage)
2007
Echoes of the Sixties: A Musical Trip
as Self
1979
TV Appearances
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
as Self
2003
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
as Self
1992
Hack
as Raymond Henley
2002
The Kennedy Center Honors
as Self
1978
Full House
as Brian Wilson
1987
Behind the Music
as Self
1997
Duck Dodgers
as Brian Wilson (voice)
2003
The Ed Sullivan Show
as Self
1948
Goldene Kamera
as Self
1984
Classic Albums
as Self - The Beach Boys
1997
Legends
as Self (archive footage)
2006
The Dick Cavett Show
as Self - Guest
1968