LOS ANGELES â Brian Wilson, the legendary musician, songwriter and co-founder of The Beach Boys, has died at the age of 82, his family announced. “We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away,” the family said in a statement.
“We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving.
We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world.” Born in 1942 in Hawthorne, California, Wilson formed The Beach Boys in 1961 with his younger brothers Carl and Dennis, cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. The band became one of the most influential and commercially successful acts in music history, selling over 100 million records worldwide.
Wilson was the creative force behind the groupâs distinctive harmonies and groundbreaking studio sound. His 1966 album Pet Sounds is regarded as a masterpiece that reshaped the boundaries of pop music production.
Among The Beach Boys’ many hits, Wilson co-wrote and produced I Get Around, Help Me, Rhonda, and Good Vibrations. Rolling Stone ranked The Beach Boys 12th on its list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time.” Tributes poured in following news of his death.