Brian Wilson, the legendary co-founder of The Beach Boys and a pioneering force in American pop music, has died at the age of 82.
His family announced his passing on Wednesday, June 11, via an emotional Instagram post, sharing a photo of the iconic artist and a heartfelt message.
“We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away,” the family wrote.
“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. Love & Mercy.”
Born June 20, 1942, in Inglewood, California, Wilson was the eldest of three brothers, including fellow Beach Boys members Dennis and Carl Wilson.
From an early age, he displayed a remarkable musical talent, particularly for pitch and harmony — a gift that would go on to shape the sound of a generation.
At 19, Wilson co-founded The Beach Boys with his brothers, cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine.
Originally performing under the name the Pendletones, the group scored their first hit with “Surfin'” and released their debut album “Surfin’ Safari” in 1962.
Their follow-up album, “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” helped define the sun-soaked “California sound” of the 1960s.
Wilson’s brilliance as a songwriter, producer, and arranger would soon push the band into more sophisticated territory.
In 1966, “Pet Sounds” redefined what a pop album could be, earning critical acclaim for its emotional depth and sonic experimentation.
That same year, Wilson produced the chart-topping single “Good Vibrations,” a recording so intricate it was pieced together in four different studios.
Despite the band’s ongoing success, Wilson struggled with mental health issues, hearing loss in his right ear, and the pressures of fame.
His intense rivalry with The Beatles and a turbulent personal life, including reported childhood abuse by his father, contributed to a steady decline in his mental well-being.
By the early 1970s, Wilson had retreated from public life, falling into a long period of isolation, depression, and substance abuse.
In interviews, Wilson was candid about his struggles.
“I’ve been through a great deal of mental anguish,” he told PEOPLE in 1991.
“I felt like a fat slob. It was very embarrassing…
“Now I’m getting used to it. I feel a little more confidence in myself.”
Thanks in part to controversial psychologist Eugene Landy, Wilson made several returns to music throughout the 1970s and beyond.
While his health and well-being remained fragile, he released a number of solo albums, including “Brian Wilson Presents Smile” in 2004 — his completed vision of the Beach Boys’ famously abandoned 1967 album.
Wilson’s career enjoyed a resurgence in the 1990s and 2000s.
In 2012, he joined surviving Beach Boys members for a 50th anniversary tour and released “That’s Why God Made the Radio.”
The same year, he released his 11th solo album, “At My Piano.”
Throughout his career, Wilson was the recipient of numerous accolades, including nine Grammy nominations and two wins for his solo work.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, honored by the Kennedy Center in 2007, and earned a Golden Globe nomination in 2016 for his contributions to the biopic “Love & Mercy,” which chronicled his tumultuous life and career.
Wilson was married twice — first to singer Marilyn Rovell, with whom he had daughters Carnie and Wendy (members of the pop trio Wilson Phillips), and later to Melinda Ledbetter, who passed away in early 2024. Together, Wilson and Ledbetter adopted five children: Daria, Delanie, Dylan, Dash, and Dakota Rose.
In February 2024, a conservatorship petition filed by Wilson’s family revealed he had been diagnosed with a major neurocognitive disorder, such as dementia.
Despite his personal battles, Brian Wilson’s legacy endures.
His innovative approach to music and his deeply emotional songwriting helped shape the future of rock and pop.
For generations of fans and musicians alike, his work remains a touchstone of artistic brilliance.
Wilson is survived by his seven children.
His voice — and the vibrations he created — will resonate for decades to come.
