Frontman of The Beach Boys and legendary pop composer Brian Wilson has died at age 82.
Brian Wilson of the rock and roll band “The Beach Boys” poses for a portrait with his dog in circa 1965 in Los Angeles.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Frontman of The Beach Boys and legendary pop composer Brian Wilson has died at age 82
In a statement posted to the singer’s social media accounts on Wednesday (June 11), Wilson’s family confirmed the news alongside a photo of the performer. “We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away. We are at a loss for words right now,” the statement read. “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.”
As the founding member of The Beach Boys, Wilson led the iconic pop-rock group to glory throughout their storied career, earning the band four No. 1 hits and 15 top 10 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as two No. 1 LPs and 13 top 10 albums on the Billboard 200. One of those top 10 projects was 1966’s Pet Sounds, an album that saw Wilson embracing experimental production techniques and sophisticated orchestrations to create a coming-of-age LP. Today, Pet Sounds is widely regarded as one of the most influential pop albums ever made. While Wilson ultimately left the group following the death of drummer and Wilson’s younger brother Dennis in 1983, the remaining members briefly reunited in 2012 for 50th anniversary world tour.
Wilson is survived by his seven children, including his two daughters Carnie and Wendy from his marriage to Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford, as well as his five adopted children with his late wife Melinda Ledbetter.
To honor Wilson’s iconic life and music career, Billboard compiled a gallery of photos documenting the late legend’s life.
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1966
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Brian Wilson of the rock and roll band “The Beach Boys” directs the ‘Good Vibrations’ promo film as a he wears a fireman’s hat and a cameraman films with a fire truck in the background in October 1966.
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1964
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Brian Wilson of the rock and roll band “The Beach Boys” works on a composition on an upright piano while reading music in 1964 in Los Angeles.
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1962
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images The Beach Boys pose for a portrait with a vintage station wagon in August 1962 in Los Angeles.
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1967
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images The rock and roll band “The Beach Boys” are reflected in a mirror held by their producer and founder Brian Wilson in circa 1967.
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2007
Image Credit: Harry Langdon/Getty Images Brian Wilson poses for a Portrait session on August 6, 2007 in Los Angeles.
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1972
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images The Beach Boys pose for a portrait in circa 1972.
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1998
Image Credit: Harry Langdon/Getty Images Brian Wilson poses for a portrait in 1998 in Los Angeles.
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1964
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images The Beach Boys jump off a ledge in front of the Eiffel Tower in November 1964 in Paris.
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1965
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images The Beach Boys pose for a portrait in a house in circa 1965 in Los Angeles.
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1964
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images The Beach Boys rehearse at home in 1964 in Los Angeles.
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1986
Image Credit: Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty Images Brian Wilson and Lindsay Buckingham pose for a portrait in 1986 in Hollywood, Calif.
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1999
Image Credit: John Atashian/Getty Images Brian Wilson, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the Beach Boys, is shown performing on stage during a “live” concert appearance on June 20, 1999.
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1963
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images The Beach Boys pose with Corvette in their first photo session since Al Jardine returned to the band in Novermber 1963.
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1966
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Brian Wilson of the rock and roll band “The Beach Boys” directs from the control room while recording the album “Pet Sounds” in 1966 in Los Angeles.
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1968
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Brian Wilson of the rock and roll band “The Beach Boys” poses for a portrait in 1968 in Los Angeles.
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1962
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images The Beach Boys pose for a portrait with a surfboard in August 1962 in Los Angeles.
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1965
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Brian Wilson of the rock and roll group “The Beach Boys” poses for a portrait in early 1965 in Los Angeles.
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1999
Image Credit: Paul Natkin/Getty Images Brian Wilson poses with a keyboard, on the grass outside his home in Los Angeles on September 12, 1999.
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1966
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Brian Wilson of the rock and roll band “The Beach Boys” directs from the control room while recording the album “Pet Sounds” in 1966 in Los Angeles.
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1965
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Brian Wilson of the rock and roll band “The Beach Boys” poses for a portrait with his dog in circa 1965 in Los Angeles.
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1964
Image Credit: Gems/Redferns/Getty Images The Beach Boys photographed in 1964.
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1966
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Al Jardine and Brian Wilson of the rock and roll band The Beach Boys recording ‘Pet Sounds’ at Western Recorders studios in the Spring of 1966 in Los Angeles.
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1998
Image Credit: Harry Langdon/Getty Images Brian Wilson poses for a portrait in 1998 in Los Angeles.
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1964
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images The Beach Boys perform at the TAMI Show on October 28, 1964 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, Calif.
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1962
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images The Beach Boys walk along a beach holding a surfboard during a photoshoot for their debut album, ‘Surfin’ Safari’, Los Angeles, California, August 1962.
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2017
Image Credit: Robin Little/Redferns Brian Wilson performs at the Eventim Apollo on August 1, 2017 in London.
