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Brian Wilson founded the Beach Boys in 1961 and was the bands leader, main composer and producer. The other founding members were: Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Mike Love and Al Jardine. In early 1962, Al Jardine left the Beach Boys and was replaced by David Marks. Al Jardine returned to the band in August 1963 and David Marks left around the same time. In late 1964, Brian Wilson quit touring and after a short touring stint by Glen Campbell, Bruce Johnston joined the band and would stay until 1972 when he quit. In 1971 The Beach Boys was augmented with the addition of Blondie Chaplin and Rick Fataar. Chaplin left The Beach Boys in 1973 and this was soon followed by the departure of Ricky Fataar in the spring of 1975. 1978 saw the return of Bruce Johnston for the completion of the L.A.(Light album) and in 1983, Dennis Wilson tragically drowned.
In 1988 Brian Wilson released his first solo album, and was effectively no longer a member of the band. In 1998 Carl Wilson died of cancer. In 1997, David Marks made a brief return as a member of The Beach Boys touring band, but left again in 1999. Today, the surviving members of the founding Beach Boys are doing there own thing: Brian Wilson (with his band) has pursued a successful solo career since 1998. Al Jardine tours and performs with his son and Brian Wilson’s daughters and has recently toured with Brian Wilson, while Mike Love still tours extensively with The Beach Boys touring band (along with Bruce Johnston)

Profile:

When his family moved from Ohio to California, Al Jardine found himself a co-student at El Camino High school with one Brian Wilson. From impromptu ‘a cappella’ sessions in the echoing school showers, Al went on to assume the roles of Rhythm Guitar and backing vocalist in the fledgling group that would become one of the most important bands in the music industry.
It was Al’s mother Virginia who paid for the rent of a stand-up bass, which he played at the first recording session. Only later did Brian take over the bass guitar duties and suggest Al handle the rhythm guitar parts. The earliest recorded lead vocal by Al Jardine was not Help Me Rhonda as is often said, but was in fact Christmas Day in 1964. The Help Me Rhonda sessions were notable not only for the fine performance on record but also for the barracking Al endured from the overpowering Murry Wilson as revealed by the surviving studio outtakes.
Possessing an exceptional vocal range (second only to Brian), Al’s vocals became an integral part of the unique Beach Boys blend. Al held folk music close to his heart and suggested to Brian that the group record a version of the Kingston Trio’s Wreck of the John B. He thought that by altering some of the chords from major to minor, it would fit The Beach Boys style. His argument was obviously persuasive because within 24 hours Brian had created the powerful track we know today. His next major contribution was to take the Cottonfields song debuting on the 20/20 album, and rework it extensively for a single release.
The early 1970s were rich years of creativity for Al Jardine. He both wrote and co-wrote several songs for albums of the period, most notably his contributions to the California Saga suite on Holland. These years were also to be remembered for some of the best live performances of the touring band and Al’s reliable soaring voice was a key part. He also produced two of the minor hits at the turn of the decade Lady Lynda and Come Go With Me.
Following the untimely death of Carl Wilson in 1998, the format of the touring Beach Boys changed and although Al left the group he remained part of the Beach Boys Corporation. He found time to write a successful children’s book called Sloop John B: A Pirate’s Tale. In 2006 he joined Brian Wilson and his band for a short series of concerts celebrating the 40th anniversary of Pet Sounds. In the midst of continuing litigation with other elements of the corporation, Al Jardine splits his time between his idyllic Big Sur estate and occasional performances with his Endless Summer Band.

Al Jardine highlights:

Help Me, Rhonda, Heroes & Villains (live), and California Saga.

© The GV Team 2006