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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:

The youngest of three brothers born to Murry and Audrey Wilson, Hawthorne California. Carl Wilson was a founding member of The Beach Boys. A talented guitarist who assumed the roles of Lead Guitar and backing vocalist in the fledgling group that would become one of the most important bands in the music industry.
As a boy he would often be cajoled by his elder brother Brian into taking part in three-part harmony with their mother. This early discipline paid off when along with his brothers Brian and Dennis, cousin Mike Love and neighbours David Marks & Al Jardine the decision was made to try their luck as a band. The unique blend that they achieved allowed elder brother Brian to frame his exquisite melodies with gorgeous dense harmonies no other band could match.
As Brian’s talents and ambition grew, Carl’s guitar remained a valued resource in the recording studio even when Brian had progressed to standards that demanded the skills of crack session musicians. He was also Brian’s trusted ‘ear’ and was played latest ‘works-in-progress’ over the telephone when out on the road with the group which toured extensively without Brian. But it was his voice that was to be his virtuoso instrument and irreplaceable contribution to the unique sound of The Beach Boys. The lead vocal he laid down for ‘God Only Knows’ (a song that Brian could envisage no other singing) was both a perfect match for the sensitivity of the epoch-making song, and the foundation for the rest of his career. Thereafter his voice was widely regarded as the ‘Voice of an Angel’.
When Brian relinquished full control of the group’s direction, it was Carl (the effective touring bandleader since 1965) who stepped up to take over much of the record production duty. He was a long time admirer of R&B music and he enjoyed opportunities to let loose a grittier vocal tone. The critically acclaimed Sunflower and Surf’s Up albums showed just how much production craft Carl had learned from his brother Brian. Continuing his charge of the touring band leader, the following years saw The Beach Boys become one of highest regarded live acts in the world.
In 1982 while unhappy with being marginalised following the various schisms that had occurred within The Beach Boys, Carl pursued a tentative solo career releasing two albums: Carl Wilson (1981) and Youngblood (1983). He returned to the touring band after having received assurances of greater endeavour and a return to the standards of earlier years.
Carl Dean Wilson died on the 6th of February 1998 having lost his dignified battle with Lung Cancer. Greatly respected amongst his pears, it is no surprise that Carl appears on countless other Artist recordings. The world had without doubt lost that Voice of an Angel.

Carl Wilson highlights:

God Only Knows, Surf’s Up, Only With You and Caroline No from ‘In Concert’

© The GV Team 2006