The Beach Boys are a Rock and Roll band from California who were known for their intricate vocal harmonies and Surf-inspired songwriting. Led by primary songwriter and visionary Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys started out in 1961 and became one of the first bands to help popularize the California lifestyle of sun, sand, girls and surfing. While their early career saw them rise to fame as teen idols and Pop singers, they eventually began to incorporate more sophisticated songwriting techniques and mature lyrics into their music - a progression which culminated in the 1966 album Pet Sounds. Although Wilson's battles with mental illness and drugs caused him to exit the band, Mike Love has continued to record and perform up to this day.
Band Members
- Brian Wilson - Songwriter/Vocals
- Carl Wilson - Guitar/Vocals
- Dennis Wilson - Guitar/Vocals
- Al Jardine - Guitar/Vocals
- Mike Love - Vocals
Studio Albums
- 1962: Surfin' Safari
- 1963: Surfin' USA
- 1963: Surfer Girl
- 1963: Little Deuce Coupe
- 1964: All Summer Long
- 1964: The Beach Boys' Christmas Album
- 1965: Today!
- 1965: Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!)
- 1965: Beach Boys' Party!
- 1966: Pet Sounds
- 1967: Smiley Smile
- 1967: Wild Honey
- 1968: Friends
- 1969: 20/20
- 1970: Sunflower
- 1971: Surf's Up
- 1973: Holland
- 1977: Love You
- 1980: Keepin' the Summer Alive
- 1985: The Beach Boys
- 1989: Still Cruisin']]
- 1992: Summer in Paradise
- 1996: Stars and Stripes Vol. 1
Similar Artists
Yahoo! Music: Similar to The Beach Boys
Last.fm: Similar to The Beach Boys
References
Fast Facts
-
Genre
Pop, Rock
-
Formed
-
Origin
Hawthorne, California
-
Fact:
Originally known as The Pendletones
-
Fact:
Inspired by the vocal group The Four Freshmen and Phil Spector
-
Fact:
Murry Wilson was the band's first manager
-
Label
Capital / Brother Records
-
Studio albums
28
-
Fact:
Brian Wilson used a group of session musicians known as the The Wrecking Crew on albums in the mid-60s
-
Fact:
Brian Wilson is deaf in one ear
-
Fact:
Dennis Wilson drowned on December 28, 1983
-
Fact:
Carl Wilson died from cancer on February 6, 1998
-
Fact:
Today, Mike Love holds the rights to the Beach Boys name
-
Fact:
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988
-
Fact:
According to Billboard The Beach Boys are the #1 selling American band of all time
