Beach Boys co-founder and primary songwriter Brian Wilson, who is considered one of the most innovative and significant songwriters of the 20th century, has died at the age of 82.
“We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away,” his family said in statement. “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.”
The family did not disclose the reason for the death of Wilson, who had been suffering from a neurocognitive disorder akin to dementia.
The three Wilson brothers – Brian, Dennis and Carl – their cousin Mike Love and classmate Al Jardine founded their first music group together, called The Pendletones in 1961. The group was later renamed The Beach Boys.
Often called a genius for his novel approaches to pop composition and mastery of recording techniques, Wilson was also known for his versatile head voice and falsetto, which degraded after the 1970s.
He received numerous industry awards including two Grammy Awards and Kennedy Center Honors as well as nominations for a Golden Globe Award and Primetime Emmy Award. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000. His life and career were dramatized in the 2014 biopic, Love and Mercy.
Credit: RTTNews
