Death of Brian Wilson, founder of "The Beach Boys," at the age of 82.
The family of the famous American singer and songwriter Brian Wilson, one of the founders of The Beach Boys, announced his passing at the age of 82 through a statement posted on his official social media accounts on Wednesday.
The statement read: "We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved father Brian Wilson. We have no words to express our grief and ask for privacy during this difficult time." The family added: "We realize that we share our grief with the world. With sincere love and mercy."
The cause of death was not disclosed, but previous media reports mentioned that Wilson was suffering from a cognitive disorder similar to dementia. He was under legal guardianship after the death of his wife Melinda Ledbetter in 2024, who was taking care of him.
Wilson is considered one of the most prominent musicians in rock history, having founded The Beach Boys in 1961 with his brothers Dennis and Carl, his cousin Mike Love, and their friend Al Jardine. The band quickly gained fame with songs like "Surfin’ Safari" and "Surfin’ USA", contributing to their global rise.
Despite retiring from touring in 1964 due to health reasons, Wilson continued his creativity as a composer and music producer, contributing to the release of the album "Pet Sounds", considered one of the most important works in music history.
Wilson struggled with mental health crises and periods of isolation throughout his life, but returned to the music scene between 1999 and 2022, performing a series of solo concerts. He received nine Grammy nominations and won two of them.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, with his last stage appearance in Michigan in 2022, where he performed some of his famous songs like "California Girls" and "Help Me, Rhonda".
Wilson leaves behind a lasting musical legacy and seven children, including five adopted children from his marriage to Melinda, and two daughters from his previous marriage to singer Marilyn Rovell.
