Carl Dean Wilson (December 21, 1946 â€" February 6, 1998) was an
American musician, singer, and songwriter who co-founded the Beach
Boys. He is best remembered as their lead guitarist, as the younger
brother of bandmates Brian and Dennis Wilson, and as the group's de
facto leader in the early 1970s. He was also the band's musical
director on stage from 1965 until his death.Influenced by the guitar
playing of Chuck Berry and the Ventures, Wilson's initial role in the
group was that of lead guitarist and backing vocals, but he performed
lead vocals on several of their later hits, including "God Only Knows"
(1966), "Good Vibrations" (1966), and "Kokomo" (1988). Unlike other
members of the band, he often played alongside the studio musicians
employed during the group's critical and commercial peak in the mid
1960s. After Brian's reduced involvement with the group, Carl produced
the bulk of their albums between 20/20 (1969) and Holland (1973),
where the production was nominally credited to "the Beach Boys".
Concurrently, he spent several years challenging his draft status as a
conscientious objector.During the 1980s, Wilson attempted to launch a
solo career, releasing the albums Carl Wilson (1981) and Young Blood
(1983). In the 1990s, he recorded material with Gerry Beckley and
Robert Lamm, later released for the posthumous album Like a Brother
(2000). He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a
member of the Beach Boys in 1988. Wilson was also a member of the
Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness, a religious corporation. He
died, aged 51, of lung cancer in 1998.Carl Dean Wilson was born the
youngest of the three Wilson boys in Hawthorne, California, the
youngest son of Audree Neva (née Korthof) and Murry Gage Wilson. From
his pre-teens he practiced harmony vocals under the guidance of his
brother Brian, who often sang in the family music room with his mother
and brothers. Inspired by country star Spade Cooley, at the age of 12,
Carl asked his parents to buy him a guitar, for which he took some
lessons. In 1982, Carl remembered from this time: "The kid across the
street, David Marks, was taking guitar lessons from John Maus, so I
started, too. David and I were about 12 and John was only three years
older, but we thought he was a shit-hot guitarist. John and his sister
Judy did fraternity gigs together as a duo. Later John moved to
England and became one of the Walker Brothers. ... He showed me some
fingerpicking techniques and strumming stuff that I still use. When I
play a solo, he's still there." While Brian perfected the band's vocal
style and keyboard base, Carl's Chuck Berry-esque guitar became an
early Beach Boys trademark. While in high school, Carl also studied
saxophone.
American musician, singer, and songwriter who co-founded the Beach
Boys. He is best remembered as their lead guitarist, as the younger
brother of bandmates Brian and Dennis Wilson, and as the group's de
facto leader in the early 1970s. He was also the band's musical
director on stage from 1965 until his death.Influenced by the guitar
playing of Chuck Berry and the Ventures, Wilson's initial role in the
group was that of lead guitarist and backing vocals, but he performed
lead vocals on several of their later hits, including "God Only Knows"
(1966), "Good Vibrations" (1966), and "Kokomo" (1988). Unlike other
members of the band, he often played alongside the studio musicians
employed during the group's critical and commercial peak in the mid
1960s. After Brian's reduced involvement with the group, Carl produced
the bulk of their albums between 20/20 (1969) and Holland (1973),
where the production was nominally credited to "the Beach Boys".
Concurrently, he spent several years challenging his draft status as a
conscientious objector.During the 1980s, Wilson attempted to launch a
solo career, releasing the albums Carl Wilson (1981) and Young Blood
(1983). In the 1990s, he recorded material with Gerry Beckley and
Robert Lamm, later released for the posthumous album Like a Brother
(2000). He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a
member of the Beach Boys in 1988. Wilson was also a member of the
Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness, a religious corporation. He
died, aged 51, of lung cancer in 1998.Carl Dean Wilson was born the
youngest of the three Wilson boys in Hawthorne, California, the
youngest son of Audree Neva (née Korthof) and Murry Gage Wilson. From
his pre-teens he practiced harmony vocals under the guidance of his
brother Brian, who often sang in the family music room with his mother
and brothers. Inspired by country star Spade Cooley, at the age of 12,
Carl asked his parents to buy him a guitar, for which he took some
lessons. In 1982, Carl remembered from this time: "The kid across the
street, David Marks, was taking guitar lessons from John Maus, so I
started, too. David and I were about 12 and John was only three years
older, but we thought he was a shit-hot guitarist. John and his sister
Judy did fraternity gigs together as a duo. Later John moved to
England and became one of the Walker Brothers. ... He showed me some
fingerpicking techniques and strumming stuff that I still use. When I
play a solo, he's still there." While Brian perfected the band's vocal
style and keyboard base, Carl's Chuck Berry-esque guitar became an
early Beach Boys trademark. While in high school, Carl also studied
saxophone.
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