A musical innovator has left us, Brian Wilson has passed away. The leader of "The Beach Boys" and a recording innovator -- there is no other way to describe him -- he and his brothers delivered a unique spirit and sound. My earliest recollection of the group was around 1964 when my older brother's band was rehearsing in the basement, they were attempting to do Beach Boys tunes and intermittently playing the records for reference.
My father was also became a fan of The Beach Boys, I have many happy memories of going to see The Beach Boys live with him. I think the last time I saw them was a concert at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO, they were the opening act for Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. No auto-tune or harmonizer gadgets at that concert, talk about a lot of vocal harmonies lol.
Personally, I was never a big fan of The Beach Boys, but Brian's passing is a harsh reminder of my own mortality. I came to appreciate The Beach Boys harmony and vocalizations, then later, learned about the various skills, experiments and innovations Brian Wilson brought to the art and science of production and recording. Their sound was no accident. Clever song writing and creative spirit were the most important ingredients, along with their dad taking care of business as the band grew into international superstars.
RIP Brian Wilson, Good Music to You!