The Beach Boys were led by Brian Wilson. Indeed, Brian Wilson was the Beach Boys. He largely wrote, performed, and produced the recordings they made in the 1960s, from “ Surfin’ ” in 1961 to “ Do It Again ” in 1968—the latter filled with nostalgia for a time in their lives that was then no more than five years in the past (a foretaste of their later career as purveyors of harmless memories)—and his voice,

Wilson's family announced his death on Wednesday, June 11 Nancy Sinatra has paid tribute to Brian Wilson following his death In an Instagram post on Wednesday, June 11, she said "one of the biggest thrills" of her life was singing "California Girls" with him Wilson's family announced he died at the age of 82 on Wednesday,