Carl Wilson
| Carl Wilson | |
|---|---|
Wilson in 1970
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Carl Dean Wilson |
| Born |
December 21, 1946 Hawthorne, California, US |
| Died | February 6, 1998 (aged 51) Los Angeles, California, US |
| Genres | Rock, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer, songwriter, record producer |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass |
| Years active | 1961–1998 |
| Labels | Capitol, Caribou, Transparent Music |
| Associated acts | The Beach Boys, Gerry Beckley, Robert Lamm, Kenny & the Cadets |
| Website | carlwilsonfoundation |
| Notable instruments | |
Carl Dean Wilson (December 21, 1946 – February 6, 1998) was an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. He is best remembered as their lead guitarist and as the youngest brother of bandmates Brian and Dennis Wilson.
Influenced by the guitar playing of Chuck Berry and the Ventures, Carl's initial role in the group was that of lead guitarist and backing vocals, but he performed lead vocals on several of their hits, including "God Only Knows" (1966) and "Good Vibrations" (1966). 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 began withdrawing from the group, Carl was forced to take a more active production role, and he became the band's musical director on stage from 1965 until his death from lung cancer in 1998.
During the 1980s, he attempted to launch a solo career, releasing the albums Carl Wilson (1981) and Young Blood (1983). Shortly before his death, he recorded material with Gerry Beckley and Robert Lamm, later released for the posthumous album Like a Brother (2000).
In 1988, Carl was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Beach Boys.
Carl Dean Wilson was born 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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