At his peak, Brian Wilson - who died this week at age 82 - went through periods the way a painter does. First, he made his family-and-friends act The Beach Boys a band for all seasons (but one in ...

The Beach Boys leader, whose death was announced on Wednesday, was a brilliant writer, arranger and producer whose ambitions propelled his band — and contemporaries like the Beatles — into the future.

The Beach Boys were one of the earliest rock bands and pioneers of surf rock, dominating the 1960s with their upbeat summer hits and melodic vocal harmonies. The band's lyrics and melodies have graced ...