Many books have been written about Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys
over the years, but this is the first time I have seen a biography on
the life of Carl Wilson, Brian’s youngest brother. Carl was the
guitarist and sometimes lead singer who had the reputation of being the
“glue that kept the touring band together” while Brian stayed at home in
southern California. This book looks at the history of the Beach Boys
from its earliest roots to the untimely death of Carl at age 51. What I
found most interesting about the book is that it looks at all of the
contributions that Carl made over the years while overshadowed by the
illnesses and excesses of his older brothers, Brian and Dennis. Without
Carl’s talent and ability to lead in his brother’s absence, there would
not have been a Beach Boys band touring the country every year. Once
Carl was gone, the group fell apart and became two separate touring
entities, both laying claim to the name “Beach Boys – America’s Band.”
This book is a must-read for any hardcore Beach Boys Fan (of which I am
one)!
[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try
Catch a Wave: The Rise, Fall & Redemption of the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, by Peter Carlin,
I am Brian Wilson: A Memoir, by Brian Wilson,
Good Vibrations: My Life as a Beach Boy, by Mike Love, or
The Words and Music of Brian Wilson, by Christian Matijas-Mecca.]
Recommended by
Kim J.
Bennett Martin Public Library
Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?
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