THE BEACH BOYS FACTS:
Members: Mike Love, Bruce Johnston
Genre: Rock, Pop
Hometown: Hawthorne, California
Albums: Surfin' Safari (1962); Surfin' USA (1963); Surfer Girl (1963); Little Deuce Coupe (1963); Shut Down Volume 2 (1964); All Summer Long (1964); Today! (1965); Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!) (1965); Beach Boys' Party! (1965); Pet Sounds (1966); Smiley Smile (1967); Wild Honey (1967); Friends (1968); 20/20 (1969); Sunflower (1970); Surf's Up (1971); Carl and the Passions – "So Tough" (1972); Holland (1973); 15 Big Ones (1976); Love You (1977); M.I.U. Album (1978); L.A. (Light Album) (1979); Keepin' the Summer Alive (1980); The Beach Boys (1985); Still Cruisin' (1989); Summer in Paradise (1992); Stars and Stripes Vol. 1 (1996)
Awards: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award,
Hits: "Surfin' USA," "I Get Around," "Help Me, Rhonda," "California Girls," "Barbara Ann," "Good Vibrations," "Kokomo"
Other: Ranked #12 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time
As emblems of American rock and roll throughout the 1960s and '70s, The Beach Boys remain one of the most iconic bands of the last half century. Thanks to a unique sound and some of the most complex arrangements of the era, the band transcended their California-tinged beginnings to become musical legends.
The Beach Boys began in the early '60s, founded by Brian Wilson, his three brothers, a cousin and one of their mutual friends. It did not take long for the group to find success, as their first single, "Surfin'," was somewhat popular. Thanks to the reception of their first foray into the industry, the band began to perform more regularly and by 1962, they released their debut album, Surfin' Safari. Though the album received mixed reviews and had just a lukewarm performance on the charts, it laid the groundwork for a breakout decade for Wilson and the gang.
Throughout much of the '60s, The Beach Boys' music focused solely on the carefree lifestyle of growing up in California. Famous tracks such as "Surfin' USA," "Little Deuce Coupe" and "I Get Around" earned them considerable popularity throughout much of the United States and Canada. However, with the growing success of British bands such as The Beatles and The Who, the band decided to go for a more complex sound, and with 1966's Pet Sounds, they found it.
The album is widely thought to be one of the best of all time, and features some of their most famous songs including "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and "God Only Knows." The record marked a significant turning point in The Beach Boys approach as they put the more sophomoric sounds of their early days behind them.
Throughout much of the next 10 years, the band experienced some turmoil due to the personal struggles of Brian Wilson. However, they re-emerged in 1976 with 15 Big Ones, which was one of their biggest hits in years.
Though they had dropped off since their mid-60s peak, in 1984, The Beach Boys headlined one of the biggest concerts in history, when they performed in front of an estimated crowd of 750,000 people on the National Mall. Their resurgence continued when, in 1988, the had their first number one hit in 22 years with "Kokomo"
As the 50th anniversary of the band inches closer, there have been rumors of a reunion, much to delight of devoted fans.