Marilyn Rovell
Encyclopedia
Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford, née Rovell, (born 1947) is an American singer. She was a member of groups The Honeys
and Spring (aka American Spring
) with her sister Diane Rovell. She was also the first wife of Beach Boy Brian Wilson
, and is the mother of singers Carnie Wilson
and Wendy Wilson
of Wilson Phillips
.
Marilyn and Brian met when she, sister Diane and cousin Ginger Blake (who was dating Brian's then collaborator Gary Usher
at the time) went to see the Beach Boys perform at Pandora's Box, a Hollywood nightclub, in October 1962. Talking during an interval between sets, Brian asked for a sip of Marilyn's hot chocolate. He nervously spilled the drink on her blouse a moment later, but the incident broke the ice between the two, and they began dating, despite their relative age difference (he was 20 and a professional musician; she was 14 and still in high school).
Brian became the producer of the Honeys, a girl group
consisting of Marilyn, Diane and Ginger; Marilyn was Brian Wilson's muse during the Beach Boys' peak days in the mid-1960s. They married on December 7, 1964, as the Honeys' career came and went with the surf/car craze. Marilyn stood by Brian during his descent into schizoaffective disorder
, after she gave birth to daughters Carnie and Wendy, and chased off the hangers-on, dopers and freeloaders that had become Brian's social centre, even padlocking the refrigerator to stop Brian from bingeing on desserts.
In the mid-1970s, Marilyn re-teamed with sister Diane to form Spring, and persuaded Brian to begin psychotherapy
by pretending to go herself (and always coming back delightedly happy, in contrast to Brian's dark moods). He recovered to a point, but after members of his family (including members of the Beach Boys) insisted he cease therapy and return to making music full-time, Wilson's mental health worsened.
Marilyn and Brian divorced in 1979, amicably; Marilyn remembered to Rolling Stone magazine in the early 1990s that Brian's increasingly erratic behavior was affecting their two daughters, telling him "I love you, but the girls have got to have a normal home life," and telling them in turn how their father was "a genius", but also mentally ill. Brian was likewise supportive of Marilyn, and though estranged from the girls during his recovery, was finally able to connect with them as adults.
The Honeys reformed in the 1990s and performed at occasional venues in southern California. Marilyn has appeared in numerous documentaries and other programs about the Beach Boys, Wilson Phillips, and the music of the 1960s and 1970s. She was portrayed in The Beach Boys: An American Family
by Amy Van Horne, and in the earlier Summer Dreams: The Story of the Beach Boys by Wendy Kaplan
.
She has since remarried and is now known as Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford. She now works as a real estate agent in Los Angeles, California.
The Honeys
The Honeys were a 1960s girl group, who recorded for Capitol Records, and were a kind of female counterpart to the Beach Boys; Beach Boy Brian Wilson served as their record producer and chief songwriter....
and Spring (aka American Spring
American Spring
Spring were a 1970s pop music duo , made up of sisters Diane Rovell and Marilyn Wilson, who had earlier been members of girl group The Honeys....
) with her sister Diane Rovell. She was also the first wife of Beach Boy Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
, and is the mother of singers Carnie Wilson
Carnie Wilson
Carnie Wilson is an American singer and television hostess, perhaps best known as a member of the pop music group Wilson Phillips.-Early life and musical career:...
and Wendy Wilson
Wendy Wilson
Wendy Wilson is an American singer and member of the pop singing trio Wilson Phillips. She is the daughter of Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson and his first wife Marilyn, who was a member of girl group The Honeys; and she is the younger sister of Carnie Wilson.Wilson was born in Los Angeles,...
of Wilson Phillips
Wilson Phillips
-Studio albums:-Compilation albums:-Singles:-Other charted songs:-Awards and nominations:...
.
Marilyn and Brian met when she, sister Diane and cousin Ginger Blake (who was dating Brian's then collaborator Gary Usher
Gary Usher
Gary Usher was an American surf rock musician, songwriter, and record producer.-Biography:Usher's early life was spent in Grafton, Massachusetts. He attended Norcross Grammar School with his sister, Sandra, who was in the same class and was likely his twin. Gary was kiddingly called "Chicken Feed"...
at the time) went to see the Beach Boys perform at Pandora's Box, a Hollywood nightclub, in October 1962. Talking during an interval between sets, Brian asked for a sip of Marilyn's hot chocolate. He nervously spilled the drink on her blouse a moment later, but the incident broke the ice between the two, and they began dating, despite their relative age difference (he was 20 and a professional musician; she was 14 and still in high school).
Brian became the producer of the Honeys, a girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
consisting of Marilyn, Diane and Ginger; Marilyn was Brian Wilson's muse during the Beach Boys' peak days in the mid-1960s. They married on December 7, 1964, as the Honeys' career came and went with the surf/car craze. Marilyn stood by Brian during his descent into schizoaffective disorder
Schizoaffective disorder
Schizoaffective disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a mental disorder characterized by recurring episodes of elevated or depressed mood, or of simultaneously elevated and depressed mood, that alternate with, or occur together with, distortions in perception.Schizoaffective disorder...
, after she gave birth to daughters Carnie and Wendy, and chased off the hangers-on, dopers and freeloaders that had become Brian's social centre, even padlocking the refrigerator to stop Brian from bingeing on desserts.
In the mid-1970s, Marilyn re-teamed with sister Diane to form Spring, and persuaded Brian to begin psychotherapy
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a general term referring to any form of therapeutic interaction or treatment contracted between a trained professional and a client or patient; family, couple or group...
by pretending to go herself (and always coming back delightedly happy, in contrast to Brian's dark moods). He recovered to a point, but after members of his family (including members of the Beach Boys) insisted he cease therapy and return to making music full-time, Wilson's mental health worsened.
Marilyn and Brian divorced in 1979, amicably; Marilyn remembered to Rolling Stone magazine in the early 1990s that Brian's increasingly erratic behavior was affecting their two daughters, telling him "I love you, but the girls have got to have a normal home life," and telling them in turn how their father was "a genius", but also mentally ill. Brian was likewise supportive of Marilyn, and though estranged from the girls during his recovery, was finally able to connect with them as adults.
The Honeys reformed in the 1990s and performed at occasional venues in southern California. Marilyn has appeared in numerous documentaries and other programs about the Beach Boys, Wilson Phillips, and the music of the 1960s and 1970s. She was portrayed in The Beach Boys: An American Family
The Beach Boys: An American Family
The Beach Boys: An American Family is a 2000 television film written by Kirk Ellis and directed by Jeff Bleckner. It is a dramatization of the early years of The Beach Boys, from their formation in the early 1960s to their peak of popularity as musical innovators, through their late-60s decline ,...
by Amy Van Horne, and in the earlier Summer Dreams: The Story of the Beach Boys by Wendy Kaplan
Wendy Kaplan
Wendy Foxworth is an actress who appeared in films, on television, and in theater.-Career:She is best known for her role in the 1989 hit horror movie Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers as Tina Williams. Wendy Kaplan's most recent film role is in the 2005 movie Blood Deep...
.
She has since remarried and is now known as Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford. She now works as a real estate agent in Los Angeles, California.