Murry Wilson
Encyclopedia
Murry Gage Wilson was an American musician
and record producer
, best remembered as the father of The Beach Boys
members Brian Wilson
, Dennis Wilson
, and Carl Wilson
, uncle of bandmate Mike Love
, and the husband of Audree Wilson. Wilson was also the original manager of the band and served as their music publisher.
. His family moved west to Los Angeles
when he was five. The family was initially so impoverished that they camped in a tent on the beach when they arrived. He met his future wife Audree while attending Washington High School; they were married March 26, 1938.
Wilson had a blue-collar background; as a young man, he worked at a Goodyear
factory (where he lost an eye in an industrial accident), while unsuccessfully writing song
s. His biggest success was with a dance
song, "Two-Step Side-Step", which was featured by Lawrence Welk
on his radio program in 1952 and covered on record by RCA Victor Western Swing artist Johnnie Lee Wills
, as well as country music
singer Bonnie Lou
. He also wrote songs recorded in the early 1950s by doo-wop group The Hollywood Flames
.
business, but maintained an active interest in music
, which he passed along to his sons, encouraging them to learn to sing and play instruments, and becoming their business manager
, co-producer
, and publisher in the early part of their career as the Beach Boys. On the heels of the band's early success, Wilson devoted himself to music full-time, producing and managing groups, including The Sunrays
in addition to the Beach Boys. Wilson also released one album of his own, The Many Moods of Murry Wilson
, in 1967.
The Wilson brothers had a legendarily complicated relationship with their father. Many stories of abuse
have surfaced, including a supposed incident where the elder Wilson hit Brian Wilson in the head with a 2x4, resulting in the permanent loss of hearing in his right ear.
Known as a domineering and manipulative man, Wilson was a tough negotiator
on behalf of the boys, earning them a contract with Capitol Records
. However, his constant obsession over every detail of the group's appearance and sound, diverging musical opinions, and lingering resentment over his often abusive behavior towards his sons soon led to estrangement. Brian Wilson relieved his father of his management responsibilities in 1964, during a rare stand against him in a recording session.
In 1964, his wife Audree left him and they separated. The marriage ended in divorce in 1966.
, composed of five students who attended Hollywood Professional High School. The Sunrays earned some media attention and a bit of airplay for their initial singles, but they never broke in the Top 40, and the group and Wilson eventually parted company, with The Sunrays complaining that Wilson had been forcing them to become a veritable imitation of the Beach Boys, rather than letting them develop their own sound and style.
Wilson later sold The Beach Boys' publishing company, Sea of Tunes
, in 1969, against the group's wishes, and for a fraction of what it proved to be worth in later years. Brian Wilson has also suggested that his signature
was forged by his father on several related business documents, making the sale illegal . Mike Love also claimed later that Wilson purposely left Love's name off the credits for many songs, including hits such as "California Girls
" and "409" while running Sea of Tunes.
Even after Wilson's formal business relationship with the Beach Boys ended, he continued to take an active interest in the group's career, and continued to give them advice (both solicited and unsolicited) until his death. Wilson co-wrote the single "Break Away", the last Beach Boys single of the 1960s, and was credited as "Reggie Dunbar" in the album's liner notes.
Murry Wilson died on June 4, 1973 after suffering a heart attack
at the age of 55. He is buried in an unmarked grave in Inglewood Park Cemetery
in Inglewood, California
.
newspaper
, The Independent
, Brian Wilson recalled his father:
Murry Wilson was portrayed in two television movies: in 1990's Summer Dreams: The Story of the Beach Boys, by Arlen Dean Snyder, and in 2000's The Beach Boys: An American Family
, by Kevin Dunn
.
Upon his death, Murry Wilson's signature eyeglasses were given by Dennis Wilson
to friend Kathie Nagle, who later sold them to a private collector.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, best remembered as the father of The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
members 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...
, Dennis Wilson
Dennis Wilson
Dennis Carl Wilson was an American rock and roll musician best known as a founding member and the drummer of The Beach Boys. He was a member of the group from its formation until his death in 1983...
, and Carl Wilson
Carl Wilson
Carl Dean Wilson was an American rock and roll singer and guitarist, best known as a founding member, lead guitarist and sometime lead vocalist of The Beach Boys...
, uncle of bandmate Mike Love
Mike Love
Michael Edward "Mike" Love is an American singer/songwriter and musician with The Beach Boys. He was a founding member of the band along with his cousins Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, and their friend Al Jardine, and continues to perform with the band to the present day...
, and the husband of Audree Wilson. Wilson was also the original manager of the band and served as their music publisher.
Early years
Wilson was born in Hutchinson, KansasHutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson is the largest city in and the county seat of Reno County, Kansas, United States, northwest of Wichita, on the Arkansas River. It has been home to salt mines since 1887, thus its nickname of "Salt City", but locals call it "Hutch"...
. His family moved west to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
when he was five. The family was initially so impoverished that they camped in a tent on the beach when they arrived. He met his future wife Audree while attending Washington High School; they were married March 26, 1938.
Wilson had a blue-collar background; as a young man, he worked at a Goodyear
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery....
factory (where he lost an eye in an industrial accident), while unsuccessfully writing song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s. His biggest success was with a dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
song, "Two-Step Side-Step", which was featured by Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982...
on his radio program in 1952 and covered on record by RCA Victor Western Swing artist Johnnie Lee Wills
Johnnie Lee Wills
Johnnie Lee Wills was an American Western swing fiddler popular in the 1930s and 1940s.-Biography:Wills was born in Jewett, Texas, and was the younger brother of Bob Wills. He played banjo with Bob as a member of the Texas Playboys starting in 1934, the year the ensemble began playing on KVOO-AM...
, as well as country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer Bonnie Lou
Bonnie Lou
Bonnie Lou is an American rock and roll and country music singer. During the mid-1950s, Bonnie Lou helped pave the way for future female artists as one of rock and roll's first female singers...
. He also wrote songs recorded in the early 1950s by doo-wop group The Hollywood Flames
The Hollywood Flames
The Hollywood Flames were an American R&B vocal group in the 1950s, best known for their hit, "Buzz Buzz Buzz".They formed as The Flames in 1949, in Watts, Los Angeles, at a talent show where members of various high school groups got together. The original members were Bobby Byrd , David Ford,...
.
As father and manager of The Beach Boys
Wilson later founded his own machiningMachining
Conventional machining is a form of subtractive manufacturing, in which a collection of material-working processes utilizing power-driven machine tools, such as saws, lathes, milling machines, and drill presses, are used with a sharp cutting tool to physical remove material to achieve a desired...
business, but maintained an active interest in music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, which he passed along to his sons, encouraging them to learn to sing and play instruments, and becoming their business manager
Business manager
In a general context, a business manager is a person who manages the work of others in order to run a business efficiently and make a large profit...
, co-producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, and publisher in the early part of their career as the Beach Boys. On the heels of the band's early success, Wilson devoted himself to music full-time, producing and managing groups, including The Sunrays
The Sunrays
The Sunrays were an American band from Pacific Palisades, California.-Career:Their first job as the Renegades was at the Seaside Session at Palisades Park in Pacific Palisade...
in addition to the Beach Boys. Wilson also released one album of his own, The Many Moods of Murry Wilson
The Many Moods of Murry Wilson
The Many Moods of Murry Wilson is the debut album by Murry Wilson, the father of Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson and uncle of Mike Love of The Beach Boys...
, in 1967.
The Wilson brothers had a legendarily complicated relationship with their father. Many stories of abuse
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
have surfaced, including a supposed incident where the elder Wilson hit Brian Wilson in the head with a 2x4, resulting in the permanent loss of hearing in his right ear.
Known as a domineering and manipulative man, Wilson was a tough negotiator
Negotiation
Negotiation is a dialogue between two or more people or parties, intended to reach an understanding, resolve point of difference, or gain advantage in outcome of dialogue, to produce an agreement upon courses of action, to bargain for individual or collective advantage, to craft outcomes to satisfy...
on behalf of the boys, earning them a contract with Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
. However, his constant obsession over every detail of the group's appearance and sound, diverging musical opinions, and lingering resentment over his often abusive behavior towards his sons soon led to estrangement. Brian Wilson relieved his father of his management responsibilities in 1964, during a rare stand against him in a recording session.
In 1964, his wife Audree left him and they separated. The marriage ended in divorce in 1966.
Later years
In 1966, Wilson began managing a band called The SunraysThe Sunrays
The Sunrays were an American band from Pacific Palisades, California.-Career:Their first job as the Renegades was at the Seaside Session at Palisades Park in Pacific Palisade...
, composed of five students who attended Hollywood Professional High School. The Sunrays earned some media attention and a bit of airplay for their initial singles, but they never broke in the Top 40, and the group and Wilson eventually parted company, with The Sunrays complaining that Wilson had been forcing them to become a veritable imitation of the Beach Boys, rather than letting them develop their own sound and style.
Wilson later sold The Beach Boys' publishing company, Sea of Tunes
Sea of Tunes
Sea of Tunes was a music publishing company, founded in 1962 by Murry Wilson, father to three of the Beach Boys , and uncle of another member , to publish and promote the original songs written by Brian and Mike....
, in 1969, against the group's wishes, and for a fraction of what it proved to be worth in later years. Brian Wilson has also suggested that his signature
Signature
A signature is a handwritten depiction of someone's name, nickname, or even a simple "X" that a person writes on documents as a proof of identity and intent. The writer of a signature is a signatory. Similar to a handwritten signature, a signature work describes the work as readily identifying...
was forged by his father on several related business documents, making the sale illegal . Mike Love also claimed later that Wilson purposely left Love's name off the credits for many songs, including hits such as "California Girls
California Girls
"California Girls" is a song by American rock band The Beach Boys, featured on their ninth studio album Summer Days . Written by band-members Brian Wilson and Mike Love, the song features contrasting verse-chorus form...
" and "409" while running Sea of Tunes.
Even after Wilson's formal business relationship with the Beach Boys ended, he continued to take an active interest in the group's career, and continued to give them advice (both solicited and unsolicited) until his death. Wilson co-wrote the single "Break Away", the last Beach Boys single of the 1960s, and was credited as "Reggie Dunbar" in the album's liner notes.
Murry Wilson died on June 4, 1973 after suffering a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at the age of 55. He is buried in an unmarked grave in Inglewood Park Cemetery
Inglewood Park Cemetery
Inglewood Park Cemetery was founded in 1905 in Inglewood, California. A number of notable people, including entertainment and sports personalities, have been interred or entombed here.-List of notable and celebrity interments at Inglewood Park:...
in Inglewood, California
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
.
Legacy
In a 2004 interview with the UKUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
, The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, Brian Wilson recalled his father:
Murry Wilson was portrayed in two television movies: in 1990's Summer Dreams: The Story of the Beach Boys, by Arlen Dean Snyder, and in 2000's 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 Kevin Dunn
Kevin Dunn
Kevin Dunn is an American actor who has appeared in supporting roles in a number of films since the 1980s. His roles include Colonel Hicks in the 1998 version of Godzilla, Sam Witwicky's father in Transformers, and Oscar Galvin, the primary antagonist in the 2010 action thriller...
.
Upon his death, Murry Wilson's signature eyeglasses were given by Dennis Wilson
Dennis Wilson
Dennis Carl Wilson was an American rock and roll musician best known as a founding member and the drummer of The Beach Boys. He was a member of the group from its formation until his death in 1983...
to friend Kathie Nagle, who later sold them to a private collector.