Athletes - Dennis Wilson

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Dennis Carl Wilson (December 4 1944 – December 28 1983) was an American rock and roll musician best known as a founding member of The Beach Boys.

Beach Boys

Early Career

Born in Inglewood, California, Dennis was the second (middle) of the Wilson brothers. Urged by older cousin Mike Love (born 15th March 1941), Dennis approached older brother Brian (born 20th June 1942), the original conspicuous musical talent in the family, to form a group and compose a song about surfing. The Beach Boys formed in August 1961 under the guidance of father Murry Wilson, meeting immediate success. Though the Beach Boys were named for and developed an image based on the California surfing culture, Dennis was the only real surfer in the band.

Dennis had little musical experience at the outset but quickly learned to play the drums. However, he gained little respect musically due to Brian's reliance as producer on session drummers, particularly Hal Blaine, although contrary to popular belief, Dennis did drum on many of the group's '60s recordings. Likewise, although he rarely sang onstage, his rough-hewn vocals were a key ingredient to the group's vocal blend in the studio. Despite his lower artistic profile, Dennis became far and away the most popular member of the group, becoming its box-office sex symbol. Dennis' emerging musical talent took a back seat. He developed a personal musical style and taste divergent from the Beach Boys' known style: soulful, even bluesy, compared with the group's famous high harmonies.

Though given few important lead vocals on the early Beach Boys recordings ("Little Girl (You're My Miss America)" "This Car of Mine") he impressed on "Do You Wanna Dance?" in February 1965, then later that year on Beach Boys Party gave an authoritative rendition of John Lennon's "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away". He accompanied himself on guitar, and like the other Beach Boys became a multi-instrumentalist. His piano playing, in particular, developed into a distinctive style and was showcased on the excellent Pacific Ocean Blue album.

Growing Influence

From 1968, following Brian's retreat from the band, Dennis became its most important composer, in romantic mode, though emulating his brother in recording technique. His composing debut was "Little Bird," the flip side of "Friends."

Dennis had further composing triumphs on later Beach Boys albums such as 20/20, Sunflower (1970), Carl and the Passions - "So Tough" (1972), Holland (1973) aswell as others. some of these songs include "Never Learn Not To Love," a rework of a song by Manson (1969), "Forever"

From 1970-74, Dennis was prevented from drumming by a hand injury and at live concerts assumed frontman duties with Mike Love (exacerbating, according to bandmate Al Jardine, the already considerable tension between them). The 1973 Beach Boys In Concert LP features Dennis alone on the front cover -- but none of his songs, which were highlights of the band's early '70s shows, were included.

During the three year recording hiatus following Holland, Dennis' rough-hewn vocals deteriorated markedly (some claim from an injury sustained in a fight, others from alcohol use. It is alleged in Steven Gaines' book, 'Heroes and Villains' that two operations to remove polyps from his vocal cords also lead to his vocal decline) and his onstage antics (including streaking) occasionally disrupted the Beach Boys' live shows.

In 1974, concurrent with the success of the '60s hits compilation Endless Summer Dennis reassumed his role behind the drums, and the group -- much to Dennis' chagrin -- became more and more of an oldies act. The artistic progress shown by Dennis and younger brother Carl was discarded in favor of Reagan-Bush era popularity as the group was hailed as 'America's Band'.

Charles Manson

It was the year 1969 that the infamous Tate/LaBianca murders occured. Charles Manson had briefly become Dennis Wilson's protégé before the murders, and the trauma of this episode affected Dennis for his remaining 14 years. He rarely discussed his involvement with the Manson 'Family' and he usually became upset whenever the subject was talked about. In one interview with David Leaf however he brought it up. "I guess it's time to talk about it. You see, when I knew Manson it was no big thing. We were friends; we lived together. That was long before the murders. And we'd talk every night, just like you and me. We'd really talk about important things." The interviewer went on asking the question "Do you know why Manson organized those murders?", Dennis responded "I know why Charles Manson did what he did. Someday, I'll tell the world. I'll write a book and explain why he did it. Over the years, people have always wanted to know what happened, what my relationship with Charlie was. We were just friends." Dennis did not testify at Charles Manson's trial as he went on to explain "I didn't testify at the trial. I couldn't. I was so scared. You know, the writers really raked me over the coals for not testifying."
The story goes that in 1968 Dennis Wilson was driving along through Malibu when he noticed two hitchhikers. He picked them up and dropped them off at their destination. Later on, Dennis noticed the same two girls hitchhiking. This time he pulled over and took them to his home. Dennis then went away to a recording session and when he returned at three o'clock in the morning he was met by a stranger, Charles Manson. When he walked into his home, there was around a dozen people occupying his home, most of which were female.

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Athletes - Dennis Wilson

Beach Boys

Early Career

Growing Influence

Charles Manson

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