Brian Wilson, the iconic frontman of The Beach Boys and a former high school quarterback, has passed away at the age of 82.
Though known primarily for revolutionizing American pop, Brian was also a promising athlete, a quarterback at Hawthorne High School who also played baseball and ran cross-country.
But it was his ear for harmony, not the huddle, that changed music history.
Born in 1942 in Hawthorne, California, Brian formed The Beach Boys in the early 1960s with his brothers Carl and Dennis, cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine.
Together, they became one of the best-selling American bands of all time, with over 100 million records sold.
Brian Wilson Was Married To His Ex-Wife Marilyn Wilson For Almost 15 Years
Among the most enduring parts of Wilson’s story is his relationship with Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford (née Rovell), whom he married in 1964.
Marilyn, a singer herself, met Brian when she was just 15 years old.
She was part of the girl group The Honeys and later co-founded American Spring.
The couple’s love story was complex, marked by both creative triumphs and personal heartbreak.
As Brian’s muse and partner, Marilyn’s presence was woven into much of his work.
Their relationship inspired some of the most poignant tracks on Pet Sounds, including “Caroline, No” and “You Still Believe in Me.”
At the same time, their early marriage was marked by emotional distance, drug use, and infidelity, culminating in their divorce in 1979.
Despite their separation, Marilyn always remained connected to Brian, especially through their daughters, Carnie and Wendy Wilson, who themselves went on to form the successful pop group Wilson Phillips.
Marilyn Wilson Remarried To Daniel Rutherford
In later years, Marilyn moved on and found stability with her second husband, Daniel Rutherford.
Together, they built a quiet life far from the spotlight of Brian’s turbulent genius. Yet the bond between Brian and Marilyn never fully disappeared.
In a heartwarming moment captured in May 2024 at the premiere of The Beach Boys documentary at the TCL Chinese Theatre, their daughter Carnie shared a photo of her parents: Brian in a wheelchair and Marilyn leaning in to embrace him.
Carnie wrote,
“Nothing touches my heart more than to see my Mom and Dad tell each other they love each other. They’ve been divorced for years and my Mom has a wonderful husband Daniel… but they are my parents forever and these moments make life extra won-won-wonderful.”
Via Instagram
Marilyn and her husband, Daniel Rutherford, have remained largely private over the years, content to live away from the fame that once enveloped her life with Brian.
Still, she never denied the unique place Brian held in her heart.
In 2022, Marilyn made headlines again when she filed a $6.7 million lawsuit against Brian over publishing rights, stemming from his $50 million deal with Universal Music Publishing.
Though the suit was a legal matter, it underscored how closely intertwined their lives and finances had remained.
Now, as the world mourns the passing of a musical giant, those who knew Brian best remember not only his songs but the people behind them.
Brian Wilson is survived by his seven children, including Carnie and Wendy.
As tributes pour in, the family, including Marilyn and Daniel Rutherford, along with their extended circle, requests privacy during this time of grief and remembrance.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Brian Wilson earned numerous prestigious industry recognitions, including two Grammys and a Kennedy Center Honor, as well as Golden Globe and Emmy nominations.
- He was honored with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and later the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000.
- His personal story and musical journey were portrayed in the 2014 biographical film Love and Mercy.
