Brian Wilson

First cousin of Mike Love.

Father, with Marilyn Wilson , of Carnie Wilson and Wendy Wilson.

Inducted by Elton John into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of The Beach Boys ) on 20 January 1988.

His songs California Girls and Good Vibrations have been played more than three million times, I Get Around, Help me, Rhonda and Wouldnt it be Nice more than two million times, on radio.

Older brother of Carl Wilson and Dennis Wilson.

Subject of the hit song "Brian Wilson" by the Barenaked Ladies.

Became a virtual recluse after the "Smile" project was abandoned which, by all accounts, would have been on a par with The Beatles "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band".

Was a board member for the Monterey Pop Festival.

Confessed years later that one entire album side (from 1965s The Beach Boys Today) had been written and arranged under marijuanas influences.

Almost completely deaf in his right ear, from an early accident. While he has never heard stereo music, his ear for balance between sounds is unusually strong; he preferred to mix in mono because he noticed stereo was off-balance unless one was directly between the speakers. (Later productions of his are in stereo, or binaural sound.)

Founded "Sea of Tunes" as The Beach Boys publishing company with his father Murry Wilson ; eventually lost all his 1960s song copyrights when Murry sold the company at the bands late-1960s low point. It was later proved that Brian had been tricked and hounded into signing over control to Murry, and documentation for the company was faulty or nonexistent - and "Sea of Tunes" buyers Irving Music had profited directly from this. While Brian couldnt regain ownership of his early songs, he was ultimately awarded $25 million by a California court, for his loss. Cousin and co-writer Mike Love , in turn, filed for a share of this from Brian, for songs - including "California Girls" - Murry had never credited him with, and was awarded $12 million. (There was reportedly no malice involved in the suit; with the two men unable to come to terms on their own, they turned to the courts to settle the matter.).

Recently revisited his long-shelved "Smile" album (co-written with Van Dyke Parks ), finally completing the project, with plans to both release the album and perform it live on tour, with current backup band, Wondermints (March 2004).

The Beach Boys were voted the 12th Greatest Rock n Roll Artists of all time by "Rolling Stone" magazine.

With the death of brother Carl Wilson in 1998, he became the last surviving original member of the Wilson family.

Years of smoking six packs of cigarettes a day damaged his voice; even though he no longer smokes, he sings without the range and smoothness of his early days. When he performs Beach Boys songs during shows, another vocalist often takes Wilsons former parts, while Wilson takes the parts recorded by Mike Love. He has referred to having a chest x-ray after he quit smoking as the bravest thing he ever did.

Inducted by Sir Paul McCartney into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame June 2000

Names "California Girls" his favorite song out of all the songs he has written.

In June 2006, re-united with the original Beach Boys on top of the Capitol Records Building for the first time since 1996, and the first time without brother Carl.

Actually performed the song "Brian Wilson" by the Barenaked Ladies live with slight abridgments to one line, instead of "Playing my guitar and building castles in the sun", he said "Playing my piano and building castles in the sand".

No longer plays bass or guitar, and has played keyboards or piano since his 1985 performance at Live Aid in which he gave a solid performance of "Wouldnt It Be Nice", he first in many years.

Is portrayed by Greg Kean in Summer Dreams: The Story of the Beach Boys

Turned in a composition called "Surfin" to his high school music theory teacher, which got an F, but eventually became a million dollar hit.

In December 2000 at a Christmas party of a friends, when told he could "tickle the ivories" unexpectedly began to play "Heroes and Villians", which he refused to play since 1967. For over 20 years, whenever anybody asked him about the song, he would refuse to talk about it saying "Its not appropriate" or "No comment." After he played the song, someone said "You should do that at the tribute show", a tribute to Wilson was being planned for the spring of 2001. He agreed and for the first time since he wrote it, performed the song at An All-Star Tribute To Brian Wilson. He said that the reaction to his performance led him to decide to finish and perform SMiLE, which had been sitting on the shelf for well over 30 years.

During the 1980s and his crash-diet and when he was at his thinnest, Dr. Eugene Landy had him eating 600 calories a day, or as Brian described it, "One little sunflower seed a day!".

His favorite "Beach Boys" album is "Love You", favorite "Beach Boys" song is "California Girls", favorite "Beatles" song is "Let It Be" and favorite Dennis Wilson song is "Little Bird".

(14 November 2006) Inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame for his outstanding contribution to British music and integral part of British music culture.

Recipient of the 2007 Kennedy Center Honors. Other recipients that year were Leon Fleisher , Steve Martin , Diana Ross , and Martin Scorsese.

Enjoys the music of Phil Spector , The Ronettes and The Byrds.

His favorite singers include Little Richard , Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley.

The first single he bought was "Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley and the Comets.

His favorite album of all time is "Phil Spectors Christmas Album". Another favorite is "Sail Away" by Randy Newman.

He and The Beach Boys were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1500 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.

Has said that the Phil Spector song "Be My Baby", as performed by The Ronettes , influenced him to write The Beach Boys s song "Dont Worry Baby".

Referenced in the song "When God Invented Girls", written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin.

Subject of the song "I Write the Songs", written by The Beach Boys band-mate Bruce Johnston and recorded by Barry Manilow.

Is the subject of the Tears for Fears song, "Brian Wilson Said", from the 1993 "Elemental" album. The touching song is dedicated to the troubled life of the music legend. Much of the song arrangements and vocals were recorded in "Beach Boys" style by singer/composer Roland Orzabal.

Ex-brother-in-law of Karen Lamm.

Performed the title song and "Little Honda" as himself with the Beach Boys in the movie The Girls on the Beach , and sang the solo "The Lonely Sea" in the same film. He is also credited as an extra in Beach Blanket Bingo .

Brian and his second wife, the former Melinda Kae Ledbetter, adopted five children: two girls, Daria Rose and Delanie Rae, in 1998; a boy, Dylan, in 2004; a boy, Dash Tristan, in 2009; and a girl, Dakota Rose, in 2010.

Wrote his 1964 song "Dont Worry Baby" specifically for friend Ronnie Spector of The Ronettes.

Brian Wilson was born in Northern Ireland.

He studied English Literature at Queens University Belfast.

Collects and plays guitar

Moved to CNBC in 2011.

(April 2005) Hosting Sunday edition of "Weekend Live" on Fox News Channel (1200-200PM ET)

Labour Party Member of Parliament from 1987-2005.

(April 2008) Named Visiting Professor in Media and Government at Glasgow Caledonian University.

Pitcher taken by the San Francisco Giants in the 24th round of the 2003 amateur draft out of Louisiana State University.

For me, making music has always been a very spiritual thing, and I think,anybody who produces records has to feel that, at least a little bit.

Producing a record, the idea of taking a song, envisioning the overall,sound in my head and then bringing the arrangement to life in the,studio, well that gives me satisfaction like nothing else.

To be a great producer, music has to be a big part of your soul. And,when it comes to making music, if I could invent a way to get it from,my heart into yours, without doing all that hard work, I would be very,happy.

I earned my famous name.

Summer means happy times and good sunshine. It means going to the beach, going to Disneyland, having fun.

To wear a floral shirt is an experience.