Sly Stone, died June 9, 2025, age 82. Brian Wilson, died June 11, 2025, age 82.
As time marches on. Last week we lost two legendary American rock musicians, icons of the 1960's and 70's music scene, Sly Stone (songwriter, musician, producer, frontman of Sly and the Family Stone) and Brian Wilson (songwriter, singer, producer, co-founder of the Beach Boys). Both were 82 years old and died within 2 days of each other. We honor their legacy and incredible contributions to popular music.
Sly Stone, was born Sylvester Stewart in Denton TX, in 1943, and died June 9, 2025. Sly was a pioneer in the development of psychedelic soul and funk with his fusion of soul, rock, gospel, and psychedelia. In 1966, Stone formed his band Sly and the Family Stone, a racially integrated, mixed gender act, and created and created acclaimed albums Stand! (1969), There's a Riot Goin' On (1971), and Fresh (1973), and the hits Dance to the Music, Everyday People, Thank You (Falettin Me Be Mice Elf Agin), Family Affair, If You Want Me to Stay, and more. However, by the mid-late 70's Stone's drug use and erratic behavior led to the end of the band. Stone continued with solo projects and played with other bands over the years, but never regained the acclaim of his earlier band and continued to have mounting personal problems. He had a bit of a resurgence in the 2000's, with numerous tributes and guest appearances. His contribution to soul and funk music is legendary and influenced so many others over the years.
Brian Wilson was born in Inglewood, CA, in 1942, and died June 11, 2025. Wilson was considered a musical genius for his innovative approaches to pop composition and mastery of recording techniques, featuring complex melodies, harmonies, and orchestration, vocal layering, high production values, and introspective themes. Brian founded the Beach Boys in 1961 with his younger brothers Carl and Dennis, cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Brian led the group as primary songwriter, producer, bassist-keyboardist, and vocalist. Although the early recordings of the band were catchy pop tunes about surfing, cars, and girls (such as Surfin Safari, Surfin USA, Surfer Girl, Little Deuce Coupe, Fun Fun Fun, I Get Around, and California Girls), Brian began developing more sophisticated melodies and song structure, and more personal themes, creating song suites and multi-part sonic wonders. In 1966, Brian wrote, arranged, and recorded (using the legendary Wrecking Crew session musicians and mostly without involvement from the rest of the band, who added their vocals later) a whole new direction for the band, with the release of Pet Sounds, the band's most acclaimed, beloved, and influential album (and often considered one of the greatest pop-rock albums of all-time), featuring such gems as Caroline No, Wouldn't It Be Nice and God Only Knows.
Brian continued with even more ambitious projects, beginning with the monumental single Good Vibrations, which was the most elaborate recording ever, taking several months and 90 hours of recording at four different studios to make, but the result was one of the most perfect pop singles ever. Next was to be Smile, a continuous suite of songs linked both thematically and musically, creating 'a teenage symphony to God'. He spent a year working on it, tinkering, experimenting with different takes and mixes, but unable to finish it, as he began to suffer from delusions and paranoia, and eventually shutting down the project. Brian battled mental health and drug issues most of his life. The Beach Boys continued releasing albums, but by 1968 Brian's songwriting decreased significantly and brother Carl stepped up to lead the band, with Brian making much more limited contributions, eventually becoming more of a recluse in the 1970's. Brian rejoined the Beach Boys at various points in the late 70's and 80's, and also released his first solo album in 1988, but became estranged from the band in the 90's amid numerous lawsuits. He continued doing solo work and collaborations with others, releasing several albums. Eventually Brian returned to the aborted Smile project, and finally released his version of Smile in 2004, which was his most successful solo album. By the 2010's Brian did join in some Beach Boys Reunions and an album. Brian continued to tour and played his last concert in 2022, and it was later reported that he had dementia and entered into a conservatorship in 2024. It has been reported that Brian left behind an abundance of unreleased recordings, dating back to the 1970's. A master composer, arranger, and producer, Brian influenced generations of songwriters, singers, and musicians, and his music will live on forever.
