Legends of Rock & Roll: The Beach Boys

Welcome to another in the Legends of Rock & Roll series.

This is, like the others, really a mini-biography of one the greatest of American bands, The Beach Boys. To the author, it is the music that is the most important.

The author has had a lifelong passion for the music of the Fifties and Sixties and Pop music in general. He enjoys listening to the music of rock and roll and enjoys writing about the people who created it. This series is his way of honoring the artists that have brought so much joy to our lives over the years.

It is an unauthorized fan tribute.

The Beach Boys has been writing and performing since 1961. They were raised in California (where else) and developed into the nations number
one band. They appealed to the teenagers of the day by singing about sun, surf, cars and girls.

The Beach Boys have had a rocky career and while the fame was hard on them at times, they became one of the most beloved bands in American
music. Their album "Pet Sounds", while not being recognized as the masterpiece it was in the beginning, eventually became the number two
greatest album of all time.

The Chapters include:

Introduction - Remarks about The Beach Boys in general and a kick-off for the book
Before The Beach Boys - a brief biography of the five original members of the band
The Beach Boys Are Born - The coming together of the five and their first recordings
"Surfin'" - The first recording, not a big hit, but a start
The Band Comes Together - Their first recording contract resulting in their first album
"Surfin' Safari" - The second album, what do the Beach Boys and Chuck Berry have in common?
"Surfer Girl" - The third album and the beginning of problems in the group
"Little Deuce Coupe" - One of their famous car songs and the fourth album
The British Invasion - How did the Beatles and other English groups affect the Beach Boys?
Brian's Breakdown - Brian Wilson finally stops performing and retreats to his studio
"Pet Sounds" - What is the story behind one of the greatest albums of all time?
The Lost Album: "Smile" - Why the followup to "Pet Sounds" never really materialized
Charles Manson - What does Manson and the Beach Boys have in common?
New Label - Brother/Reprise - Leaving Capitol and starting their own label
"Endless Summer" - Their first album to become number one
"15 Big Ones" - The return of Brian Wilson
Difficult Years - Brian drops deeper into mental illness
The Eighties - What did President Reagan think of the Beach Boys?
"Kokomo" - Their last number one record ... so far
Getting Back Together - The reunion in 2006
50th Anniversary Tour and New Album - Bringing the band up to the present
Legacy of The Beach Boys - Every Legends book has a Legacy section where we review the awards and contributions of the artist
Afterword - My closing thoughts
Discography - A list of the major work by The Beach Boys