The remaining members of the band The Beach Boys are “deeply saddened” by the death of founder Brian Wilson. “The world mourns a genius today, and we mourn the loss of our cousin, friend, and partner in an amazing musical adventure.”
It was announced on Wednesday that Wilson passed away at the age of 82. The singer’s cause of death has not been revealed. Wilson had been suffering from dementia for some time. As a result, he was no longer able to care for himself.
“Brian Wilson was not only the heart of The Beach Boys, he was the soul of our music,” the band writes in a tribute on Instagram. “The melodies he came up with and the emotion he put into every note changed music forever. His unparalleled talent and unique spirit created the soundtrack for so many people around the world, including ours.”
The group writes that they will continue to cherish the music they have made and the enjoyment they have brought to millions of people over the past decades. “And while we will miss him dearly, his legacy will live on in his songs and in our memories.”
Wilson founded the band The Beach Boys in 1961 together with his brothers Dennis and Carl. With hits like Surfin’ U.S.A. and I Get Around, they were responsible for the so-called ‘California Sound’. Dennis drowned in 1983, Carl died of cancer in 1998.