Brian Wilson passed away on June 11th. Many of us grew up listening to his music with the Beach Boys - whether it was when they were actively creating or because our parents were fans & made us listen to it. The music definitely gives off summer vibes & hits us right in the nostalgia.
Wilson was able to play the keyboards & the bass guitar. He was also a singer & a songwriter. Many referred to him as "revolutionary" & a musical genius. (An example to bring this into focus would be the Pet Sounds. It is a record that Wilson put a lot of time, energy, & focus into. It was initially promoted as "the most progressive pop album ever" but received a lukewarm critical response upon release. However, Pet Sounds is widely regarded as one of the greatest & most influential albums in music history.) Elton John even went as far as to say that Brian Wilson was one of his biggest musical influences.
Wilson struggled with his mental health for a long time. However, the support of his second wife helped Wilson to improve, as did effective treatments. This allowed him to return to performing & creating music. (However, he did mention that the treatments limited his songwriting & creativity.)
Whether you're a Beach Boys fan or just feeling nostalgic, check out Hoopla or Freegal. Freegal is a way to download music free & legally, in addition to getting your golden oldies fix. (Or you can always go through the library catalog & find Beach Boys cds, if you're feeling a bit more old school.) You can also check out Love & Mercy, which is the movie about Brian Wilson.