Brian Wilson, the beloved singer-songwriter and co-creator of the Beach Boys, has died at the age of 82.
The singer’s family announced the news in a statement on his website:
“We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away. We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world. Love & Mercy.”
Wilson died after recently being placed in a court conservatorship to manage his personal and medical decisions because of what his doctor called a “major neurocognitive disorder” akin to dementia.
At a hearing in May, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gus T. May approved the petition filed by Wilson’s family and inner circle after the death in January of his wife, Melinda Ledbetter Wilson, who handled most of his tasks and affairs.
May appointed two longtime Wilson representatives, publicist Jean Sievers and manager LeeAnn Hard, as his conservators.
Wilson, his seven children, his caregiver, and his doctors consulted before the petition was filed, according to a family statement at the time. It said the decision was to ensure “there will be no extreme changes” and that “Brian will be able to enjoy all of his family and friends and continue to work on current projects.”
The Wilson petition did not seek a conservator of the estate because his assets are in a trust, with Hard as a trustee.
Deeply revered and acclaimed as a co-founder, producer, arranger and chief songwriter of the Beach Boys and a masterful innovator of vocal harmony, Wilson struggled with mental health and substance abuse issues that upended his career in the 1960s.
He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 along with his bandmates, including his brothers Carl and Dennis and his cousin Mike Love.
