The leader of the Beach Boys, who has died at age 82, made a profound impact on music and American culture through his experimental production, captivating harmonies and timeless celebration of teenage life.

Brian Wilson, co-founder of the Beach Boys, died on June 11, 2025, at age 82. His passing marked the end of a career that began with simple surf songs and grew into complex studio work.

It's not rare to see Wilson's bright, sunny Southern California music with The Beach Boys used to contrast dark moments on film. Nowhere is this better exemplified than in the opening of Roger & Me, Michael Moore's breakout documentary showing the crumbling of Flint, Michigan in the 1980s.