Carl Wilson

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American musician, one of the three brothers who formed "The Beach Boys" along with their cousin Mike Love and pal, Al Jardine. The group's first paid performance was on 12/31/1962 with Carl on lead guitar and vocals. The group was a hit from that minute on, eventually selling more than 100 million records. Through the '60s and on, the band defined the "surfing beat" with such songs as "I Get Around," "Good Vibrations," Help Me Rhonda" and "Surfin' U.S.A." In the early '80s, Carl Wilson said he was tired of the Beach Boys' focus on nostalgia and lack of musical growth. He left the quintet in 1981 to work on a solo career and released an album that year. His second album was released in May 1983, after which he rejoined the group, performing with them ever since. The group were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. Wilson married Annie in 1956; they had two sons, Jonah and Justyn. They separated on 7/04/1978 and later divorced. Nine years later he married Gina Martin, Dean Martin's daughter, on 11/08/1987. A patient with cancer in the brain and lung, he underwent chemotherapy and radiation in April 1987 in an attempt to control the disease. A fighter to the end, he completed the band's 30th annual tour in 1997. He died from lung cancer on the evening of 2/06/98, Los Angeles, CA. Link to Wikipedia biography