Al Jardine facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Al Jardine
Jardine performing in 2019
Background information
Birth name	Alan Charles Jardine
Born	(1942-09-03) September 3, 1942 (age 82) Lima, Ohio, U.S.
Origin	Hawthorne, California, U.S.
Died	Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day
Genres	Rock pop folk
Occupation(s)	Musician singer songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar bass
Years active	1961–present

Alan Charles Jardine (born September 3, 1942) is an American musician. He is a co-founder of the Beach Boys, a very famous band. He is best known as the band's rhythm guitarist, which means he played the guitar chords that create the main rhythm. He also sang background vocals and sometimes sang the main (lead) vocals.

Some of the songs where Al Jardine sang lead include the number-one hit "Help Me, Rhonda" (1965), "Then I Kissed Her" (1965), and "Cottonfields" (1970). His song "Lady Lynda" was also a top 10 hit in the UK for the group in 1979. Other Beach Boys songs featuring Al Jardine on lead vocals are "I Know There's an Answer" (1966) and "Vegetables" (1967).

After his bandmate Carl Wilson passed away in 1998, Al Jardine left The Beach Boys. He started performing as a solo artist. He rejoined the band for their 50th anniversary tour in 2012. Since 2013, Al Jardine has often toured with fellow Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson. He also performs solo shows. He released one solo album called A Postcard from California in 2010. Al Jardine was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Beach Boys in 1988.

Early Life and The Beach Boys

Alan Charles Jardine was born in Lima, Ohio. His family moved several times, eventually settling in Hawthorne, California. There, he met Brian Wilson at Hawthorne High School. Al Jardine also saw Brian and his brother Carl Wilson singing at a school event.

In 1961, Al Jardine met Brian Wilson again at El Camino College. They started working on harmony ideas together. Al Jardine was mostly interested in folk music and learned to play the banjo and guitar for it. When The Beach Boys first formed at Brian Wilson's home, Al Jardine wanted the band to play folk music. However, the others decided to play rock 'n' roll instead.

Al Jardine played the stand-up bass on The Beach Boys' very first recording, the song "Surfin'" in 1961. He left the band for a short time but fully rejoined in the summer of 1963. He worked with guitarist David Marks until David left the band later that year.

Music Career Highlights

Jardine in 1965

Al Jardine sang lead vocals for the first time on "Christmas Day" from The Beach Boys' Christmas Album in 1964. Soon after, he sang lead on the famous number 1 hit "Help Me, Rhonda". It was Al Jardine's idea for The Beach Boys to record a folk song called "Sloop John B". Brian Wilson then arranged and produced it for their famous Pet Sounds album in 1966.

After Brian Wilson stopped touring in late 1964, Al Jardine took on a bigger role as a lead singer during live shows. He also started writing songs for The Beach Boys. His song "Lady Lynda" (1978) became a Top Ten hit in the UK. Al Jardine also helped produce some of the band's albums, especially from the time of Surf's Up.

In 1986, Al Jardine suggested The Beach Boys record a new version of "California Dreamin'" by the Mamas and the Papas. This version reached No. 8 on the Billboard adult contemporary chart. The music video for this song was played a lot on MTV.

Later Years and Solo Work

In 1997, Carl Wilson became very ill. He continued to perform with the band while undergoing treatment. Carl Wilson passed away in February 1998. After Carl's death, Al Jardine was no longer part of the touring version of The Beach Boys.

Al Jardine continued to tour with his own band, called "Beach Boys' Family and Friends." This group included many musicians who had toured with The Beach Boys before, as well as Al's sons, and Brian Wilson's daughters. However, Al Jardine faced legal issues for using the name "Beach Boys" without permission from the band's company. The courts eventually ruled that he could not use the Beach Boys name in any way. After this, Al Jardine toured as "Al Jardine, Family, and Friends" or "Al Jardine and the Endless Summer Beach Band."

In 2002, Al Jardine released his first live solo album, Live in Las Vegas. In 2006, he joined Brian Wilson and his band for a tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of Pet Sounds.

Reunions and Recent Activities

Jardine performing with the Beach Boys during their 2012 reunion tour

In 2011, Al Jardine made his first appearance with The Beach Boys touring band in over 10 years. He sang lead on "Help Me, Rhonda" and "Sloop John B" at a tribute concert.

In December 2011, it was announced that Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, David Marks, and Bruce Johnston would reunite for a new Beach Boys album and a 50th anniversary tour in 2012. The group performed at the 2012 Grammy Awards. This was the first time Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, and David Marks had performed live with the group in many years.

Their reunion album, That's Why God Made the Radio, was released in June 2012 and reached number 3 on the US charts. The album included the song "From There to Back Again," where Al Jardine shared lead vocals with Brian Wilson. Critics praised Al Jardine's singing on this song.

The 50th anniversary tour ended in September 2012 as planned. After the tour, Mike Love and Bruce Johnston decided to continue touring as The Beach Boys without Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, or David Marks. Brian Wilson and Al Jardine were surprised by this decision.

Since 2013, Al Jardine has appeared at almost every Brian Wilson concert. He also continues to perform solo shows with his band. In 2015, he appeared on Brian Wilson's album No Pier Pressure. In 2016, Wilson and Jardine went on the Pet Sounds 50th Anniversary World Tour.

In 2018, Al Jardine started performing solo "storyteller" concerts. These shows featured his son Matt and other musicians. In 2019, Al Jardine was added to the Rochester Music Hall of Fame.

In 2020, Brian Wilson and Al Jardine encouraged fans to boycott some Beach Boys concerts due to disagreements about where the band was performing.

In February 2021, Al Jardine released a new song called "Waves of Love 2.0" and "Jenny Clover." In April 2021, an album called California Music Presents Add Some Music was released. It featured Mike Love, Al Jardine, David Marks, Bruce Johnston, and children of the original Beach Boys.

In 2022, Al Jardine announced a "Family & Friends Tour" featuring Carnie and Wendy Wilson of Wilson Phillips. He also made a guest appearance on a song by Drifting Sand. He and Blondie Chaplin also joined Brian Wilson for his final tour with the band Chicago.

In January 2023, a TV special called A Grammy Salute to the Beach Boys was announced. It was recorded in February and aired in April. Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, David Marks, Bruce Johnston, and Mike Love were all present as special guests, watching other artists perform their songs.

In March 2024, a documentary about The Beach Boys was announced, released on Disney+ in May. It includes new interviews with many band members, including Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, David Marks, and Bruce Johnston.

In August 2024, Al Jardine released a new single called "Wish." He plans to donate some of the money from the song to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He also hopes to release a second solo album and plans a tour with a reunited Brian Wilson Band in 2025.

Book

Al Jardine has written one book called Sloop John B: A Pirate's Tale (2005). It is a children's story based on the folk song "Sloop John B". The book also comes with a CD where Al Jardine sings the song.

Discography

Albums

Singles

See also

In Spanish: Al Jardine para niños

Images for kids

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  Jardine performing in 2019

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  Jardine in 1965

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  Jardine performing with the Beach Boys during their 2012 reunion tour