Murry Wilson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Murry Wilson
Wilson, c. 1967
Born	Murry Gage Wilson (1917-07-02)July 2, 1917 Hutchinson, Kansas, U.S.
Died	June 4, 1973(1973-06-04) (aged 55) Whittier, California, U.S.
Burial place	Inglewood Park Cemetery
Other names	Reggie Dunbar
Occupation	Publisher talent manager songwriter record producer machinist
Spouse(s)	Audree Neva Korthof ​ ​ (m. 1938; div. 1966)​
Children	Brian Dennis Carl
Musical career
Genres	Pop easy listening
Instruments	Piano guitar
Years active	1952–1973
Labels	Capitol
Associated acts	The Beach Boys the Sunrays

Murry Gage Wilson (born July 2, 1917 – died June 4, 1973) was an American songwriter, music manager, and record producer. He is best known as the father of The Beach Boys members Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson. After The Beach Boys formed in 1961, Murry became their first manager. In 1962, he started their music publishing company, Sea of Tunes, with Brian.

Murry grew up in Los Angeles and developed a strong interest in music. He passed this love for music on to his sons. He wrote or co-wrote at least 50 songs during his life. His most famous songs include "Two-Step, Side-Step" and "Break Away". Murry also helped produce some of The Beach Boys' early songs, like "409" and "Surfin' Safari" in 1962.

The Beach Boys decided to find a new manager in early 1964. After this, Murry produced music for another group called The Sunrays. He also released his own easy listening album, The Many Moods of Murry Wilson, in 1967. Murry managed The Beach Boys' song rights until 1969. He then sold Sea of Tunes for $700,000. Murry Wilson passed away in 1973 at age 55 from a heart attack.

Early Life and Family

A historical landmark in Hawthorne, California, where the Wilson family lived

Murry Gage Wilson was born on July 2, 1917, in Hutchinson, Kansas. He was the third child of Edith Sophia and William Coral Wilson. His family moved to Los Angeles in 1921. They settled in a home near Inglewood in 1929.

Murry loved music from a young age. He wanted to be a pop songwriter when he was a teenager. He taught himself guitar and learned piano from his sister. In 1931, Murry went to Washington High School. There, he met Audree Neva Korthof, who also played piano and sang. They graduated in 1935 and married on March 26, 1938.

After school, Murry worked at the Southern California Gas Company. Their first child, Brian, was born in 1942. Murry then worked at the Los Angeles Goodyear Tire & Rubber factory. He had an accident there and lost his left eye. Murry later said this made him work even harder. He and Audree had two more sons: Dennis (born 1944) and Carl (born 1946). The family bought a house in Hawthorne, California.

Murry later worked at Garrett AiResearch and Admiral Machinery Company. In 1955, he started his own machining business called A.B.L.E. Machinery Company. The name stood for "Always Better Lasting Equipment."

Encouraging His Sons' Music

Wilson's sons Brian, Carl and Dennis in 1963

Murry always loved music and shared this passion with his sons. He encouraged them to learn to sing and play instruments. He often gathered his family to sing around their organ. Murry was very dedicated to his sons' musical growth.

One writer noted that Murry would try to turn his baby boys' sounds into songs. He would play the piano for hours and tell Brian, "That's my new song! Did you like it? Of course you did! You loved it! Now I'm gonna teach you the words! Someday you're going to sing your father's songs and make us both famous!"

The Wilson brothers later spoke about their father's strict parenting style. Dennis said his father was very tough. Carl chose not to comment on these stories. Brian's 2016 book said that many things written about his dad were true, but not always as they seemed.

Despite being strict, Murry often gave his children gifts. He bought Dennis a BB gun and a go-kart. For Dennis's tenth birthday, Murry turned their home into a jungle gym for the party. One of Dennis's friends remembered Murry as being friendly and enthusiastic.

Songwriting and The Beach Boys

Bonnie Lou recorded Murry Wilson's song "Two Step, Side Step"

By 1950, Murry had written several songs. In 1952, he met songwriters Hite and Dorinda Morgan. They ran a music publishing company. The Morgans offered to publish two of Murry's songs: "Two Step, Side Step" and "I'll Hide My Tears." They helped get these songs recorded.

In 1953, "Two Step, Side Step" was recorded by the Bachelors. It was also played by the Lawrence Welk Orchestra on a national radio show. Other artists, like country singer Johnny Hall and rock 'n' roll singer Bonnie Lou, also recorded Murry's songs. Billboard magazine called Lou's version of "Two Step, Side Step" a "cute bouncy tune."

After The Beach Boys formed, Murry became their business manager, co-producer, and publisher. He was a strong negotiator for the band. He helped them sign a contract with Capitol Records. Around June 1962, Murry and Brian started the music publishing company Sea of Tunes to protect Brian's songs. Murry also introduced Brian to Roger Christian, who helped Brian write many of the band's car songs.

No Longer The Beach Boys' Manager

The Beach Boys in 1964

Murry traveled with The Beach Boys on their first tour to Australia and New Zealand in January 1964. He had strict rules for the band members. He would fine them if they did not follow his requests. Murry's strong influence caused some disagreements within the group.

After the tour, the band members decided together that Murry should no longer be their manager. Brian told his father directly that they needed a new manager. Carl remembered telling his dad, "They really don't want you to manage the group anymore." Audree said that this news made Murry very sad.

Another story says Murry was fired in April 1964, after some issues during recording sessions for "Fun, Fun, Fun" and "I Get Around". Mike Love said Brian finally stood up to his father during one session. Brian later said that having an extra generation in the band could be a challenge.

Life After Managing The Beach Boys

After he was no longer The Beach Boys' manager, Murry Wilson produced and managed The Sunrays

Even after Murry stopped being The Beach Boys' official manager, he stayed in touch with the group. Brian sometimes asked his father for advice. In 1964, Murry sold his machinery business and separated from Audree.

In June 1964, Murry produced three songs for David Marks' group, The Marksmen. In the mid-1960s, Murry also produced and managed The Sunrays. This group was made up of five high school students. The Sunrays gained some attention for their songs, but they did not become nationally famous. Their best-known songs were "I Live for the Sun" and "Andrea."

In February 1965, Murry visited a Beach Boys recording session for "Help Me, Rhonda". He tried to take over as the band's producer, which annoyed the group. In July, he asked Brian to officially give him full ownership of Sea of Tunes. Brian agreed to stop his father from bothering him about it.

For their 1965 album Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!), Brian wrote a funny song about his father called "I'm Bugged at My Ol' Man". Murry later said Brian meant it as a joke. In 1966, The Beach Boys released the album Pet Sounds. Murry advised Brian to speed up the song "Caroline, No" to make the vocals sound younger. Murry told Rolling Stone that he loved the album and called it a "masterpiece."

Although Murry and Audree divorced in 1966, they remained close until his death. Audree lived in a separate home that Murry bought for her.

The Many Moods of Murry Wilson and Sea of Tunes Sale

In October 1967, Capitol Records released Murry's album, The Many Moods of Murry Wilson. It was an easy listening album that included his version of "The Warmth of the Sun". While promoting the album, he said he hoped his LP would encourage his sons to be more competitive.

In 1968, Murry sang a short bass harmony in the song "Be Here in the Mornin'" on The Beach Boys' album Friends. In early 1969, he co-wrote The Beach Boys' song "Break Away" with Brian. Murry was listed as "Reggie Dunbar" on the record. The song was not a big commercial success.

In late 1969, Murry sold Sea of Tunes for $700,000. The band members did not want him to sell it. Brian later suggested that his father might have signed his name on some documents without permission.

Illness and Passing

In April 1970, Murry made a tape of songs he recorded. He suggested The Beach Boys should record them, saying he "doesn't have long to live." In August 1971, Murry recorded a song he wrote with Brian called "Won't You Tell Me." The Sunrays released their version of the song in 1996. Other versions with Brian and Carl singing were released in 2021.

In 1972, Murry became ill with a stomach condition that made his heart disease worse. He continued to work on songs, including one called "Take Back the Time." In October, he recorded a commercial jingle for Kentucky Fried Chicken. In the spring of 1973, he had a heart attack and was in the hospital for a few weeks. In his last years, Murry spent a lot of time with Dennis. Audree remembered that they were good friends.

On June 4, 1973, Murry passed away at his home in Whittier, California, from a heart attack. He was 55 years old. Brian and Dennis did not go to the funeral, but Dennis visited Murry's body at the morgue.

Murry was buried in Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California. After Murry's death, Brian said he planned to record Murry's song "Lazaloo." It was also reported that Brian wrote a song called "Just an Imitation" as a tribute to his father. Brian later described it as "a beautiful ballad and kind of a tribute to my dad." Audree passed away in 1997 at age 80.

Legacy and Recognition

His Impact

In a 2004 interview, Brian said his father "was the one who got us going." He added, "He didn't make us better artists or musicians, but he gave us ambition." Brian also said he was glad his father pushed them. In 2005, Brian said that Murry "had talent, he sure did. He was a talented man. He had some music in him." Brian's favorite song by his father was "His Little Darling and You." In 2008, Brian included his own version of the song, called "Just Like Me And You," on his album That Lucky Old Sun.

Engineer Chuck Britz, studio owner Stan Ross, record executive Russ Regan, and band promoter Fred Vail all spoke positively about Murry. They said he helped a lot with the band's early success. Members of The Sunrays called Murry "the nicest man ever." Britz said he admired Murry for making the kids work as a team. Vail compared their father to an "Army drill sergeant" and said he was "key" to the band's success. He added that Murry was motivated by "love" and "family," not just money.

James Murphy, who wrote Becoming the Beach Boys, said that Murry tried his best to give his boys things they enjoyed. He also said that no one fought harder for The Beach Boys when they were starting out than Murry. However, in his 2016 book, Mike Love wrote that Murry's "greed and vindictiveness deny him any tribute." He also said that Audree, his aunt, was the real musical talent in the family. Brian himself said in 2005 that Murry "was a bad musician. I learned nothing from him."

Tribute Album

In 2020, musician George Faulkner released a tribute album called George Faulkner Sings Murry Wilson. It had 11 of Murry Wilson's songs. It was the first time a collection of his vocal songs was released on vinyl.

Portrayals in Movies

Murry Wilson has been shown in several television movies and films:

• In 1990's Summer Dreams: The Story of the Beach Boys, he was played by Arlen Dean Snyder.
• In 2000's The Beach Boys: An American Family, he was played by Kevin Dunn. This movie inspired a web cartoon called Rock and Roll Dad, where Murry was voiced by Paul F. Tompkins.
• In the 2014 movie Love & Mercy, Murry Wilson was played by Bill Camp.

Works and Songs

Solo Album

• The Many Moods of Murry Wilson (1967)

Songs Written

Murry Wilson wrote at least 50 songs. Over 25 of them were recorded by other artists. Here are some of the songs he wrote or co-wrote that were released: