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The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys (1965).png
The Beach Boys (1965)
Background information
Origin Hawthorne, California, USA
Genres Surf rock, Sunshine pop, Psychedelic pop, Psychedelic rock, Baroque pop, Art rock
Years active 1961-present
Labels Capitol, Brother, Reprise, Caribou, X Records, Ariola, Columbia
Members Al Jardine
Bruce Johnston
Mike Love
David Marks
Brian Wilson
Past members Carl Wilson
Dennis Wilson
Ricky Fataar
Blondie Chaplin
Glen Campbell

The Beach Boys are a famous American pop and surf rock band. They started in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The first members were three brothers: Brian Wilson (who played keyboards and bass guitar), Dennis Wilson (on drums), and Carl Wilson (playing lead guitar). Their cousin, Mike Love, was the main singer. Their close friend, Al Jardine, played rhythm guitar.

Later, David Marks joined the band for a while when Al Jardine went to school. When Al came back, David left. Another musician, Bruce Johnston, also became a regular member. He first filled in for Brian Wilson on tours, then joined their recording sessions. Many of the band's songs were about fun things in southern California. They sang about the beach, girls, cool cars, and surfing. Interestingly, only Dennis Wilson and Bruce Johnston actually surfed!

Why The Beach Boys Are Super Famous

The Beach Boys are one of the most loved and successful bands ever. Many people think they are very important in music history. They were one of the first rock bands to write and play their own songs. They were also one of the few American bands that stayed popular even when British bands became very big in 1964. This time was called the "British Invasion."

Between the 1960s and 2010s, they had more than 80 songs that were popular around the world. Thirty-six of their songs made it into the Top 40 charts in the US. This is the most for any American rock band! Four of their songs even reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The Beach Boys have sold over 100 million records worldwide. This makes them one of the best-selling bands of all time. Rolling Stone magazine put them at number 12 on their list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" in 2004. In 2017, a study showed that many artists said The Beach Boys influenced their music. The main five members – the three Wilson brothers, Mike Love, and Al Jardine – were put into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

Their Albums

The Beach Boys released many studio albums. Here are some of their most well-known ones:

  • Surfin' Safari (1962)
  • Surfin' U.S.A. (1963)
  • Surfer Girl (1963)
  • Little Deuce Coupe (1963)
  • Shut Down Volume 2 (1964)
  • All Summer Long (1964)
  • The Beach Boys' Christmas Album (1964)
  • Friends (album)|Friends (1965)
  • The Beach Boys Today! (1965)
  • Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) (1965)
  • Beach Boys' Party! (1965)
  • Pet Sounds (1966)
  • Smiley Smile (1967)
  • Wild Honey (1967)
  • Friends (album)|Friends (1968)
  • 20/20 (album)|20/20 (1969)
  • Sunflower (album)|Sunflower (1970)
  • Surf's Up (1971)
  • Carl and the Passions - "So Tough" (1972)
  • Holland (album)|Holland (1973)
  • 15 Big Ones (1976)
  • Love You (1977)
  • M.I.U. Album (1978)
  • L.A. (Light Album) (1979)
  • Keepin' the Summer Alive (1980)
  • The Beach Boys (album)|The Beach Boys (1985)
  • Still Cruisin' (1989)
  • Summer in Paradise (1992)
  • Stars and Stripes Vol. 1 (1996)
  • That's Why God Made the Radio (2012)

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: The Beach Boys para niños

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