Carl Wilson

This audio only interview was conducted by David Schwartz and donated to the NAMM Oral History program: Carl Wilson co-formed The Beach Boys with his brother, Brian, and school friend, Al Jardine. The songs they wrote and recorded helped invigorate popular music in the 1960s. Carl played lead guitar and remained the music director for all live performances from the mid-1960s until his passing in 1998. Carl was the lead singer on several of the band’s biggest hits including “Good Vibrations” and “Kokomo”. He was on hand in 1988 when the band was included into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, just two years after the award was established.