In Brian Wilson's Childhood

[Dunderhead]

I wanted to start this thread to discuss what types of things Brian might have been exposed to during his childhood and teen years. Different aspects of this have been covered in various biographies and interviews and threads, so maybe we can all share some of the information we've each come across.

What was Murray's taste like? What type of things did he have in his record collection? We've discussed Martin Denny before, and I've heard Brian praise Sinatra and Nelson Riddle, but I'm wondering if anyone has any more information.

What exact instruments were in the Wilson home, and who played them? What types of music did the family play for one another.

What types of music might have Brian been hearing on the radio growing up? I suppose when he was starting high school he would have been hearing things like Mr Sandman and Rock Around The Clock. Does anyone want to speculate more on this?

What movies or radio programs did Brian like as a kid? Would Brian have been seeing musicals like An American In Paris or Singin' In The Rain? What about westerns like Rio Grande or the Searchers? Did Brian read comic books at all growing up?

Just some questions I thought could be explored, hoping for some good discussion.

[Gertie J.]

I'm sure Brian was a huge fan of Elvis. But who wasn't?! 

[Shane]

Judging by the cover version on the "In The Beginning" tapes recorded on Murry's reel to reel tape player, this record was probably in the Wilson household:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccbGzayOuhc

[AndrewHickey]

I can't remember where I read any of this, so I may be misremembering, but...

Brian's said in the past that his love of Rhapsody In Blue came from Glenn Miller's version, specifically, which he heard when he was a very small child.

I believe that the Wilsons had a piano and either a hammond or a harmonium (maybe both? I just remember 'keyboard instrument, organ sound, begins "ha"'), as well as obviously Carl later having a guitar.

Murry was apparently a fan of Lawrence Welk (as well as Welk playing Murry's song). He also, much later, said he liked Henry Mancini's music, so we can presume that was the kind of thing he liked.

And one of the things in "Brian's autobiography" that actually rang true to me was that Brian was introduced to rock and R&B by Carl making him listen to Johnny Otis' radio show in the early-mid 50s. Otis mostly played doo-wop and hard, sax-led, R&B on his show, much like the music he made himself (as well as his own hits, Otis played on Hound Dog by Big Mama Thornton, discovered Etta James, Jackie Wilson and Little Willie John, and later played with Johnny "Guitar" Watson, as well as working with Frank Zappa in the studio, if that gives you some idea of the kind of thing he'd play on the radio).

[Letsgoawayforawhile]

Brian was a huge fan of Rosemary Clooney.
Audree exposed Brian to her, and he used to do a perfect impression.

[Dunderhead]

Interesting stuff so far,
any other takers?

[Alex]

Well, the Four Freshmen, of course!

[hypehat]

There's also the fact that he and his brothers used to sing as kids - 'Come Down From Your Ivory Tower' being one, and I guess they could sing hymns. Were the Wilson's church going folk, and if so would the Wilson's have had more to add to their repertoire. And also, the plaintive melodies of hymns could be seen as a big influence.


I can't remember where I heard it, but I seem to recall on the family jam sessions that Audree played the organ. Also, in the family life, Murry and Audree used to sing together.

[Lowbacca]

There's also the fact that he and his brothers used to sing as kids - 'Come Down From Your Ivory Tower' being one, and I guess they could sing hymns. Were the Wilson's church going folk, and if so would the Wilson's have had more to add to their repertoire.

As far as I recall Murry wasn't much of a Sunday churchgoer. Don't know about Audree. I'd venture to say that Brian, Dennis & Carl had a lot of Sundays to themselves, pursuing their neighbourhood adventures. If Murry didn't want to have something done around the house, that is.

[Slow In Brain]

Audree helped Brian buy LPs and Murry took him backstage to meet the Four Freshmen... Cool things for parents to do. They encouraged their sons in their interests...Money must have been tight but Murry bought Brian the tape recorder and Dennis the surfboard, those two items sure gave them plenty of enjoyment in their teen age years

[Lowbacca]

Audree helped Brian buy LPs and Murry took him backstage to meet the Four Freshmen... Cool things for parents to do. They encouraged their sons in their interests...Money must have been tight but Murry bought Brian the tape recorder and Dennis the surfboard, those two items sure gave them plenty of enjoyment in their teen age years

Right. That's something that always impressed me with Murry. Buying Dennis (!) a surfboard (!) shows that he loved him as much as he loved Brian or Carl. He simply was a (deeply) damaged figure and a catatrophe as a father. But he loved his boys so much he did basically everything he could for them. Without Murry who knows what would have become of the Pendletones?

[Slow In Brain]

Not to forget Buddy Wilson was a bigger a**hole than Murry     I amazed that the Wilson family wasn't more dysfunctional than it was...Though Murry sure lost the plot at times, he worked hard to support his family. The family vibe was strongly instilled by both Murry and Audree.

[Zach95]

There's also the fact that he and his brothers used to sing as kids - 'Come Down From Your Ivory Tower' being one, and I guess they could sing hymns. Were the Wilson's church going folk, and if so would the Wilson's have had more to add to their repertoire.

As far as I recall Murry wasn't much of a Sunday churchgoer. Don't know about Audree. I'd venture to say that Brian, Dennis & Carl had a lot of Sundays to themselves, pursuing their neighbourhood adventures. If Murry didn't want to have something done around the house, that is.

According to Carlin's book, the family, sans Murry, regularly attended church, which was yet another opportunity for Brian to sing and practice different aspects of singing. If I recall correctly.

[hypehat]

There's also the fact that he and his brothers used to sing as kids - 'Come Down From Your Ivory Tower' being one, and I guess they could sing hymns. Were the Wilson's church going folk, and if so would the Wilson's have had more to add to their repertoire.

As far as I recall Murry wasn't much of a Sunday churchgoer. Don't know about Audree. I'd venture to say that Brian, Dennis & Carl had a lot of Sundays to themselves, pursuing their neighbourhood adventures. If Murry didn't want to have something done around the house, that is.

According to Carlin's book, the family, sans Murry, regularly attended church, which was yet another opportunity for Brian to sing and practice different aspects of singing. If I recall correctly.

And I just remembered, he was in the choir... right? Or has my mind finally slipped away in one last cloud of opium....

[Letsgoawayforawhile]

There's also the fact that he and his brothers used to sing as kids - 'Come Down From Your Ivory Tower' being one, and I guess they could sing hymns. Were the Wilson's church going folk, and if so would the Wilson's have had more to add to their repertoire.

As far as I recall Murry wasn't much of a Sunday churchgoer. Don't know about Audree. I'd venture to say that Brian, Dennis & Carl had a lot of Sundays to themselves, pursuing their neighbourhood adventures. If Murry didn't want to have something done around the house, that is.

According to Carlin's book, the family, sans Murry, regularly attended church, which was yet another opportunity for Brian to sing and practice different aspects of singing. If I recall correctly.

And I just remembered, he was in the choir... right? Or has my mind finally slipped away in one last cloud of opium....

No, he was.
I think he sang soprano.

[Ed Roach]

Audree helped Brian buy LPs and Murry took him backstage to meet the Four Freshmen... Cool things for parents to do. They encouraged their sons in their interests...Money must have been tight but Murry bought Brian the tape recorder and Dennis the surfboard, those two items sure gave them plenty of enjoyment in their teen age years

Where did the story of Murry buying Dennis his first surfboard originate?
Dennis told me he got a job sweeping out a barbershop to earn the money for it!
Also said it was some of his happiest times...

[Lowbacca]

Audree helped Brian buy LPs and Murry took him backstage to meet the Four Freshmen... Cool things for parents to do. They encouraged their sons in their interests...Money must have been tight but Murry bought Brian the tape recorder and Dennis the surfboard, those two items sure gave them plenty of enjoyment in their teen age years

Where did the story of Murry buying Dennis his first surfboard originate?
Dennis told me he got a job sweeping out a barbershop to earn the money for it!
Also said it was some of his happiest times...

I don't remember where I read it (which is a crux with many BBs-related history/anecdotes) but I seem to recall that while Dennis had several jobs as a teenager like mowing lawns and sweeping out barbershops it was indeed Murry who gave him his 1st actual surfboard. Maybe in later times Dennis didn't like to admit that, or it would have made him prouder if he had purchased it with his own earned money. Who knows.
On the other hand, maybe Dennis was honest about it and the Murry story is not true. As far as I know Dennis wasn't known to make up stuff like that... right, Ed?

[Ed Roach]

As far as I know Dennis wasn't known to make up stuff like that... right, Ed?

O.K., you got me there!

[Banana]

Not to forget Buddy Wilson was a bigger a**hole than Murry     I amazed that the Wilson family wasn't more dysfunctional than it was...Though Murry sure lost the plot at times, he worked hard to support his family. The family vibe was strongly instilled by both Murry and Audree.

Murry always struck me as being quite bipolar.  I think mental illness in the Wilson family did not just suddenly appear in Brian...I think it was around much longer.  Just consider that Murry could be a doting father who would do anything for his family and then be a complete b***ard.

[Lowbacca]

As far as I know Dennis wasn't known to make up stuff like that... right, Ed?

O.K., you got me there!

Oh. He was? 

[I. Spaceman]

Gee by The Crows. The record that inspired a love of R&B in three very disparate, world-shaking musicians: Brian Wilson, Frank Zappa and Jerry Garcia.

[Rocker]

And one of the things in "Brian's autobiography" that actually rang true to me was that Brian was introduced to rock and R&B by Carl making him listen to Johnny Otis' radio show in the early-mid 50s. Otis mostly played doo-wop and hard, sax-led, R&B on his show, much like the music he made himself (as well as his own hits, Otis played on Hound Dog by Big Mama Thornton, discovered Etta James, Jackie Wilson and Little Willie John, and later played with Johnny "Guitar" Watson, as well as working with Frank Zappa in the studio, if that gives you some idea of the kind of thing he'd play on the radio).

My impression always was that Cal introduced Brian to Rock'n'Roll (especially Chuck Berry and Little Richard) although I guess that at that time it wan't hard as a tenager not to be introduced to it, and Mike making Brian aware of the R'n'B-stuff, especially the Doo-Wop groups. Don't know if I'm right but Carl seemed more like a Rock'n'Roll type of guy to me.

I can't remember where I heard it, but I seem to recall on the family jam sessions that Audree played the organ.

David Marks said that Audree teached Brian, Dennis, Carl and himself Boogie Woogie on piano.

[ontor pertawst]

Murry always struck me as being quite bipolar.  

Sure seems possible. The whole "taking to bed for weeks" after being fired thing. The swinging from extravagant buying of gifts and effusive praise to nasty insults and physical abuse.



"When I laid down on my bed,
   I heard voices in my head."

Fascinating man.

[rn57]

Well, the Four Freshmen, of course!

Funny thing...the best-known Freshmen track is their version of "It's A Blue World." A song written by Chet Forrest and Bob Wright for the movie Music In My Heart in 1940. Seventy-two years ago.

The man who sang it in that movie - a performance good enough to make it to #2 in the charts when it went on 78 - was Tony Martin.

Who died just four days ago at the age of ninety-eight, outliving all his generation of crooners. Outliving the Four Freshmen (the ones who recorded IABW anyway), even.

He was one of those guys who had been around long before I was born. Years before the Wilsons or Bruce or Al or Dave or even Mike were born. Had a professional career that stretched from the Hoover to Obama presidencies.

So I thought he would be around forever, even after his two wives (Alice Faye and Cyd Charisse - the guy batted two-for-two there) passed away. 

But he's gone.

Which makes me remember that I'd better cherish those five guys asleep in their hotel in Europe while they're still here.

[runnersdialzero]

Murry always struck me as being quite bipolar.  

Sure seems possible. The whole "taking to bed for weeks" after being fired thing. The swinging from extravagant buying of gifts and effusive praise to nasty insults and physical abuse.



"When I laid down on my bed,
   I heard voices in my head."

Fascinating man.

Some d00d tried to tell me "Break Away" was, in fact, musically more Murry's and lyrically more Brian's. That's not quite right, innit? I thought Brian wrote all/most of the music and Murry wrote all/most of the lyrics.