The Smiley Smile Message Board

This has been a very good year for Dennis Wilson, with so much more of his music now readily available thanks to the FEEL FLOWS set.

So it's with some extra joy that we can "celebrate the news" and send birthday greetings to the late, lamented, lover-boy "other genius" of the Beach Boys.

Thanks to Brent Wilson and Jason Fine for finding a wonderful way to give a shout-out to Dennis' music in LONG PROMISED ROAD. It may well have been scripted, but it was touching anyway.

Not everyone is in love with Dennis' music, but those that do strongly tend to revere it with a special intensity--something that they sense strongly in the man who created it. There' a "tug of love" there that allows them to "slip on through" to a special bond with the "sound of free."

The fourth of December happens to be my birthday as well, and there are many notable folks born on that day--legendary noir scribe Cornell Woolrich, the great French actor Gerard Philipe, the Big Lebowski Jeff Bridges, English authors Thomas Carlyle and Samuel Butler, Crazy Horse (the Indian leader, not the band!), painter Wassily Kandinsky, poet Rainer Maria Rilke, ever-spunky actress Marisa Tomei--but it's an especially "lucky f*ckin' honor" to share a natal day with Dennis, who was born on this day 77 years ago.

Thanks for your gift of music,  Denny. This year it's been especially evident that it's a gift that keeps on giving!

Happy birthday to you, Don, and happy Denny Day to everyone!

Happy Birthday to Dennis Wilson, one of the local radio stations played Slip On Through and a live performance of Help Me Rhonda from 72 with Dennis on lead. Nice tribute.

A nice tribute indeed!

Also a nice tribute to Billy Hinsche who played the fine piano solo on the live performance of Help Me Rhonda.

I am listening to Pacific Ocean Blue for respect for Dennis Wilson