The Smiley Smile Message Board

Russ Regan passed away May 27, 2018.

I spoke with Russ several times while I researched and wrote Becoming the Beach Boys, 1961-1963 (see Chapter 10 "Call Them the Beach Boys"-- Russ Reagan"). Russ was one of the kindest, most considerate, and most generous people I interviewed for the book.  He always made time to speak with me, never once asked me to call him another time.  He loved the idea and the concept of the book, and was extremely supportive of it being published.  He was so thrilled and proud of his role in the Beach Boys story, and just loved the guys and Audree and Murry, and their music.  Once Russ spoke with me for half an hour as he drove to some music-related appointment.  As most of you know, Russ was legendary in the music industry -- Elton John, Olivia Newton-John, Neil Diamond, Barry White, just to name a few. He had a great speaking voice, full of warmth and generosity and friendship.  I had wanted to include a photograph of Russ in my book, and I pressed him for a photograph of himself circa late 1950s or early 1960s.  I wanted to give readers a better sense of what Russ looked like at the time he met the Beach Boys, as I had done with Hite and Dorinda Morgan, the Dix brothers, Frank Hogan, Nick Venet, Gary Usher, Bill Angel, Joe Saraceno, Herb Newman, World Pacific studio, David McClellan, Vickie Kocher (Hale), Jodi Gable, and Judy Bowles. Unfortunately, an era-appropriate photo never materialized, and Internet photos did not meet the publisher's requirements.  I regret that very much.  If I have the opportunity to do a second edition, I will rectify that somehow and ensure a photograph of Russ is included.

Rest in peace Russ, and thank you for all your contributions to American popular music.

RIP

These are sad news. He seemed to be a class act. R. I. P.


Brian posted this on Facebook:

I was sad to hear that Russ Regan passed. When we were starting out we were the Pendletons, named after our shirts. Russ was a promoter working with us and he changed our name to The Beach Boys - which we didn’t even know until we saw our first records pressed! It was a great name - The Beach Boys - and everyone knows it, you know?

Rest in peace, sir.