A legendary American band, The Beach Boys have had 36 Top 40 hits (the most of any U.S. rock band) and 56 Hot 100 hits, including four #1 singles. Rolling Stone magazine listed The Beach Boys as #12 in their 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.Formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California, the group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, their cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962. The band's early music gained popularity across the nation for its close vocal harmonies and lyrics reflecting a Southern California youth culture of surfing, cars, and romance.
In mid-1962, the Beach Boys released their major-label debut, “Surfin' Safari”. The title track hit the Top 20 and helped launch the surf rock craze just beginning to blossom around Southern California (thanks to artists like Dick Dale, Jan & Dean, The Chantays and dozens more). A similarly themed follow-up, “Surfin' U.S.A.”, hit the Top Ten in early 1963. The third Beach Boys LP also released in 1963, “Surfer Girl”, featured the title track, "Catch A Wave" and "In My Room."
The following year, "I Get Around" became the first number one hit for the Beach Boys. Riding a crest of popularity, the 1964 LP Beach Boys Concert spent four weeks at the top of the album charts, just one of five Beach Boys albums simultaneously on the charts. The single "Help Me, Rhonda" became the Beach Boys' second chart-topper in early 1965. Other releases including “The Beach Boys Today!”, “Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)” and “Beach Boys' Party” followed in 1965. The singles "California Girls" and "Barbara Ann" became surprise hits.
The band reached its peak in 1966 with “Pet Sounds” and the #1 single "Good Vibrations." "Good Vibrations," had originally been written for the “Pet Sounds” sessions, though Brian Wilson removed it from the song list to give himself more time for production. He resumed working on it after the completion of “Pet Sounds”, eventually devoting up to six months (and three different studios) on the single. The single capped off the year as the group's third #1 single and, according to some critics, still stands as one of the best singles of all time.
Today, The Beach Boys continue to tour and excite audiences of all ages with their distinctive and melodic signature California surfing’ sound. The year 2011 will mark the 50th anniversary of the band.
The Beach Boys will ring in the New Year at the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida on December 31, 2010.
