NTS aired an episode dedicated to the music of Brian Wilson on 30 June 2025. Brian Wilson has been played on NTS over 30 times, featured on 17 episodes and was first played on 2 May 2018.

Brian Douglas Wilson (June 20, 1942 – June 11, 2025) was an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in popular music. His work was characterized by elaborate production techniques, complex vocal harmonies, layered arrangements, and introspective songwriting. Wilson was also noted for his distinctive head voice and falsetto.

His early musical influences included George Gershwin, the Four Freshmen, Phil Spector, and Burt Bacharach. In 1961 he began his professional career as a member of the Beach Boys, serving as the group’s principal songwriter, producer, co-lead vocalist, bassist, keyboardist, and de facto leader. After the band signed with Capitol Records in 1962, Wilson became known for his extensive involvement in the creation of the group’s recordings, often overseeing writing, arranging, producing, and performing. In addition to his work with the Beach Boys, he produced recordings for artists including the Honeys and American Spring.

By the mid-1960s Wilson had written or co-written numerous songs that became top 40 hits in the United States, including the number-one singles "Surf City" (1963), "I Get Around" (1964), "Help Me, Rhonda" (1965), and "Good Vibrations" (1966). During this period he became known for using the recording studio as a creative tool in the compositional process and is frequently described as one of the early producer-authors in rock music.

In late 1964 Wilson experienced a nervous breakdown and subsequently withdrew from regular concert touring with the Beach Boys in order to focus on songwriting and studio production. In 1966 he produced the album "Pet Sounds", released his first solo credited single "Caroline, No", and worked on the unfinished album "Smile". During the late 1960s and 1970s he experienced periods of declining productivity and health, including episodes of withdrawal from public life as well as struggles with overeating and substance use.

Wilson’s first major return to active recording during this period resulted in the album "The Beach Boys Love You" (1977), which was largely written and produced by him. In the 1980s he entered into a controversial personal and professional relationship with psychologist Eugene Landy. During this time Wilson resumed his solo career with the album "Brian Wilson" (1988). He ended his association with Landy in 1991.

From the late 1990s onward Wilson returned to regular touring and recording activity. In 2004 he completed and released a version of the previously unfinished project "Smile", which received significant critical attention and became one of the most acclaimed releases of his solo career. He continued performing live until 2022.

Wilson’s work as a songwriter and producer contributed to expanding the artistic possibilities of popular music recording and helped establish greater creative autonomy for recording artists. His music has been associated with the development or popularization of styles including the California sound, art pop, psychedelic pop, chamber pop, progressive music, punk, and sunshine pop. His influence has also been noted in later genres such as post-punk, indie rock, emo, dream pop, Shibuya-kei, and chillwave.

During his career Wilson received numerous awards and honors, including two Grammy Awards and the Kennedy Center Honors. He was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 as a member of the Beach Boys and into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000. His life was depicted in the biographical film "Love and Mercy" (2014). Wilson died on June 11, 2025, from respiratory arrest.

Studio albums Brian Wilson (1988) Sweet Insanity (1990) I Just Wasn't Made for These Times (1995) Orange Crate Art (1995) Imagination (1998) Gettin' In over My Head (2004) Brian Wilson Presents Smile (2004) What I Really Want for Christmas (2005) That Lucky Old Sun (2008) Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin (2010) In the Key of Disney (2011) No Pier Pressure (2015) At My Piano (2021)