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What was Carl Wilson’s Net Worth?
Carl Wilson was an American singer, musician, and composer who had a net worth of $10 million at the time of his death in 1998. That’s the same as being worth $20 million in today’s dollars. Carl Wilson was best known for being the lead guitar player, occasional lead vocalist, and founding member of The Beach Boys. He was the younger brother of Beach Boys Brian Wilson and Dennis Wilson, as well as the cousin of Mike Love.
Carl turned 15 when the band’s first hit, “Surfin,” became popular. His father and band manager Murry Wilson bought him a Fender Jaguar guitar. In addition to playing lead guitar for The Beach Boys, Carl Wilson sang lead vocals on tracks like “Summertime Blues,” “Louie, Louie,” “All Dressed Up for School,” “God Only Knows,” “Good Vibrations,” “Darlin’,” “Wild Honey,” “Girl Don’t Tell Me,” and “Pom Pom Play Girl.”
When Brian Wilson retired from touring in 1965, Carl became the band leader onstage. Carl also produced albums for Dean Martin’s son, Ricci Martin, and The Flame. He provided backing vocals for Chicago, Elton John, and David Lee Roth. Carl released a self-titled solo album in 1981 and another solo album titled “Youngblood” in 1983. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Beach Boys in 1988. Carl was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1997. He underwent chemotherapy treatment but continued to perform. Carl Wilson passed away on February 6, 1998, at age 51 from cancer.
Early Life
Carl Wilson was born on February 6, 1998, in Hawthorne, California. He was born the youngest of the three Wilson boys, known for their participation in the band The Beach Boys. Since he was 11 years old, he would practice singing and harmonizing with his older brother Brian.
When Carl was 12 years old, he asked his parents to buy him a guitar. Only a few years later, Brian and Carl formed The Beach Boys. During their trial period, before the band was official, Brian fine-tuned the band’s vocals and keyboard base. Carl worked on developing his own style, which later became known as “Chuck Berry-esque.” This became an early Beach Boys trademark that lasted until their final days.
The Beach Boys
Wilson turned 15 years old when the group’s first hit, “Surfin,” became famous in Los Angeles. Carl’s father and manager, Murray Wilson, sold his business to support his sons’ band. Because the band and Carl were showing promise, Murray bought him a Fender Jaguar guitar.
In 1964, when he was 17 years old, Carl grew into his “surf lick” sound. This style can be heard in the song “Fun Fun Fun.” That same year, Carl co-wrote his first song with Mike Love and Brian Wilson on Beach Boys single “Dance Dance Dance.” He incorporated a guitar solo that was longer than those in other Beach Boys songs in “Dance Dance Dance.” By the end of 1962, he was growing into himself as an artist and began using the 12-string Rickenbacker much more in the band’s songs. This guitar is used often in songs by the Byrds and the Beatles.
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Carl’s older brother Brian retired from touring in 1965. Carl filled his spot and became the musical director for the Beach Boys when they performed. Any contracts the band made at the time insisted that promoters were to hire “Carl Wilson plus four other musicians.” Over time, Carl started to take the spot as lead vocalist of the band. After his performance of “God Only Knows” in 1966, Carl took on this role almost entirely. This role was primarily reserved for Mike Love and Brian Wilson. He sang leads on the singles “Good Vibrations,” “Darlin,'” and “Wild Honey.”
Carl Wilson produced his first track by himself in 1969, named “I Can Hear Music.” By that time, Carl had become the band’s unofficial leader and produced most of the albums they put out during the early 1970s. By 1971, he proved his ability to be a successful songwriter in the album “Surf’s Up.”
Carl continued to produce and write, including albums such as “Carl and the Passions – ‘So Tough'” (1972) and “Holland” (1973). However, soon after “Holland” was released, Brian Wilson returned to the band and took on the figurehead role due to Carl’s substance abuse issues.
In the early 1980s, The Beach Boys were temporarily split up. Some of the members did solo work, such as Carl Wilson, and others did duo work. This happened after Carl took a leave of absence in 1981. However, this break only took a few years before the band got back together again. In 1988, after Carl Wilson returned, The Beach Boys achieved a U.S. No. 1 song, “Kokomo,” the highest-charting song in more than 20 years. Carl sang lead and continued recording through the 1990s.
(Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images)
Solo Work
During the 1970s, Wilson produced records for artists such as Ricci Martin (son of Dean Martin) and the South African group The Flames (two members of which temporarily joined The Beach Boys). He also did backup vocals for big-name artists, such as Elton John and David Lee Roth, and a duet with Olivia Newton-John.
Wilson released a solo album named “Carl Wilson.” The album was made up of rock ‘n roll songs and was co-written with Myrna Smith-Schilling, former backing vocalist for Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin. Though briefly, the album successfully charted, and its second single, “Heaven,” reached the Top 20 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart.
Wilson went on a solo tour for the album and was the first member of The Beach Boys to find success outside of the band. He joined the Doobie Brothers as an opening act for their 1981 summer tour.
Personal Life
Wilson identified as a “conscientious objector” and refused the draft to join the American military during the Vietnam War. In 1988, Wilson became an ordained minister.
Wilson was married twice. He was first married to Annie Hinsche, the sister of frequent Beach Boys sideman Billy Hinsche. The couple had two sons. When the two separated, Carl wrote the Beach Boys song “Angel Come Home” about his longing for their marriage to continue. Hinsche reportedly could not be in a relationship with someone in a touring lifestyle.
In 1987, Wilson remarried Gina Martin, daughter of Dean Martin. Gina followed Carl on all his tours. Their marriage lasted until Wilson died in 1998.
Death
Wilson became ill at his vacation home in Hawaii in early 1997. He was diagnosed with lung cancer and began chemotherapy. Many attribute the disease to the fact that he had smoked cigarettes since his early teens. Despite his ailments, Wilson continued to play and sing with the Beach Boys throughout their entire summer tour until it finished in the autumn of 1997.
Wilson died of lung cancer in Los Angeles, surrounded by his family, on February 6, 1998. His death occurred just two months after the death of his mother, Audree Wilson. He was laid to rest at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.
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