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Carl Dean Wilson (December 21, 1946 - February 6,
1998) was the youngest of the three brothers who
made up the core of The Beach Boys.  

He was the band's lead guitarist (composing many
of the familar licks on their early songs) as well
as a vocalist (notably, on "God Only Knows", "Good
Vibrations", "Darlin'", and "This Whole World"). 
Carl was often considered to have the best voice
in the group, even ahead of his brother Brian. 
When Brian quit touring with the band, Carl
replaced many of Brian's vocals.  

Carl remained with the group long after Brian had
retreated into solitude, and in fact produced some
of the band's post-1966 recordings.  He composed
some of the group's songs in the early 1970s,
including "Long Promised Road", "Feel Flows", and
"Trader", with lyricist Jack Reiley.

Wilson released two solo albums, 1981 in
music|1981's Carl Wilson and 1984 in music|1984's
Youngblood.  He left the Beach Boys for a solo
tour at the time, but soon returned.

Carl Wilson died from lung cancer on February 6,
1998. 

Two years after his death, his final album
project, Like A Brother, was released.  It was a
collaboration with Robert Lamm of Chicago
(band)|Chicago and Gerry Beckley of America
(band)|America.  His vocals are also featured on
"Soul Searchin'", from Brian Wilson's 2004 album
Gettin' In Over My Head.

In the more than four decades since the early and
mid 1960s when The Beach Boys were regularly
putting hits on the charts, musical historians
have tended with near unanimity to focus on The
Beach Boys primarily as a vehicle for Brian
Wilson's creative expression.  The reality is far
more complex.  The members of the group, except
for Brian, dedicated their lives to touring and
performing concerts featuring The Beach Boys hits
for their fans to an extent likely unequaled by
any other pop group in the world.  Carl himself
chose to join in 100 tour dates with The Beach
Boys during the last year of his life, even as he
was dying of lung and brain cancer, on the band's
36th annual tour.  No history of The Beach Boys
should ever fail to mention the unique achievement
of The Beach Boys as the American band which, more
than any other pop band, toured and played their
hits for their fans, year in and year out.