caption associated_acts death_date death_place years_active birth_place label article_title name background birth_date instrument genre image origin birth_name occupation
dennis two-lane blacktop '' wilson in a 1970 promotional shot for '' the speeds , gregg jakobson beach boys , daryl dragon , the four 28 december 1983 marina del rey , california , us 1961 -- 1983 inglewood , california , united states caribou reprise , sony music , capitol , brother , dennis wilson
 dennis wilson solo_singer 4 december 1944 vocals , accordion , drums , percussions , keyboards , guitar rock , pop file : dennis wilson 1971 cropped.jpg hawthorne , california , united states dennis carl wilson musician , songwriter , producer
dennis wilson

dennis carl wilson -lrb- december 4 , 1944 -- december 28 , 1983 -rrb- was an american musician , singer , and songwriter who co-founded the beach boys .
he is best remembered as their drummer , as the middle brother of bandmates brian and carl wilson , and for his brief association with conspirator charles manson .
dennis served mainly on drums and backing vocals for the beach boys from its formation until his death in 1983 .
noted as the only true surfer in the group , his personal life exemplified the `` california myth '' that the group 's early songs often celebrated .
while he was allowed few lead vocals in the 1960s , his prominence as a singer-songwriter increased into the 1970s .
his original songs for the band included `` forever '' , `` little bird '' , and `` slip on through '' .
he also helped pen `` you are so beautiful '' , which became a hit for joe cocker in 1974 .
his only solo album , `` pacific ocean blue '' -lrb- 1977 -rrb- , was released to positive reviews , but a moderate commercial reception .
written and recorded over a span of several years , the album , peaked on us record charts at number 96 during a 12-week stay .
sessions for a follow-up , `` bambu '' , disintegrated before wilson 's death .
in 1988 , dennis was inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame posthumously as a member of the beach boys .
