Murry Wilson

Murry Gage Wilson (1917–1973) was a musician and record producer, best remembered as father to Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, and Carl Wilson. Murry Wilson was also the manager of their band The Beach Boys, and served as their music publisher.

Related Topics:
1917 - 1973 - Musician - Record producer - Brian Wilson - Dennis Wilson - Carl Wilson - The Beach Boys - Music publisher

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Murry Wilson had a blue-collar background; as a young man, he worked at a Goodyear factory (where he lost an eye in an industrial accident) while unsuccessfully writing songs. (His biggest success was with a dance song, "Two-Step Side-Step", which was featured by Lawrence Welk on his radio program.) He later founded his own machining business, but maintained an active interest in music which he passed along to his sons, encouraging them to learn to sing and play instruments, and becoming their business manager, co-producer, and publisher in the early part of their career as The Beach Boys. On the heels of the band's early success, Wilson devoted himself to music full-time, producing and managing groups including The Sunrays and The Honeys in addition to the Beach Boys. Murry also released one album of his own, The Many Moods of Murry Wilson, in 1967.

Related Topics:
Goodyear - Lawrence Welk - Machining - Business manager - Co-producer - The Sunrays - The Honeys - 1967

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The Wilson brothers had a legendarily complicated relationship with their father. Known as a domineering and manipulative man, Murry Wilson was a tough negotiator on behalf of the boys, winning them a plum contract with Capitol Records; however, his constant obsession over every detail of the group's appearance and sound as well as diverging musical opinions (Murry was a traditionalist, while Brian wanted to move in more groundbreaking directions), as well as lingering resentment over his often abusive behavior towards his sons, soon led to estrangement. Brian fired Murry as their manager, taking a rare stand against him during a recording session. Murry further sold their publishing company Sea of Tunes during 1969, against their wishes, and for a fraction of what it proved to be worth in later years. Even after The Beach Boys ended their formal business relationships with their father, however, he continued to take an active interest in their careers, and continued to give them advice (both solicited and unsolicited) until his death.

Related Topics:
Capitol Records - Sea of Tunes - 1969

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In a 2004 interview with the UK newspaper The Independent, Brian Wilson recalled his father:

Related Topics:
2004 - UK - Newspaper - The Independent

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:"He was the one who got us going. He didn't make us better artists or musicians, but he gave us ambition. I'm pleased he pushed us, because it was such a relief to know there was someone as strong as my dad to keep things going. He used to spank us, and it hurt too, but I loved him because he was a great musician."

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Murry Wilson co-wrote the single "Break Away". He is credited as Reggie Dunbar as a co-writer along with Brian Wilson. (On an interesting note, only Brian Wilson has the songwriting copyright credit.)

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