Murry Wilson
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Murry Gage Wilson (July 2, 1917 – June 4, 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. He was the husband of Audree Wilson.
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 in addition to the Beach Boys. Murry also released one album of his own, The Many Moods of Murry Wilson, in 1967.
The Wilson brothers had a legendarily complicated relationship with their father. Many anecdotes of alleged abuse have surfaced, including an incident where Murray hit Brian in the head with a 2x4, resulting in the permanent loss of hearing in one of his ears.[1]
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 in 1964, taking a rare stand against him during a recording session. Wife Audree also divorced him after learning of an infidelity, though they stayed in frequent contact.
Murry later 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. Brian Wilson has also suggested that his signature was forged by Murry on several related business documents, making the sale illegal. (Suffering from schizophrenia at the time, and under pressure from Murry to "just sign" for the "good of the family", it could also be argued that documents with Brian's signature were obtained while he was incompetent, and/or under duress.) Mike Love, Murry's nephew and the band's lead singer, also claimed later that Murry purposely left Love's name off the credits for many songs, including hits such as "California Girls" and "409", while running Sea of Tunes.
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. Murry co-wrote the single "Break Away", the last Beach Boys single of the 1960s, credited as 'Reggie Dunbar'. (On an interesting note, Brian Wilson alone holds the songwriting copyright.)
Murry Wilson died in 1973 after suffering a heart attack, and he is buried in an unmarked grave in Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.
In a 2004 interview with the UK newspaper The Independent, Brian Wilson recalled his father:
- "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."
Wilson was portrayed in two television movies: in 1990's Summer Dreams: The Story of the Beach Boys by Arlen Dean Snyder, and in 2000's The Beach Boys: An American Family by Kevin Dunn.
