Murry Wilson

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Murry Wilson
File:MurrywilsonBW.jpg
Born Murry Gage Wilson
(1917-07-02)July 2, 1917
Hutchinson, Kansas, United States
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Whittier, California, United States
Cause of death Heart attack
Resting place Inglewood Park Cemetery
Occupation Machine business owner, manager
Organization Sea of Tunes (1962–69)
Spouse(s) Audree Neva Korthof (m. 1938; div. 1966)
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Musical career
Genres Pop, doo wop
Occupation(s) Songwriter, record producer
Instruments Piano
Years active 1952–1969
Labels Capitol
Associated acts The Beach Boys, the Hollywood Flames, the Sunrays

Murry Gage Wilson (July 2, 1917 – June 4, 1973) was an American musician and record producer, best remembered as the father of the Beach Boys members Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, uncle of bandmate Mike Love and as a manager and music publisher for their band.

After the Beach Boys dismissed Murry as their manager in 1964, he produced the sound-alike group the Sunrays, and recorded a single solo album: The Many Moods of Murry Wilson (1967). In 1969, without any of the Beach Boys' knowledge or consent, Wilson sold off their publishing company Sea of Tunes for $700,000 (today $4,520,000), then considered a paltry sum. In 1973, he died aged 55 of a heart attack.

Early years

Murry Gage Wilson was born in Hutchinson, Kansas, the son of Edith Sophia (née Sthole) and William Coral Wilson.[1] His mother was of Swedish descent.[2] His family moved west to Los Angeles when he was five. The family was initially so impoverished that they camped in a tent on the beach when they arrived. He met his future wife, Audree Neva Korthof, while attending Washington High School; they were married on March 26, 1938.[3]

Wilson had a blue-collar background. As a young man, he worked at Southern California Gas Company until the birth of his first son Brian, after which he took a job as a foreman at a Goodyear Tire & Rubber factory, where he lost an eye in an industrial accident.[1] During this period he began writing songs. His biggest success came later with a dance song, "Two-Step Side-Step", which was featured by Lawrence Welk on his radio program in 1952[3] and covered on record by RCA Victor Western Swing artist Johnnie Lee Wills, as well as country music singer Bonnie Lou.[citation needed] He also wrote "I'll Hide My Tears", recorded in the early 1950s by doo-wop group the Jets, a reconfiguration of the Hollywood Flames.[4] Brian stated in 2005 that people often misapprehend Murry as an untalented songwriter, but "[he] had talent, he sure did. He was a talented man. He had some music in him ... My favorite song of his was one called 'His Little Darling and You'. It was a ballad."[5]

Wilson later founded a 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.[citation needed] The Wilson brothers had a problematic relationship with their father. Many stories of abuse have surfaced, including a supposed incident where Murry hit Brian in the head with a 2×4, resulting in the permanent loss of hearing in his right ear.[6] In 1964, his wife Audree left him and they separated.[7] The marriage ended in divorce in 1966.[8][9]

The Beach Boys

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Main article: The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys performing in 1964

After the Beach Boys' formation, Murry became the group's business manager, co-producer, and publisher in the early part of their career. Known as a domineering and manipulative man,[10] Murry was a tough negotiator on the band's behalf, organizing a contract signing with Capitol Records.[11]

Wilson accompanied the group on their first Australasian tour in January 1964, and required that the band should not fraternize with women, use profanity, or drink alcoholic beverages. During his early years, Wilson charged the group $100 for breaking these requirements, but for this tour, he raised the fine to $1,000, which would subtract from the touring proceeds. At the time, Wilson's influence on the Beach Boys continued to ignite tensions within the group.[12]

In early April, following incidents involving the recording sessions of the singles "Fun, Fun, Fun" and "I Get Around", Brian dismissed his father as the band's manager. Even after Murry's formal business relationship with the Beach Boys ended, he remained in close contact with the group, letting Brian know his thoughts about the band's decisions.[13] In 1966, Brian said of his decision, "We love the family thing – y'know: three brothers, a cousin and a friend is a really beautiful way to have a group – but the extra generation can become a hang-up."[14] For the Beach Boys' album Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) (1965), Brian wrote a novelty song inspired by his father: "I'm Bugged at My Ol' Man".[15]

After being dismissed, Murry produced and managed the Sunrays,[1] a group comprising five students who attended Hollywood Professional High School. The Sunrays earned some media attention and a bit of airplay for their initial singles, but they never broke into the national Top 40. Their two best-known singles, "I Live for the Sun" and "Andrea", were regional hits in California.[citation needed]

Murry released one album of his own, The Many Moods of Murry Wilson (1967).[9][16] With Brian, he co-wrote the song "Break Away" (1969), and was credited as "Reggie Dunbar" on the record, which was released without much success.[16]

In 1969, Murry sold the Beach Boys' publishing company, Sea of Tunes, over the band's objections for the insubstantial amount of $700,000 (today $4,520,000).[9][17][18] In 1991, the catalog was estimated to be worth $20 million (today $34,750,000).[19] Brian suggested that his signature was forged by his father on several related business documents, making the sale illegal.[20][19]

Death and legacy

On June 4, 1973, Wilson died at his home in Whittier, California after suffering a heart attack at the age of 55.[9] In a 2004 interview with the UK newspaper, The Independent, Brian 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."[citation needed] Engineer Chuck Britz said of Murry: "I was one of the few people who liked Murry. I always did. I admired him for the way he got the kids mad at him that made them also conscious of what they were trying to achieve. I realize that maybe he did it the wrong way, but at the same time, he did make them work as a team which was the way it should be."[21]

Murry 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.[citation needed] In the 2014 biopic Love & Mercy, Murry is portrayed by Bill Camp.[22]

Discography

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ http://www.americanancestors.org/ancestry-beach-boys/
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Badman 2004, p. 10.
  4. ↑ Murphy 2015, p. 43.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Carlin 2006, pp. 11–14.
  7. ↑ Badman 2004, p. 57.
  8. ↑ Brian Wilson biography at Musician's Guide.com
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Gaines 1986, p. 37.
  11. ↑ Gaines 1986, pp. 78–81.
  12. ↑ Gaines 1986, p. 111-112.
  13. ↑ Gaines 1986, pp. 112–113.
  14. ↑ "The Beach Boy Empire" Taylor, Derek. October 5, 1966. Hit Parader, p13
  15. ↑ Carlin 2006, pp. 73–74.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Gaines 1986, p. 192.
  17. ↑ Carlin 2006, p. 145.
  18. ↑ Badman 2004, p. 258.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Bibliography

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