Carl Wilson.

Today marks the 15th anniversary of the passing of The Beach Boy's co-founder, Carl Wilson. You'll know Carl by his lead vocals on "God Only Knows", but to us BB fans, he was so much more. Certainly the glue that held the band together for much of its history.

In 1998, Carl recorded an album with Gerry Beckley (America) and Robert Lamm (Chicago) called, Like A Brother, which was released in 2000, two years after Carl's death. You can check the album out here - Beckley Lamm Wilson – Like A Brother. "I Wish for You" is my favorite.

One other Carl solo you might not have heard is "Heaven". Simply gorgeous.

We miss you - and love you, Carl.

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Carl Wilson Remembered.

Carl Wilson, one of the founding members of The Beach Boys (brother to Brian and Dennis) passed away 14 years ago today. I never met Carl but I've met his sons several times -Jonah and Justyn. If they are any measure of what their father was like....

Here's a Carl solo tune, "Heaven" . Enjoy.

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Jam-packed California weekend. Me.

Tonight - Paul Giamatti and David Strathairn debate each other in The Play's the Thing's staging of "The Rivalry" - the famed Abraham Lincoln - Stephen Douglas debates - at the Skirball Cultural Center in LA. The play is performed like an old-time radio drama - mikes on stage and scripts in hand, live audience, but broadcast live on the radio.

Saturday night - Gordon Lightfoot at The Canyon Club. This is the most excellent venue where I saw The Zombies in June - and my virgin concert of this Canadian legend and performer of such hits as "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald", "Sundown", "If You Could Read My Mind", "Early Morning Rain", "The Pony Man", "Cape Horn" and many others. See my Youtube performance below.

Sunday night - The Carl Wilson Cancer Foundation brew ha at the Roxy in Hollywood with Brian Wilson, Carnie and Wendy Wilson (of Wilson-Phillips fame), The Honeys, Al Jardine of The Beach Boys and Surf guitar legend Dick Dale.

(...and of course, the Jets at Oakland - but I was trying to avoid talking about sports in this particular post. GO JETS! GO FAVRE!)

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Happy Birthday, Carl.

Carl Wilson's birthday was actually December 21 - I missed it while home with my family in Wisconsin over the holidays. He was the peacemaker of The Beach Boys - the group he founded with his brothers, Brian and Dennis, cousin Mike Love and Al Jardine.

This "voice of an angel" was the lead singer on many BB tunes, including the poignant, God Only Knows, a song Paul McCartney says brings him to tears whenever he hears it.

You are missed, Carl.

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