The family of Brian Wilson , the co-founder of the Beach Boys, announced on June 11 that he passed away at the age of 82. Wilson shaped the Beach Boys ’ timeless sound as the band’s songwriter and co-lead vocalist, from the easygoing surf songs of their early days to the more experimental and still influential 1966 album Pet Sounds . Wilson’s struggles with mental health issues played a role in the followup to Pet Sounds —the unfinished album Smile , which the Beach Boys began recording in 1966.