The Beach Boys

For more than six decades, The Beach Boys have been a beloved American band that remains iconic around the world. With over 100 million records sold worldwide, they are one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful bands of all time. Since the 1960s, they have charted more than 80 songs internationally—36 of them in the U.S. Top 40 (the most by an American rock band)—with four reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Rolling Stone ranked the band’s Pet Sounds No. 2 on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and placed The Beach Boys at No. 12 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and was also honored with The Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award.

Founded in Hawthorne, California in 1961, The Beach Boys signed with Capitol Records in July 1962 and released their debut album, Surfin’ Safari, later that year. Since then, the group has helped define the sound of an era. Their signature harmonies and songs about love, youthful energy and surf culture have become synonymous with the Californian lifestyle.

The band was originally comprised of the three teenaged Wilson brothers: Brian, Carl and Dennis, their cousin Mike Love, and school friend Al Jardine. Today, the original band members are joined by Bruce Johnston and David Marks, continuing to share the enduring sound and spirit of The Beach Boys with audiences around the world.