Editing Brian Wilson (section)

===Formation of the Beach Boys===

{{Quote box
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|quote=I wasn't aware those early songs defined California so well until much later in my career. I certainly didn't set out to do it. I wasn't into surfing at all. My brother Dennis gave me all the jargon I needed to write
the songs. He was the surfer and I was the songwriter.
|source=—Brian Wilson{{sfn|Murphy|2015|p=240}}
|width = 25%
}}

The three Wilson brothers, Love, and Jardine debuted their first music group together, called "the Pendletones", in the autumn of 1961. At Dennis's suggestion, Brian and Love co-wrote the group's first song, "[[Surfin' (song)|Surfin']]".{{sfn|Murphy|2015|pp=84–86}} Murry became their manager.{{sfn|Murphy|2015|pp=84–90}}

Produced by Hite and Dorinda Morgan on [[Candix Records]], "Surfin'" became a hit in Los Angeles and reached 75 on the national [[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']] sales charts.{{sfn|Carlin|2006|pp=30–31}} However, the group's name was changed by Candix Records to [[the Beach Boys]].{{sfn|Badman|2004|pp=16–17}} Their major live debut was at the [[Ritchie Valens]] Memorial Dance on New Year's Eve, 1961. Just days before, Wilson had received an electric bass from his father, quickly learning to play with Jardine switching to rhythm guitar.{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=19}}

When Candix Records faced financial difficulties and sold the Beach Boys' master recordings to another label, Murry ended their contract. As "Surfin'" faded from the charts, Wilson collaborated with local musician [[Gary Usher]] to produce demo recordings for new tracks, including "[[409 (song)|409]]" and "[[Surfin' Safari (song)|Surfin' Safari]]". Capitol Records were persuaded to release the demos as a single, achieving a double-sided national hit.{{sfn|Badman|2004|pp=22–23}}