Editing Brian Wilson (section)

==Personal life==

===Deafness in right ear===
At age 11, during a Christmas choir recital, it was found that Wilson had significantly diminished hearing in his right ear.{{sfn|Murphy|2015|p=58}} The issue was diagnosed as a nerve impingement.{{sfn|White|1996|p=78}} The exact cause remains unclear.{{sfn|White|1996|p=78}}{{sfn|Carlin|2006|p=12}}{{sfn|Dillon|2012|p=xv}}{{refn|group=nb|It is improbable that Wilson was born partially deaf as such defects generally manifest earlier.{{sfn|Murphy|2015|p=58}} Wilson himself believed the deafness might have resulted from his father slapping him shortly before turning three,{{sfn|White|1996|p=78}} although he also stated in a 2000 interview that his deafness had been present at birth and unrelated to his father's physical abuse.<ref>{{cite interview |interviewer=[[Joel Siegel]] |title=Act 3: Good Vibrations |work=[[20/20 Downtown]] |publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] |date=2000}}</ref><!--- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPRdVaSfbU0 ---> Murry commented that the deafness may have resulted from a football game injury,{{sfn|Murphy|2015|p=58}} while Wilson's mother, Audree, said that Wilson believed the incident occurred when he was around 10 and a child hit his ear,{{sfn|Murphy|2015|p=58}} a claim repeated in his 2016 memoir.{{sfn|Wilson|Greenman|2016|p=138}} On another occasion, Audree attributed it to Murry hitting Wilson with an iron while he was asleep.{{sfn|Love|2016|p=24}}}}

Due to this infirmity, Wilson developed a habit of speaking from the side of his mouth,{{sfn|Carlin|2006|p=vii}}{{sfn|Wilson|Greenman|2016|p=138}} giving the false impression that he had suffered a stroke.{{sfn|Wilson|Greenman|2016|p=138}} He also experiences [[tinnitus]].{{sfn|White|1996|pp=78, 147, 314}} In the late 1960s, he underwent corrective surgery that was unsuccessful in restoring his hearing.{{sfn|White|1996|p=314}}

===Relationships and children===

Wilson's first serious relationship was with Judy Bowles, a high school student he had met at a baseball game in mid-1961.{{sfn|Murphy|2015|pp=76, 136}} The couple were engaged during Christmas 1963 and were to be married the following December.{{sfn|Murphy|2015|pp=255, 258}} She inspired his songs "Judy" (1962), "Surfer Girl" (1963), and, according to some accounts, "[[The Warmth of the Sun]]" (1964), the latter being written shortly after they had separated.{{sfn|Murphy|2015|pp=76, 300}} Around then, he had gradually become romantically involved with singer [[Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford|Marilyn Rovell]], whom he had met in August 1962.{{sfn|Gaines|1986|pp=82, 100}}{{sfn|Murphy|2015|p=275}} Inspired by a remark from Marilyn's older sister Diane, Wilson wrote "[[Don't Hurt My Little Sister]]" (1965) about his early relationship with Marilyn.{{sfn|Gaines|1986|p=100}}{{sfn|Carlin|2006|p=72}}

[[File:Wilson Phillips.jpg|thumb|Wilson's daughters [[Carnie Wilson|Carnie]] (right) and [[Wendy Wilson|Wendy]] (center) performing with [[Chynna Phillips]] in 2011.]]

Wilson and Marilyn were married in December 1964. They had two daughters, [[Carnie Wilson|Carnie]] and [[Wendy Wilson|Wendy]] (born 1968 and 1969, respectively), who later had musical success as two-thirds of the group [[Wilson Phillips]].{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=376}} His daughters inspired his songs "[[Roller Skating Child]]" (1977)<ref name=Wilson1977>{{cite magazine|last1=Wilson|first1=Brian|title=I'm a Pooper, Not a Buzzer|magazine=[[Crawdaddy!]]|date=May 1977|page=63|url=https://40.media.tumblr.com/92589f007104051b8edbe566697d1303/tumblr_ns20qse72z1trpswuo2_1280.jpg}}</ref> and "[[Little Children (Brian Wilson song)|Little Children]]" (1988).{{sfn|Matijas-Mecca|2017|p=131}}

Much of the lyrical content from ''Pet Sounds'' reflected early marital strains{{sfn|White|1996|p=251}} that later intensified.{{sfn|Gaines|1986|p=249}} Wilson later described himself as a neglectful father and husband during his first marriage.{{sfn|Wilson|Greenman|2016|p=194}} He had encouraged his wife to pursue extramarital affairs, including one with songwriter [[Tandyn Almer]],{{sfn|Gaines|1986|pp=249–250}} while he engaged in an affair with her sister,{{sfn|Gaines|1986|pp=249, 280}}{{sfn|Dillon|2012|p=108}} the subject of his song "[[My Diane]]" (1978).{{sfn|Stebbins|2000|p=175}} Concurrently, Wilson maintained an affair with Debbie Keil,{{sfn|Gaines|1986|pp=249, 280}} who inspired his song "[[The Night Was So Young]]" (1977).{{sfn|Gaines|1986|pp=249, 280}}{{refn|group=nb|Keil later provided many anonymous quotations for [[David Leaf]]'s 1978 biography ''[[The Beach Boys and the California Myth]]''.{{sfn|Leaf|2022|p={{page needed|date=July 2022}}<!-- page 598 on Kindle edition --->}} Gaines describes Keil as a Beach Boys fan who had moved from Kansas to Los Angeles when she was 19 with the purpose of getting close to Wilson.{{sfn|Gaines|1986|p=249}} Writing in his 2022 revision of ''California Myth'', Leaf explained, "Debbie never tried to shape the narrative. I felt her observations were insightful, very different from what I'd been reading."{{sfn|Leaf|2022|p={{page needed|date=July 2022}}}}<!-- page 598 on Kindle edition --->}}

In July 1978, Wilson and Marilyn separated, and he filed for divorce in January 1979.{{sfn|White|1996|p=321}} Marilyn received custody of their children{{sfn|White|1996|p=322}} and a half share of Wilson's songwriting royalties.<ref name=rolling/> Wilson continued his relationship with Keil until 1981.{{sfn|Leaf|2022|p={{page needed|date=July 2022}}<!-- page 606 on Kindle edition --->}} After the separation, Wilson dated one of his nurses, Carolyn Williams, until January 1983.{{sfn|Gaines|1986|pp=330, 341}}{{refn|group=nb|During that period, Williams had claimed that Wilson was being held captive by Landy. In response, Wilson held a press conference to announce that he was disassociating himself from her.{{sfn|Gaines|1986|p=341}} Carlin described Williams as generally considered to be "a sweet, well-intentioned woman",{{sfn|Carlin|2006|p=239}} while Wilson, via his 2016 memoir, attributed their split "mostly because of me", citing an incident in which he berated Williams, a black woman, with a racist remark.{{sfn|Wilson|Greenman|2016|pp=199–200}}}} Singer [[Linda Ronstadt]], in her 2013 memoir ''Simple Dreams'', implied that she had briefly dated Wilson in the 1970s.{{sfn|Leaf|2022|p={{page needed|date=July 2022}}<!-- page 593 on Kindle edition --->}}

Wilson initially dated [[Melinda Ledbetter|Melinda Kae Ledbetter]] from 1986 to late 1989.{{sfn|Carlin|2006|pp=286, 271}} Ledbetter attributed the premature end of their relationship to interference by Landy.{{sfn|White|1996|p=361}} After 1991, he and Ledbetter reconnected and married on February 6, 1995,{{sfn|Carlin|2006|p=281}}{{refn|group=nb|Wilson chose the date because it was Marilyn's birthday, and thus easy to remember for future anniversaries.{{sfn|Carlin|2006|p=281}} Marilyn attended the wedding.{{sfn|White|1996|p=359}} }} Ledbetter became Wilson's manager.<ref name=Fine1999>{{cite magazine |last1=Fine|first1=Jason |title=Brian Wilson's Summer Plans|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=July 8, 1999|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/brians-summer-plans-19990708}}</ref> They adopted five children.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=O'Donnell|first=Kevin|magazine=People|title=Inside the Beautiful Mind of Brian Wilson|url=https://www.brianwilson.com/news/2012/11/30/brian-featured-in-people-magazine|date=December 10, 2012|access-date=July 9, 2021|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190718/https://www.brianwilson.com/news/2012/11/30/brian-featured-in-people-magazine|url-status=dead}}</ref> By 2012, Wilson had six grandchildren, two daughters of Carnie and four sons of Wendy.{{sfn|Dillon|2012|p=283}} Ledbetter died on January 30, 2024.<ref name="melindadeath">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/30/arts/music/melinda-wilson-dead.html | title=Melinda Wilson, 77, Who Helped Brian Wilson Through Mental Illness, Dies | work=The New York Times | date=January 31, 2024 | last1=Williams | first1=Alex | last2=Ives | first2=Mike }}</ref> In his social media, Wilson declared she "was my savior. She gave me the emotional security I needed to have a career. She encouraged me to make the music that was closer to my heart".<ref>{{Cite Instagram |user=brianwilsonlive |postid=C2vSn-zO_32|title= My heart is broken. Melinda, my beloved wife of 28 years, passed away this morning.|date=January 30, 2024}}</ref>

===Spirituality===
Wilson was raised in a [[Presbyterian]] family.<ref name="B&N01" /> In many interviews, he has emphasized the spiritual essence of his music, particularly with ''Pet Sounds''.{{sfn|Lambert|2007|p=244}} He was also intrigued by [[astrology]], [[numerology]], and [[the occult]], as reflected in his original concepts for ''Smile''.{{sfn|Priore|2005|p=173}} In 1966, Wilson expressed his belief that all music "starts with religion", and while he recognized a "higher being who is better than we are", he was not traditionally religious.{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=73}}

In the late 1960s, Wilson and his bandmates promoted [[Transcendental Meditation]] (TM).{{sfn|Highwater|1968}} By 1968, he had equated religion and meditation,{{sfn|Highwater|1968}} though he ultimately abandoned TM.{{sfn|White|1996|p=319}} He described himself in 1976 as having over-diversified his readings,<ref name="Oui">{{cite magazine |last1=Rensin |first1=David |title=A Conversation With Brian Wilson |url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/a-conversation-with-brian-wilson |magazine=[[Oui (magazine)|Oui]] |date=December 1976 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> maintaining then that he still believed that the coming of "the great [[Messiah]] [...] came in the form of drugs" while acknowledging that his own drug experiences "really didn't work out so well".{{sfn|Love|2016|pp=150, 164}}{{sfn|Leaf|1978|p=180}}{{refn|group=nb|Asked whether his music was religiously influenced in 1988, he referred to the 1962 book ''A Toehold on Zen'', explaining that he believed that he possessed what is called a "toehold", meaning that having "a good grasp" on one aspect of life can translate to others.<ref name="Jeremy Gluck 1988">{{cite web|last=Gluck|first=Jeremy|title=What A Nice Way To Turn 17: Brian Wilson by Jeremy Gluck – "Y'know what I mean ...|url=http://www.rocksbackpagesblogs.com/2011/02/what-a-nice-way-to-turn-17-brian-wilson-by-jeremy-gluck-yknow-what-i-mean/|access-date=August 13, 2013|date=February 18, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109130549/http://www.rocksbackpagesblogs.com/2011/02/what-a-nice-way-to-turn-17-brian-wilson-by-jeremy-gluck-yknow-what-i-mean/|archive-date=November 9, 2011|url-status=usurped}}</ref>}}

In 2011, he said that while he had spiritual beliefs, he did not follow any particular religion.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Yakas|first1=Ben|title=Our Ten Minutes With Beach Boys Legend Brian Wilson|url=http://gothamist.com/2011/10/27/brian_wilson.php|date=October 27, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725054715/http://gothamist.com/2011/10/27/brian_wilson.php|archive-date=July 25, 2015}}</ref> Asked in 2004 for his favorite book, Wilson answered "[[the Bible]]", and questioned if he believed in life after death, Wilson replied "I don't".<ref name="Q&A2004">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/jul/24/popandrock |title=Q&A: Brian Wilson|last=Greenstreet |first=Rosanna |work=The Guardian |date=July 23, 2004}}</ref>
===Interviews===

{{Quote box
| quote = He is an artist wrapped densely in myth and enigma who, in person, in interview, creates as many questions as he answers. Is this guy crazy, or is he crazy like a fox? Missing a synapse or just as sensitive as a raw nerve ending? Startlingly honest or putting you on? Childishly naïve or a master manipulator?
| source = —Journalist [[Verlyn Klinkenborg]], 1988<ref name="Contrast88" />
| width = 25%
| align =
}}

Wilson has admitted to having a poor memory and occasionally lying in interviews to "test" people.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Brown|first1=Helen|title=Bad Vibrations: where did it all go wrong for the Beach Boys?|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/bad-vibrations-where-did-it-all-go-wrong-for-the-beach-boys/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/bad-vibrations-where-did-it-all-go-wrong-for-the-beach-boys/ |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=October 10, 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In later years, many writers have found Wilson challenging to interview, as his responses are usually curt or lacking in substance.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mehr|first1=Bob|title=Brian Wilson tour celebrates enduring power of 'Pet Sounds' after 50 years |url=http://archive.commercialappeal.com/entertainment/music/features/brian-wilson-tour-celebrates-enduring-power-of-pet-sounds-after-50-years-376179b5-0e8e-0c2a-e053-010-387028121.html|work=[[The Commercial Appeal]]|date=July 18, 2016}}</ref>{{refn|group=nb|David Oppenheim, recalling his 1966 interview with Wilson, remembered, "we tried to talk with him but didn't get much out of him. Some guy said 'He's not verbal.{{' "}}{{sfn|Gaines|1986|p=170}}<ref name="The Charlotte Observer">{{cite news|last1=Janes|first1=Theoden|title=I'm pickin' up bad vibrations from this interview with Beach Boy Brian Wilson|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/entertainment/music-news-reviews/article100338387.html|work=[[The Charlotte Observer]]|date=September 17, 2016}}</ref>}} Edgers wrote in 2000 that "no writer will ever understand Brian Wilson", highlighting his often "clipped and conflicting" responses, adding that he "generally makes it clear to interviewers that he would rather be somewhere else — and that's when he's feeling good."<ref name="Edgers00">{{cite web |author=Geoff Edgers |title=God only knows |url=https://www.salon.com/2000/08/02/wilson_3/ |website=Salon |access-date=March 16, 2022 |date=August 2, 2000}}</ref> ''[[Salon (magazine)|Salon]]'''s Peter Gilstrap wrote in 2015 that Wilson had been known to end interviews abruptly.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gilstrap|first1=Peter|title=Inside Brian Wilson's room: The famed Beach Boy opens up about mental illness, medication, manipulation and the movie about his life|url=http://www.salon.com/2015/06/03/inside_brian_wilsons_room_the_famed_beach_boy_opens_up_about_mental_illness_medication_manipulation_and_the_movie_about_his_life/|website=[[Salon (magazine)|Salon]]|date=June 3, 2015}}</ref>{{refn|group=nb| ''Westword'' contributor Michael Roberts wrote in 2000 that "his public statements over time have tended to reiterate those of whoever's supervising his activities at the moment."<ref name="Westword2000">{{cite news |last1=Roberts |first1=Michael |title=Brian's Song: Listening to the Distant Echoes of a Pop-Rock Genius |url=https://www.westword.com/music/brians-song-listening-to-the-distant-echoes-of-a-pop-rock-genius-5064279 |work=[[Westword]] |date=September 14, 2000}}</ref> In 2017, ''[[The Charlotte Observer]]''{{'}}s Theoden Janes surmised that despite Wilson's widely documented past struggles with mental illness, he appeared to be actively involved in major projects like his second memoir and a concert tour, indicating he could choose to decline interviews if he wished.<ref name="The Charlotte Observer">{{cite news|last1=Janes|first1=Theoden|title=I'm pickin' up bad vibrations from this interview with Beach Boy Brian Wilson|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/entertainment/music-news-reviews/article100338387.html|work=[[The Charlotte Observer]]|date=September 17, 2016}}</ref>}}