Dennis Wlson.

[slimjim]

Genuinely talented or just fortunate enough to be born into an exceptional famlly?

[ulrika]

Of all the Dennis Wilsons (?) in the world which one would you be referring to ?
If it's Dennis (b.1944 - d.1983) of Beach Boys fame he was a pro;ific songwriter and talented musician. Genuine talent.

[slimjim]

Yep, that's the one I meant. I'm curious because I'm not certain what he contributed to the band and what (if anything) he did solo.

[leonard]

He released a suberb solo album which he wrote and produced himself titled "Pacific Ocean Blue". In my humble opinion this album shows the man had genuine talent and its very sad he didnt get to record more records. I also remember Elvis Costello talking about going to see The Beach Boys live, and he said that Dennis was definately the star of the show.

[mikewith]

leonard is absolutely right about POB -- it's (puts on flowery critic's hat) a gorgeous paean to a sunlight, seaside California day, at turns mournful, celebratory, wistful, raunchy. I've got a version of Bamboo, the unreleased second LP, which is harder to get in to but v rewarding. Lots of Dennis fans rate it higher than the first release. He was seriously creative (when he wasn't wazzoo'd on drugs). As a kid he wasn't musical and you have to wonder whether he would have ended up as a musician if it wasn't for Brian. But he did, and wrote some cracking songs when he and the others emerged as writers in the wake of Brian's retreat to his sandpit. I'd put his songs -- Baby Blue, Lady, Got to Know the Woman, It's About Time, Forever, Carry Me Home -- above anything that Carl or the non-Wilsons wrote. As a drummer? No good - but he didn't really claim to be. As an actor - much betterthan you'd expect - rent Two-Lane Blacktop. And, lest we forget, he was sex on legs, which counts for a lot in rock'n'roll ;-)

[mikewith]

p.s. sorry to witter on, but one of the most important functions Dennis had in the band (and in life) was his unerring and unquestioning support of and love for his big brother Brian. That helped Bri bcome the songwriter, producer, singer and man that he is/ was... and in turn he pulled Dennis through into creative mode too. Again, the mountaains of drugs involved were seen asheloping, but were probably hindering...