Former Beach Boys Manager Remembers Brian Wilson, Speaks On Lost Country Album
on Jun 17, 2025
Beach Boys Founder Brian Wilson Passed Away At Age 82
On June 11, the Wilson family shared the traffic news that their father, legendary musician Brian Wilson, had died. They wrote in a statement online:
“We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away. We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world.”
Wilson was a founding member of the iconic band The Beach Boys. During their career, the group had four songs reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and 33 more land in the Top 40. Their most famous songs, like “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” “I Get Around,” “Help Me Rhonda,” and “Don’t Worry, Baby,” were all written or co-written by Brian Wilson.
Fred Vail Recalls His Days With The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys’ former manager and promoter, Fred Vail, recently spoke with News Channel 5 to reminisce about his time with the iconic band.
Vail met The Beach Boys in 1963, when he was a college senior, and he booked the band for a graduation party. After the gig was a huge success, he became their concert promoter. By 1969, Vail was the band’s manager and shared with them his interest in the music coming out of the Grand Ole Opry. He recalls:
“I would have the country station on when I would pick them up at the airport. They didn’t want to hear country. They’d switch it to the rock n’ roll station. I’d switch it back to the country station. It kinda became a gag, y’know?”
After Wilson heard his manager singing along to country radio, he suggested they team up to make a series of country recordings. The collection, known as the Cows in the Pasture Album, was never completed but has remained a part of The Beach Boys’ folklore.
Additionally, Vail shared that the last time he saw Wilson was in December 2024. He admits that the beloved musician was noticeably suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s by that time.
Finally, Vail reflects fondly on the impact that Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys had:
“As a songwriter, as a singer, as an innovator. Every moment of every day, fans all over the world are playing a Beach Boys or Brian Wilson song. He is an institution. They are an institution.”
Country Album Produced By Brian Wilson To Be Released Following His Death
Fred Vail is now working to finish the country album that he and Brian Wilson started. He has partnered with producer Sam Parker to create a documentary and finish Cows in the Pasture at his Treasure Isle Studio.
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The project is expected to be released by the end of this year, 55 years after the tapes were originally recorded.
Watch the interview with Fred Vail, former manager of The Beach Boys, here.
