By Mark D. Zimmerman
MELVILLE, New York — Brian Wilson died last week at the age of 82. Wilson was one of the founders of the Beach Boys, along with his brothers Dennis and Carl, and their cousin Mike Love. Wilson wrote many of the group’s songs, often reflecting the band’s Southern California roots, including Little Surfer Girl and Fun, Fun, Fun.
But Wilson went on to compose and sing other songs of much greater depth and complexity, including Good Vibrations, Pet Sounds, God Only Knows, and Wouldn’t It Be Nice. The band’s membership changed over time, and eventually there were two separate versions of the group, the touring band, which Brian Wilson did not perform with, and the recording group, where Brian Wilson devoted his talents.
Tributes have poured in since Wilson’s passing, including from Paul McCartney, who wrote, “I loved him, and was privileged to be around his bright shining light for a little while.” What was a Jewish connection in Brian Wilson’s life?
A. Brian’s high school girlfriend, Rhonda Schwartz, was Jewish. She was the inspiration for the Beach Boys song Help Me, Rhonda.
B. Brian’s best friend in junior high school was Joey Goldstein, who was Jewish. Brian attended Joey’s bar mitzvah, and it was this event that later inspired Brian to write the song When I Grow Up (To Be a Man).
C. Brian Wilson’s first wife, Marilyn Rovell, was Jewish. She is the mother of their children, Carnie and Wendy, later members of the Wilson Phillips musical group.
D. David Marks, a Jewish friend of Brian Wilson in junior high school, was an original member of the Beach Boys. Brian had a crush on David’s mother.
E. While in high school, Brian Wilson attended Shabbat services with some Jewish friends at the Venice, California Shul on the Beach. He heard the congregation sing a tune for Adon Olam which had been written by Shalom Rubanowitz, known as the Hippie Rebbe. This was the tune Wilson used when writing the song Sloop John B. So despite what most people believe, it was an Adon Olam tune which was used for Sloop John B, not the other way around.
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Link to answer: https://rrrjewishtrivia.com/brian-wilson-rip-answer.html