Brian Wilson was a member of a band.
Brian Douglas Wilson ( born June 20 , 1942 ) is an American musician , singer , songwriter , and record producer best known for being the multi-tasking leader and co-founder of the rock band the Beach Boys . In the mid-1960s , Wilson composed , arranged and produced Pet Sounds ( 1966 ) , considered one of the greatest albums ever made . Pet Sounds is the eleventh studio album by American rock band the Beach Boys , released on May 16 , 1966 . Smile ( stylized as SMiLE ) was a projected album by American rock band the Beach Boys intended to follow their 11th studio album , Pet Sounds ( 1966 ) . The Beach Boys are an American rock band formed in Hawthorne , California , in 1961 .