Award-winning musician Brian Wilson is this year’s recipient of the 2011 George and Ira Gershwin Award for Lifetime Musical Achievement and will be speaking tonight at Spring Sing. Wilson is best known as a songwriter, producer and co-founder of The Beach Boys. His most recent solo album, “Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin,” was released in August of 2010 and is Wilson’s own exploration of the sounds of George Gershwin. Wilson talked to the Daily Bruin’s Andrea Seikaly in anticipation of receiving the award.
Daily Bruin: How does it feel to be receiving this award, especially since it bears the name of someone whom you admire?
Brian Wilson: (George Gershwin) was the greatest music maker of all time, and I was absolutely honored and privileged to do this album.
DB: What was your reaction when you found out that you would be receiving the award this year?
BW: I said, “I can’t believe it, I can’t believe this.”
DB: What do you think has been the key to your success with music and in the entertainment industry?
BW: Well, the key was Chuck Berry, Phil Spector and Rosemary Clooney. Those were my influences, my education.
DB: How did those people help you grow and what have you learned from them?
BW: I learned that you write a song all the way through. You don’t write half of it and then junk it. You have to follow through and write your whole song.
DB: What do you think it is about your music that has attracted such a massive fan base?
BW: I think it’s the harmonies. It’s the backup harmonies that make people feel good.
DB: Do you think that you will always make music or are there other avenues that you wish to pursue?
BW: No. Music is enough for me, for my life.
DB: What do you plan to speak to the UCLA students about at Spring Sing?
BW: I plan to bring my family with me, and I plan to receive the award with much honor and much graciousness.
DB: Who have been some of your favorite people to work with?
BW: Mike Love (of The Beach Boys), Tony Hatch and Benny Clark.
DB: Why do you think it’s important to come to this venue and talk to college students?
BW: I think it’s important for people to realize how good George (Gershwin) was and how good his music is.
DB: The Beach Boys shot the cover of “Don’t Worry Baby/I Get Around” here at UCLA. How does it feel to be coming back to UCLA?
BW: It feels good. It’s a great college, and it’s about 15 minutes away from my house. It’s a great college. … It really is.
DB: Do you think there was any defining moment in your career?
BW: The night that we cut “Good Vibrations” was definitely the high point of my career.
DB: Did you sense that it would be a hit or what was it about that moment for you?
BW: Well, we all thought it would be a hit because it had a great harmonic sound to it. The guys all said, “Brian, this is going to be a No. 1 record. No, really, Brian, this is going to be a No. 1 record.” And it was.
DB: Is there anything else that you wish to share with the students or that you hope they will take away from seeing you receive this honor?
BW: I just hope that people will enjoy it.
Email Seikaly at
aseikaly@media.ucla.edu.