The city had a perfect mix of cool venues, recording studios and major record labels. It was hip and uniquely glamorous. Elvis would often be seen at the RCA building on Sunset Blvd. Jerry Lee Lewis would regularly visit the city to party. The glorious beach lifestyle was attractive beyond belief – the combination of sun, sea and surf producing its own distinctive art and music.

When the teenage Brian Wilson turned the dial of his transistor radio, he was tuning into music that was to shape his life forever. He loved the vocal harmonies of the Four Freshmen. He was a massive fan of doo-wop group the Penguins, whose number one hit ‘Earth Angel’ grew from a demo recorded in a garage close to where Brian lived. And he loved the rock and roll records that were booming out of radio stations like KFWB and KNX in the 1950s and 93KHJ in the 1960s. Brian absorbed this breathless soundscape and blended it with LA’s exciting beach culture to create the surf-rock singles that became the early Beach Boys’ trademark.

Buddy Holly was hot on all of those California radio playlists and at the forefront of the incredible rock and roll revolution that was pumping across the airwaves. These were the records that made an indelible mark on the young Brian Wilson, and his love of Buddy’s music has been with him ever since. The Beach Boys released a fabulous, faithful cover version of ‘Peggy Sue’ on their 1978 album M.I.U., and in 2011, along with Stevie Nicks, Jackson Browne, Ringo Starr and other superstars, Brian contributed to a wonderful Buddy Holly tribute album, performing the title track, ‘Listen to Me’, in celebration of what would have been Buddy’s 75th birthday.

Then, in 2019, Brian was presented with his glorious TBHEF ambassador’s guitar by Peter Bradley, in honour of his support of Buddy’s music through the years. Brian was bequeathed his guitar by the original recipient, Nokie Edwards, who was the inventor of the Surfari surf rock sound. The ceremony took place at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, a poignant full-circle moment, made all the more beautiful by its setting at the heart of the city that has given Brian’s life and music so much. 

Bob Harris