Wilson, Dennis

1944 – He was born on the 4th day of December this year in Inglewood, California, USA.

1961 – His band The Beach Boys formed in August this year, under the guidance of father Murry Wilson, which made an immediate success.

1968 - He became The Beach Boys' second most important composer.

1969 – His first piece of solo material, a little known single released under the artist title of “Dennis Wilson & Rumbo”.

1971 – He was disallowed from drumming by a hand injury and at live concerts assumed front man duties with Mike Love (exacerbating, according to band mate Al Jardine, the already considerable tension between them).

1974 – He re-assumed his role behind the drums, and the group became more and more of an oldies act.

1977 – He managed to pull together a critically acclaimed solo album, Pacific Ocean Blue, which was released this year.

1979 – He and Christine fell in love with each other while Fleetwood Mac was making the Tusk album.

1980 – Dennis and his brother Brian recorded together apart from the Beach Boys in this year and in 1981. These sessions remain unreleased although one song, "Stevie" has been widely bootlegged.

1983 – He died on the 28th day of December this year by alcohol related drowning at Marina Del Rey, Los Angeles.

1984 – He was buried on the 4th day of January this year at sea off the California coast.