Dennis Carl Wilson was born on the 4th December 1944, in Inglewood, California USA, and was a musician, singer, songwriter, best recognized for being one of the founding members of the band The Beach Boys, releasing 24 studio albums with them. He was also known as a solo artist, but released only one studio album. His career was active from 1961 to 1983, when he passed away.
So, have you ever wondered how rich Dennis Wilson was? According to authoritative sources, it was estimated that the total size of Dennis’ net worth was over $10 million at the time of his death, accumulated largely through his successful involvement in the music industry, although another source came from his appearance in a film.
Dennis Wilson Net Worth $10 Million
Dennis Wilson is the middle son of Audree Neva and Murry Gage Wilson, who was a well-known musician and businessman; his brothers were Brian and Carl. Other information about his early life and education is unknown in the media.
Dennis’ musical career began in 1961, when he co-founded a rock band called The Beach Boys together with his brothers Brian and Carl, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. The band manager became their father Murry, and the band’s debut album was released through Capitol Records in 1962, entitled “Surfin’ Safari”, and in the following year, they released three more albums – “Surfin’ U.S.A.”, “Surfer Girl”, and “Little Deuce Coupe”, all of which proved to be huge accomplishments, as they were eventually certified gold and platinum, which added a considerable amount to his net worth.
The names of the albums references that the band developed the surfing culture, but the only actual surfer in the band was Dennis. At the beginning, he was in the position of the drummer, and soon he became also a vocalist, who sang such hits as “Do You Wanna Dance?” and “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away”. In 1968, came out his first big composition came out entitled “Little Bird”, and he continued to line up success after success on the next studio albums. Dennis released with the band 24 studio albums, including “Friends” (1968), “20/20” (1969), “Sunflower” (1970), and he wrote such hit singles as “All I Want To Do” (1969), “Slip On Through” (1970), and “Forever” (1971), among others, all of which increased his net worth by a large margin.
Apart from his career as a part of the band, Dennis was also known as a solo artist, who released his debut solo project entitled “Dennis Wilson & Rumbo” in 1970, which consisted of such songs as “Sound Of Free”, “Lady”, etc. In 1977, his debut studio album “Pacific Ocean Blue” was released via Caribou Records, peaking at No. 16 on the US chart, increasing further his wealth.
Thanks to his accomplishments, Dennis was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, as a member of The Beach Boys in 1988.
If to talk about his personal life, Dennis Wilson was married five times, and had four children. His first wife was Carol Freedman (1965-1968), with whom he had a daughter; his second wife was Barbara Charren (1970-1974), with whom he had two sons; he was married two times to actress Karen Lamm, and his last wife was Shawn Marie Love, with whom he had a son. He also somehow managed to spend one short part of his life living with the notorious Manson family. Dennis was addicted to drugs and alcohol, and he passed away from accidental drowning at the age of 39, on 28 December 1983, in Marina del Rey, California.
Endless Harmony: The Beach Boys Story, The Beach Boys: An American Band, The Beach Boys: Good Vibrations Tour, Two-Lane Blacktop, Beach Boys: The Lost Concert
#
Trademark
1
His Beard
#
Quote
1
[in the sleeve notes for The Beach Boys 1964 album, "All Summer Long"] "They say I live a fast life. Maybe I just like a fast life. I wouldn't give it up for anything in the world. It won't last forever, either. But the memories will."
#
Fact
1
Friends often said that second wife, Barbara Charren was "the best thing that ever happened to him".
2
Revealed in an interview with Circus Magazine in October of 1976 that he lost his virginity when he was "either 16 or 18".
Traditionally an honour for military personnel, Dennis Wilson was giving the honour of being buried at sea.
5
Was expelled from high school shortly after he turned age 16 for getting into a fight with a classmate in the boys bathroom. The cause of the fight was a nickle lollipop that he stole.
6
Made his one and only film in the '70s cult classic, Two-Lane Blacktop (1971) at the age of 25.
7
He and The Beach Boys were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1500 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.
8
At his last concert in 1983, he lovingly hugged brother Brian Wilson after a song, causing Brian to exclaim "This my brother Dennis, you remember Dennis!" A barely audible (due to years of drug use and alcohol abuse) yet vibrant Dennis said to the audience "You know folks, if you knew what it was like to be singing, and playing... thank you so very much. You are so beautiful to me". It was the last time he appeared in public.
9
Was the last member of The Beach Boys to learn to play an instrument; their first single had brother Brian Wilson improvising drum sounds with a pie-pan.
10
While the other Beach Boys objected to the material brother Brian recorded for their (never-completed) "Smile" album, Dennis brushed back tears listening to the rough tracks, telling Brian "It's beautiful... don't change a thing."
11
Had the most in common with father 'Murry Wilson' of any of the Wilson brothers, including his temper; while Brian and Carl usually submitted to their father's bullying, Dennis fought back. Later, Dennis was the one who spent the most time with Murry, before his death.
Only learned after falling in love with last wife Shawn that she was actually his cousin Mike Love's illegitimate daughter. Despite their distant blood relationship, Dennis and Shawn could legally marry - and doing so capped off for Dennis the hatred he'd felt for Mike, since the early Beach Boys days.
14
Was the only member of the The Beach Boys who could actually surf and excelled at the sport.
15
Had four children. Daughter, Jennifer Wilson, was born in 1967, sons Michael Wilson on 19 February 1971, Carl Wilson on 31 December 1972 and Gage Wilson on 3 September 1982. He also adopted his first wife Carol's son, Scott, as his own in the mid-sixties.
16
Son, Carl Wilson, has followed in the musical footsteps of his father and performs in a band with his cousin, Justyn Wilson (his brother Carl Wilson's son), and their friend, Mario. The band is In Bloom.
Inducted by Elton John into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of The Beach Boys) on 20 January 1988.
20
Although his brothers had vied for him to be buried in the family plot at Inglewood Cemetary, then-wife Shawn wound up winning a heated battle over what was to be done with his remains. Thus, he was cremated and buried at sea off the California coast by the U.S. Coast Guard on January 4, 1984 at coordinates (33-53.9 N, 118-38.8 W).
In 1968, Wilson picked up a couple of women hitchhikers and took them to his house to party. The women were associated with a wanna-be song-writer named Charles Manson, who invited himself to visit the Beach Boy. Wilson also picked up a male hitchhiker that year, drug dealer Charles Watson, whom Dennis invited to hang out at his house. In fact, Manson met "Tex" Watson at Wilson's house; the two would become partners in some of the most infamous murders of the 20th Century. Initially, Wilson tolerated Manson's presence at his house, as he brought his groupies with him. Wilson had encouraged Manson's musical ambitions and one of his songs, "Cease to Exist", appeared on the Beach Boys album "20/20" under the title "Never Learn Not to Love". Eventually, Wilson and his musical confederates whom had been introduced to Manson became disenchanted with him, despite the former pimp's provision of women, due to Charlie's fierce temper. Ultimately, Manson and his girls proved to be unwanted guests who tried to commandeer Wilson's house. Wilson, too intimidated to evict his guests, eventually moved out of his own house. Shortly thereafter, Manson and his followers left and began their descent into the hellish frenzy that culminated in the Tate-LaBianca killings. committed the Tate-LaBianca murders.