Community News

Surf City Remembers Brian Wilson, co-founder & musical genius of The Beach Boys

 

by: Karen Topelowski
Published: June 23, 2025

 

HUNTINGTON BEACH...Saturday was a fitting day, International Surfing Day, to hold a morning paddle out, a tradition for a life celebration.

Visit Huntington Beach organized the seaside service, which included speeches & Beach Boy music. HBPier northside, attended by dozens of surfers & hundreds of others, on the sand & atop the pier, all wanting to participate in Wilson’s life celebration & to show their respect.

Dozens of surfers paddled out a few hundred yards, forming a circle, then saying a few words followed by splashing of the waters skyward to honor Brian Wilson.

The paddleout featured remarks by Grammy Award–winning musician from Dean Torrence from the singing duo Jan and Dean and who was also a longtime friend of Brian Wilson. Also on hand to speak was surf great Peter "PT" Townend.

Former Huntington Beach mayor and now a California State Senator Tony Strickland was on hand for the paddleout event as were Huntington Beach Mayor Pat Burns.

 

Although Brian Wilson was never a surfer himself, but through his musical creativity in the surf genre, he and The Beach Boys contributed greatly to the fabric of the California surfing culture beginning in the 1960’s & continues today.

Photos: Josh Sanchez