Brian Wilson to be honored as MUSICARES "Person of the Year" grammy week.

[Trauma-san]

Brian Wilson to be Honored by the Recording Academy® as MUSICARES® 2005 Person of the Year
The 15th Annual Gala Tribute Benefiting the MusiCares® Foundation's Financial Assistance Program Will Be Held Feb. 11, 2005

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Dec. 1, 2004) – GRAMMY®-nominated composer Brian Wilson will be honored as the MusiCares 2005 Person Of The Year, it was announced today by Neil Portnow, President of the MusiCares® Foundation and The Recording Academy®. Wilson – chosen for his accomplishments as a musician and humanitarian – will receive the honor at a special tribute dinner, concert and silent auction held Friday, Feb. 11, 2005, at the Palladium in Hollywood. The MusiCares tribute dinner is one of the most prestigious events held during GRAMMY Week, a celebration that culminates with the 47th Annual GRAMMY Awards on "GRAMMY Sunday," Feb. 13, 2005. The telecast will be broadcast on the CBS Television Network at 8 p.m. (live in the East, tape delayed in the West).

"We take great pride and joy in saluting Brian Wilson during MusiCares' milestone 15th anniversary of providing a safety net for musicians everywhere," said Portnow. "He embodies the positive spirit that comes from dedication, perseverance and creative brilliance; his contributions to the evolution of music are both legendary and profound. Brian and his music have the power to reach listeners across generations and deliver a musical experience that is timeless and unforgettable – and that's exactly how this year's Person Of The Year event will be on February 11."

A songwriter, producer, arranger and composer, it is no exaggeration to call Wilson one of pop's most influential creators and one of music's most revered figures. Starting in 1961 in his family living room in Southern California, Wilson, his two younger brothers Dennis and Carl, cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine first came together to create what would become the quintessential soundtrack to the California Dream – and more than two dozen Top 40 hits, including "Surfer Girl," "I Get Around," "Don't Worry Baby," "Fun, Fun, Fun," and "California Girls." By 1966, the Beach Boys emerged as America's preeminent pop group and also proved to be one of the best-produced groups of the '60s thanks to Wilson's continually evolving studio proficiency. It was this legacy that resulted in the Beach Boys' induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

By the mid-'60s, Wilson opted not to tour with the Beach Boys to focus solely on studio productions. In 1966, he produced three records that would forever change the course of pop music. The first was Pet Sounds, his musical autobiography, which is considered by many to be one of the greatest albums ever made. The second record was the worldwide No. 1 single "Good Vibrations," a "pocket symphony" deemed one of the seminal singles of all time. His third creation was Smile, a collection of songs that combined classical composition, multipart harmonies, rock rhythms and an avant-garde sensibility, which unquestionably became one of the most anticipated works ever. However, a combination of circumstances, both personal and professional, forced Wilson to shelve the project – and during the subsequent 37 years, Smile became the most famous unfinished, unreleased album in music history.

Throughout the '70s, '80s and '90s, Wilson continued to write, record and produce sonic masterpieces, with the Beach Boys, as a solo artist, and in collaboration with other musicians ("Til I Die," "Love & Mercy," Orange Crate Art with Van Dyke Parks, Brian Wilson, I Just Wasn't Made For These Times, Imagination, Gettin' In Over My Head); and in 2000, he was inducted by Paul McCartney into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Even as he battled personal demons and professional ups and downs, he never lost sight of his "holy grail," Smile. Finally, in 2003, Wilson and his chief Smile collaborator Van Dyke Parks reunited to complete the work, which has been greeted with enthusiastic response from both fans and critics alike.

Earlier this year, Wilson and his band performed Smile to sold-out audiences across Europe, recorded an all-new studio version of the album, and then toured the U.S. Since its release this past September, Smile has garnered rave reviews and already is topping 2004 year-end critics' lists.

Wilson gives generously of his time and talent to worthwhile causes that are near and dear to his heart and the music community. His philanthropic efforts are evident in his ongoing support (through concerts and private donations) of the Carl Wilson Foundation for cancer research (his younger brother succumbed to the disease in 1998), as well as performances at the Adopt-A-Minefield benefit (appearing with Paul McCartney) and Neil Young's Bridge School concert (which raises funds to help ensure that individuals with severe speech and physical impairments achieve full participation in their communities through the use of augmentative and alternative means of communication and assistive technology).

The Person Of The Year event features a star-studded concert of tribute performances by many of today's biggest music stars. Also among the highlights of the MusiCares Person Of The Year gala is its prestigious auction featuring collectibles such as music and sports memorabilia, artwork and luxury items. Proceeds from the annual Person Of The Year tribute provide essential support for MusiCares' Financial Assistance Program, which ensures that music people have a place to turn in times of financial, medical and personal need.