Becoming the Beach Boys, 1961-1963 - by James B Murphy (Paperback)

About the Book

"The Beach Boys blended vocal harmonies, electric guitars and lush arrangements into one of the most distinctive sounds in the history of popular music. Drawing on original interviews and newly uncovered documents, this book untangles the band's convoluted early history and tells the story of how five boys from California formed America's greatest rock 'n' roll band"--

Book Synopsis

They were almost The Pendletones--after the Pendleton wool shirts favored on chilly nights at the beach--then The Surfers, before being named The Beach Boys. But what separated them from every other teenage garage band with no musical training? They had raw talent, persistence and a wellspring of creativity that launched them on a legendary career now in its sixth decade.

Following the musical vision of Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys blended ethereal vocal harmonies, searing electric guitars and lush arrangements into one of the most distinctive sounds in the history of popular music. Drawing on original interviews and newly uncovered documents, this book untangles the band's convoluted early history and tells the story of how five boys from California formed America's greatest rock 'n' roll band.

Review Quotes

"This meticulously researched and presented title gives readers a 'boots-on-the-ground' look at how the Beach Boys got its start and is the definitive book on the humble beginnings of the band...it's almost as if those beautiful Beach Boys harmonies...intricately arranged, soaring, and pleasing to the listener...are invoked in the book's layout...a must-read for Beach Boys fans and popular music historians...readers will love the depth of research...recommended"-Library Journal; "no definitive rock history collection or Beach Boys fan should be without this reference, which packs in statistics, black and white photos, and insights not available elsewhere"-Midwest Book Review; "recommended...engaging and entertaining"-Association for Recorded Sound Collections Journal; "the most in-depth look...fascinating details about the creation of each song...an absolute must"-Examiner; "fascinating...the research is astonishing...Murphy provides far more detail about those three years than has ever been available before...exhaustive detail"-American Songwriter; "Murphy is a very good writer, and the book he always wanted to read was definitely worth writing. He lets no detail go un-checked...an important historical document through and through. A top ten best retro Popculture book of 2015."-Psychobabble.

About the Author

James B. Murphy is a companion animal veterinarian in Washington, D.C. He lives in Bowie, Maryland.