Who is the oldest of the Wilson brothers in The Beach Boys?

Brian Wilson is the oldest of the Wilson brothers in The Beach Boys.

Born on June 20, 1942, Brian was older than Dennis Wilson, born in 1944, and Carl Wilson, born in 1946. The three brothers grew up in Hawthorne, California, where family singing and Brian’s early musical ability helped lay the groundwork for the band.

Brian became The Beach Boys’ principal songwriter, arranger, producer, and musical director during their most influential period. He played bass and keyboards, while Dennis initially played drums and Carl played guitar. Although Brian was the oldest brother, Dennis was the only committed surfer among the three, a detail that helped inspire the band’s early surfing image.

A common mix-up is confusing the oldest Wilson brother with Mike Love, who was a prominent frontman but was their cousin, not a brother. Carl was the youngest Wilson brother and later became a major lead vocalist and the group’s onstage musical leader.