Last Wednesday, Brian Wilson died at the age of 82. He was a cofounder of The Beach Boys, which also included his 2 brothers, Carl and Dennis, their cousin Mike Love, and their friend Al Jardine. Wilson was often called a genius for his approach to pop composition and his mastery of recording techniques. He was the first pop musician credited for writing, producing, arranging, and performing his own material. And he was also revolutionary for the unprecedented amount of creative control he demanded. It was his influence and accomplishments as a producer that set a precedent that allowed other musicians to produce their own recording sessions. Wilson wrote or cowrote over 2 dozen U.S. top 40 hits for the Beach Boys, and is widely considered one of the most innovative and significant songwriters of the 20th century. Learn more in the audio below.