Brian Wilson named inaugural recipient of the NOW Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award
Amid announcements of performances by up-and-comers like Shad, Black Light White Light and Rick and Chuck at this year’s North by Northeast comes news of the involvement of a true legend in the music biz, Brian Wilson. The 69-year-old Wilson—the brains behind the Beach Boys’ sound, and one of the most gifted American composers of the past century—will be honoured with the NOW Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award on June 16.
The prize is the first award of its kind handed out by NOW, a major sponsor and part owner of NXNE, and it will all be made official in a ceremony at the Hyatt Regency hosted by Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy. The National Post has more:
The award recognizes individuals in the arts who have changed the world through their work. The Toronto-based weekly magazine is honouring Wilson, who has written, produced, engineered and played more than 50 hit singles.
The Beach Boys’ landmark album Pet Sounds is considered one of the greatest achievements in music history. Wilson’s most recent album, Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin, is a tribute to George Gershwin.
From Surfin’ Safari (49 years later, we’re still trying to figure out what that is) to the infamous SMiLE album, we love Brian Wilson just as much as the next guy or gal. And while we have to admit to a little confusion about why a Toronto alt-weekly would peg Wilson as its inaugural winner, we can’t knock anything that has to do with the man who brought us this.
• NOW honours Brian Wilson [NOW Magazine] • Beach Boy Brian Wilson set for Toronto music honour [CBC] • Brian Wilson to receive NXNE Lifetime Achievement Award [National Post]
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