From then on, Wilson wanted to be a part of Manson’s following and introduced him to friends and family. “This is Charlie,” Dennis would say, upon introduction. “He is the wizard, man.

By the late ’60s, Dennis started contributing more as a writer and co-writer—mostly with songwriting collaborators Steve Kalinich and Gregg Jakobson—and left behind a collection of songs ...

Wilson (top center) formed the Beach Boys with Mike Love, Al Jardine, Dennis Wilson and Carl Wilson in 1961. Getty Images In many ways, the Beach Boys were The Beatles of American music — even ...