# Brian Wilson was originally the bassist in The Beach Boys. In 1965, he hired someone who changed everything

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/brian-wilson-was-originally-the-bassist-in-the-beach-boys-in-1965-he-hired-someone-who-changed-everything/
- Published: 2026-10-30T21:30:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-30T22:19:58+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/1965-brian-wilson-beach-boys-bassist/
- Topics: Music

## Key points

- Brian Wilson increasingly used session musicians as his studio music grew more complex.
- Carol Kaye was the main bassist on “California Girls”.
- Wilson praised her feel for his arrangements.

## Summary

Brian Wilson began as The Beach Boys’ bassist, but as his studio arrangements grew more complex, he increasingly relied on session musicians. Their work helped reshape the band’s recordings and broaden its sound beyond its early sunshine pop style.

Wilson singled out bassist Carol Kaye as especially effective at interpreting his music. In a 2025 interview, he recalled that she played on “California Girls”, praised her performance with a pick and called her the main bassist on the track; other session bassists included Ray Pohlman and Lyle Ritz.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.