Brian Wilson was originally the bassist in The Beach Boys. In 1965, he hired someone who changed everything
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.
In short
- 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.
Explained simply
The Beach Boys were a California band whose early hits helped define the bright, close-harmony pop of the 1960s. Brian Wilson was a founding member and played bass, but he also became the group’s principal songwriter and producer, shaping how its records sounded in the studio.
As Wilson’s arrangements grew more elaborate, he used Los Angeles session musicians: experienced players hired to record parts alongside or instead of a band’s members. Carol Kaye was one of several bassists who worked on Beach Boys recordings, including “California Girls”; other session bassists included Ray Pohlman and Lyle Ritz.
The use of these musicians helped Wilson make recordings with more varied and intricate arrangements. It also meant that the sound heard on some Beach Boys records came from a mix of the group and studio players.