The Beach Boys were formed in 1961 by brothers Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson and Dennis Wilson, with their cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine. Their first single "Surfin'" was released on a local label, and made it to number 75. The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962. Jardine temporarily left and was replaced by Dennis Marks. Their debut album was Surfin' Safari, and the title track made the Top 20 and helped launch the surf-rock sound. Their follow-up, Surfin' U.S.A., was another hit and the title song became a hit in the UK as well. At this time, Marks left and Jardine returned to the group permanently. They continued to have a streak of hit albums including Shut Down, Surfer Girl, Little Deuce Coupe, Shut Down, Vol. 2 and All Summer Long, with five albums in the charts simultaneously at one point.

Brian Wilson compositions and arrangements were becoming increasingly sophisticated on Today! and Summer Days And Summer, and reached its peak on Pet Sounds. Ironically, Pet Sounds was The Beach Boys' first commercial failure in the US. It is hailed by critics and now commonly alternates with the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper in polls naming the greatest rock album of all time. Brian Wilson retired from performing live to concentrate on writing and recording. He was briefly replaced on tour by Glen Campbell, and then permanently by Bruce Johnston. The Beach Boys released one more single in 1966, the number 1 classic "Good Vibrations", but it was to be their last big hit for years. Brian Wilson began work on a never completed epic album, "Smile," that took up months of work. Stripped down re-recordings of some Smile songs appeared on their next album, 1967's Smiley Smile, and further select Smile songs appeared on Beach Boys albums up to 1971 including Wild Honey, 20/20 and Surf's Up. These album received mixed reviews and little commercial interest, but still remain popular with Beach Boys fans. Their 1973 album Holland included the hit "Sail on Sailor".

The Beach Boys experienced a resurgence in 1974 when the compilation Endless Summer became a surprise hit. It reached Number 1 and staying in the charts for over a year. The Beach Boys went back on the road, sans Brian Wilson, for a huge tour. A second compilation, Spirit Of America, was almost as big as Endless Summer. 1976's 15 Big Ones was their first album in three years containing new material. It also included a hit cover version of Chuck Berry's "Rock And Roll Music". Their follow up, The Beach Boys Love You, was reviewed as on of the group's best album in years. They released one more album on Capitol, 1979's M.I.U. Album and then moved to CBS, where they released the critical and commercial flops L.A. (Light Album) and Keepin' the Summer Alive.

In 1980, both Dennis and Carl left the Beach Boys for solo careers. Brian Wilson left as well in 1982. Dennis Wilson drowned in 1983 and his death brought the Beach Boys back together, even Brian now appeared on stage. They released one more CBS album, 1985's The Beach Boys, which included a Top 40 hit, "Getcha Back." The Beach Boys instead concentrated on touring and the occasional single.
In 1988, Brian Wilson began his solo career with a critically hailed self titled solo album. That same year The Beach Boys had their last hit, the huge Number 1 "Kokomo." Despite the many quarrels, the Beach Boys kept touring during the early '90s, and Mike and Brian actually began writing songs together in 1995. Instead of a new album though, the Beach Boys returned with Stars and Stripes, Vol. 1, a collection of remade hits with country stars singing lead and the group adding backing vocals. Also, a Brian Wilson documentary titled I Just Wasn't Made for These Times aired on the Disney Channel, with an accompanying soundtrack featuring spare renditions of Beach Boys classics by Brian himself.I n 2000, Capitol instituted a long-promised reissue campaign, focusing on the group's long out of print '70s LPs.