Brian Wilson, cofounder of The Beach Boys and the creative force behind the group’s surf sound, orchestral arrangements and perfect harmonies, has died, his family announced on Wednesday.

Armstrong is one of the many musicians who have paid tribute to Wilson; Sting also covered the Beach Boys ‘ “ God Only Knows ” at a concert in Germany. “Today, one of my heroes died, Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys,” he said prior to the performance. “So I want to sing a song that I love.”

Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys co-founder and legendary songwriter dead at 82. The creative force behind the iconic California band has passed away at 82-years-old confirmed by his family on Wednesday.

Brian Wilson built a sizable net worth after decades in the music business and several top-10 hits with The Beach Boys during his career.

Worcester police ordered the curtain down on the Beach Boys’ performance and called off the sold-out show on Friday, Oct. 30, 1964, after an estimated 500 youngsters in an overflow sell-out crowd of 3,500 stormed the stage.

Brian Wilson, the driving force behind the Beach Boys whose sprawling compositional prowess influenced rock musicians from the Beatles to Radiohead and points between, has died, his family announced Wednesday.