Long Promised Road: Carl Wilson, Soul Of The Beach Boys tells the story of the youngest of the three Wilson brothers, a consummate musician and singer and a natural peacemaker.Robbed of a normal childhood by international stardom, Carl marked out his own territory by his devotion to the guitar, rock’n’roll, and rhythm & blues. His electric lead lines ensured the fledgling vocal group were able to ride the surf music wave—before redefining it altogether.

Is it fair to call Carl Wilson the “accidental” Beach Boy?He was the youngest brother and cousin in the world’s most enduring and prominent California surf band, the one that probably had other youthful pursuits in mind when older brother Brian recruited him to the band in the early 1960s at age 15.But the rest of The Beach Boys were lucky he got around I mean, came around as Carl eventually became the band’s musical director, lead vocalist and its conscience in the absence of brother Bria...