It's not rare to see Wilson's bright, sunny Southern California music with The Beach Boys used to contrast dark moments on film. Nowhere is this better exemplified than in the opening of Roger & Me, Michael Moore's breakout documentary showing the crumbling of Flint, Michigan in the 1980s.

I think the most comforting thought right now is that you are reunited with Carl and Dennis, singing those beautiful harmonies again,” founding member Al Jardine said.

Brian Wilson, an eclectic genius whose sunny Beach Boys songs like "God Only Knows" and "Good Vibrations" helped define American pop music, has died.