When one learns of a genius musician, it’s hard not to research everything one can about that artist’s process. This is especially the case if you’re a musician yourself. I’ve spent quite a bit of time studying the genius of more than a few musicians, hoping to find some trick, detail, or advice that could help me make better music.

For many of the true musical geniuses of the 20th century, there’s no “trick” to be found. A lot of those artists were simply gifted. I’d say that Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys is one example, as he produced countless glorious gems in the surf rock and experimental rock world, starting with “Surfer Girl”.

But is “Surfer Girl” really Brian Wilson’s very first original composition? Is it truly the first song to usher in a career that will be studied by music historians for decades? According to some of Wilson’s old friends, “Surfer Girl” might not actually be Brian Wilson’s first song. Let’s look at the facts and the hearsay, shall we?

The Truth Behind “Surfer Girl” by The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson’s Alleged First Song

“Surfer Girl” was released by The Beach Boys in 1963 and is often hailed as Brian Wilson’s very first original song. And what a first song it was. “Surfer Girl” made it all the way to No. 7 on the Hot 100 chart. The sunshine pop, doo-wop tune was the title track of the band’s third album of the same name. It was also the first song to credit Wilson as the producer.

The song was written by Brian Wilson about a woman named Judy Bowles. Wilson had dated her for several years, and it was his first serious relationship. The song was also based on, or at least inspired by, a rendition of “When You Wish Upon A Star” from Dion And The Belmonts. 

According to Wilson himself, “Surfer Girl” was his very first original composition. However, this has been disputed by a few close high school friends of Brian Wilson, who said that he had written a few songs before recording “Surfer Girl”. 

It doesn’t help that Wilson gave different accounts of the song’s origins in interviews. He said it was inspired by “When You Wish Upon A Star”, but then said that the song simply came to him when he was humming to himself on the road. He also said the song was written about Bowles, but she disputed this herself, citing Wilson’s autobiography, which noted that he wrote it “without anyone in mind.”

So, is “Surfer Girl” by Brian Wilson truly the genius’s first song? We’ll likely never know the truth.

Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images