Brian Wilson Gets ‘A’ for ‘Surfin’ from His High School, Set To Play in Concert in Viera May 19

By  //  March 15, 2018

Tickets on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations

A bit of high school credit recovery never drew so much fanfare — or so many millions of dollars in profit — as when Beach Boy Brian Wilson, 75, returned to his California high school and saw an “F” he got on a music assignment turned into an “A” by Principal Vanessa Landesfeind. Wilson, one of the most innovative and significant songwriters of the 20th century, will perform a special concert featuring his critically-acclaimed Pet Sounds 50th Anniversary World Tour at Space Coast Daily Park in Viera on Saturday, May 19.

Brian Wilson Presents Pet Sounds, May 19 in Viera: The Final Performances with special guests Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin

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A bit of high school credit recovery never drew so much fanfare — or so many millions of dollars in profit — as when Beach Boy Brian Wilson, 75, returned to his California high school and saw an “F” he got on a music assignment turned into an “A.”

Wilson, one of the most innovative and significant songwriters of the 20th century, will perform a special concert featuring his critically-acclaimed Pet Sounds 50th Anniversary World Tour at Space Coast Daily Park in Viera, Florida on Saturday, May 19.

Back in the 1950s, Wilson wrote a song for his Hawthorne High School music class that hit a sour note with teacher Fred Morgan, resulting in a failing grade. But that song, ‘Surfin’, became a hit for Wilson, his brothers Dennis and Carl, cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine — the original Beach Boys.

It was the group’s first single, in 1963, helping the band rocket to fame.

“Brian wrote a composition for me and it turned out to be ‘Surfin,’ Wilson quoted Morgan as saying, according to the Daily Breeze. “That composition got an ‘F,’ but it made a million dollars.”

This latest case of grade inflation came as Wilson was visiting his Los Angeles high school while filming a documentary. Principal Vanessa Landesfeind took the opportunity to present him with a certificate reversing the half-century-old grade, turning Wilson’s “F” into an “A.”

“It’s Beach Boys legend that he was failed on this one assignment,” Landesfeind told the newspaper. “He was a good student and an athlete. He never failed a class. It was our opportunity to say: ‘You’re awesome. We’re honored to have you at the school.’”




ABOVE VIDEO: Brian Wilson began his career as a teenaged founding member of The Beach Boys, who signed with Capitol Records in July 1962 and released their first album, Surfin’ Safari, that same year. The band’s initial surf-rock focus was soon broadened to include other themes.

ONE MORE CHANCE

You’ve got one more chance to see one of the great American albums of all time performed live with its creator. The 50th-anniversary tour of “Pet Sounds,” Brian Wilson’s teenage symphony to God, will be at Space Coast Daily Park on Saturday, May 19.

Named one of Rolling Stone’s Greatest Tours of 2017, the tour has traveled to more than 24 countries and delivered 180 performances since its launch in 2016. Wilson will be joined by special guests Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin.

“We are so fortunate and proud to bring legendary Brian Wilson to Brevard,” said Tom Palermo, a partner and the Publisher of Space Coast Daily.

“This will be an amazing opportunity to see Brian Wilson perform – don’t miss it.”

Tickets are on sale at all Ticketmaster locations, and for more information e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com or call 855-386-3836 or 321-323-4460.

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

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ABOVE MAP:  Space Coast Daily Park is a 30-acre outdoor event and entertainment venue located at at 6091 Stadium Parkway in Viera, Florida, next to Viera High School and across the street from Space Coast Stadium. Among the park’s amenities are 1,500 parking spaces and a large event space, suitable for a wide variety of outdoor activities.

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