The Beach Boys are an American rock band formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California, originally featuring brothers Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Known for their signature vocal harmonies and innovative songwriting, the group pioneered the "California sound" with hits about surfing, cars, and youth culture. Under Brian Wilson’s creative leadership, The Beach Boys blended elements of pop, rock and roll, R and B, and classical music, producing groundbreaking albums like Pet Sounds and iconic singles such as Good Vibrations. Despite lineup changes and periods of decline, they continued touring and recording, influencing genres from psychedelia to alternative rock. The band has sold over 100 million records worldwide, achieved 37 US Top 40 hits, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. Their legacy endures as one of the most influential and acclaimed groups in popular music history.