Brian Wilson calls his band the best he's ever worked with. Paul McCartney echoed these sentiments when he called them "the best touring band in the world." Brian's band has earned rave reviews from critics and fans alike for bringing Brian's master studio recordings to life on stage. Following are bios of these great talents, along with links to their respective websites for more information.

Visit the Brian Wilson Band's MySpace space >

 
Jeff Foskett
A great vocalist who can emulate the sounds of a young Brian Wilson, a student of the classic surf guitar style of a young Carl Wilson, and a power pop artist who has written and recorded with power pop luminaries such as Doug Fieger (The Knack), Bill Lloyd, and Marshall Crenshaw. Jeffrey has recorded roughly a half dozen CDs of his own Wilson/early Beatles influenced music. And he also has a "best of" disc called "Stars in the Sand" on the Pop Collective label.

Jeff is also a member of California's Papa Doo Run Run. Jeffrey has enjoyed a 25 year association with Brian and the Beach Boys, having spent 10 years as a sideman in the Beach Boys touring band and a key member of Brian's touring band. In addition to Brian himself, Jeffrey was one of a handful of musicians who performed at both the original Live Aid concert and the Live 8 sequel in Berlin.

Website >

 
Darian Sahanaja
Darian Sahanaja was born in Indonesia and emigrated to Los Angeles just in time to witness the "giant leap for mankind" on the black and white television console. Though he had a difficult time grasping the language of this new country, music and art came easily and he was encouraged to develop those talents at an early age, starting piano lessons at seven and oil painting when he was eleven. His world changed when he heard "I Get Around" on the radio and bought his very first album "Endless Summer" with his saved-up allowance. He attended Eagle Rock Junior / Senior High School which was the only six year combined high school in Los Angeles. The school had a very prestigious jazz program and his talent was noticed early and nurtured from that point on. He took on studying the vibraphone with Gene Estes (original Wrecking Crew percussionist) and was eventually made a member of the California All-Star Jazz Band and performing at the Monterey Jazz Festival two years in a row. He later studied music and art at Cal State University Northridge.

When Darian met Nick Walusko, they hit it off instantly and their combined song writing became something they called Wondermints. As members were added (which included Probyn Gregory and Mike D’Amico) for live performances, Wondermints soon became an integral presence in the then burgeoning L.A. pop movement. The strength of their song writing got them a contract with EMI Publishing placing songs in television and films such as "Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery." Of course they also caught the attention of Brian Wilson. They would never think in their wildest dreams that they would spend the next ten years as part of his band, but fate had other plans.

In 2003, Darian was invited to tour with the band Heart and has continued to be involved with them over the years. By the end of that year and into 2004, Darian dedicated himself to the realization of "Brian Wilson Presents Smile." Darian is currently scoring an animated series for Disney called "The Replacements" and is a supporting musician for the recent 40th Anniversary performances of "Odessey & Oracle" by the Zombies. Darian enjoys everything to do with psychotronic film, unusual keyboards, and geeky gals ("because their brains are sexy").
 
Scott Bennett
Scott Bennett Scott is a versatile multi-instrumentalist who has played keyboards, mallets, percussion, and an incendiary lead guitar on occasion. He possesses a golden tenor. Plus, he looks like he could have been a Beach Boy!

Originally from Chicago, but now based in L.A., Scott is also a composer and recording artist in his own right. He released in 2004, "The Dotted Line," an album that melds modern rock with a strong melodic sensibility. In addition to his work with Brian, Scott has also lent his talents to artists like Liz Phair and the Flaming Lips. His boundless energy certainly adds a great deal to the Brian Wilson concert experience.

MySpace >

 
Probyn Gregory
Probyn Gregory is a composer and multi-instrumentalist/vocalist based in Los Angeles. For the past 9 years he has been a member of the Brian Wilson Band (2005 Grammy award), and has performed/recorded with Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Eric Clapton, Heart, Arthur Lee and Love, Jan & Dean, Andrew Gold, Badly Drawn Boy, Peter Case, Eels, Wondermints, TNP/Stew, The Groundlings house band and innumerable others over the past 25 years.

He created Valentunes, a musical Valentine company, and wrote and recorded 19 songs for a Children’s TV Workshop science series. Probyn is also a summer director at Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music, and has composed and recorded for several music libraries. Currently his website is under renovation, his online presence is at myspace.com/probyngregory. He is at his best full of berries and lying in a mountain stream.

MySpace >

 
NIcky Walusko
"I grew up in Hollywood in the mid-1960s several blocks away from where Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys recorded all those fantastic songs. The first recollection I have of hearing Brian’s music is the opening mysterious intro chords to ‘California Girls’ – that really had me going! All throughout grade school and high school Brian’s music played a prominent role in my musical education and sensibilities. Quite honestly, I started playing music sort of late in my life because I was a science major (though music obviously won out in the end). I attempted to play French horn in my high school years and also started dabbling with guitar. In my first few years of college at Cal State Northridge I met up with Darian (through a mutual friend).

We had a lot of the same likes and dislikes for Pop Culture – which was a good thing because it ultimately established our artist relationship as well as a genuine friendship. His esthetics for art and music were pretty much aligned with mine. This led to us forming a band in the early 1990s: [the] Wondermints, and who along with our drummer, Mike D’Amico, covered a lot of Beach Boys-related material at all the various venues around Los Angeles. We played clubs, bars, coffee houses, et cetera. In the mid-90s Brian saw us playing one night while visiting the Sunset Strip and apparently liked what he heard. He made a comment that was highly complimentary (this info was passed on to us and we were of course thrilled). It wasn’t until a little later in 1998 that our manager got a call from his representatives and invited us to join his newly formed touring band. Our first tours were mainly situated in the Great Lakes region, but slowly spread out to the East and West Coast, and then to Japan and beyond – this took place in early 1999.

As the years progressed we added more challenging material from the vast Brian Wilson songbook. Playing the classic album, “Pet Sounds”, and then re-creating the unfinished magnum opus known as “Smile”, from start to finish, was only but a few of the high points in playing Brian’s music live. Our ten-piece band, I believe, really pays attention to the minutiae of production and sound without getting lost in the individual details of the arrangements – a difficult task indeed. Every member is highly talented. I am proud to do my dedicated part of playing guitar and singing vocals. It is a pleasure and a real privilege to be able to this music night after night – I never forget that while I’m up on stage during one of our tours. This man’s music is so full of love and beauty --- audiences need and respond to that kind of ‘positive vibe,’ especially nowadays. I know I do."

 
Taylor Mills
“Taylor Mills sings like an angel.” – Brian Wilson
“Taylor Mills is a gorgeous girl with a gorgeous voice.” – Roger Daltrey

You’ve probably already heard the unforgettable voice of Taylor Mills. You might have seen her too: a striking blonde not easily overlooked, even among celebrities and superstars.

And now, with her solo debut Lullagoodbye, you’ll be able at last to attach her name to her sound and charisma.

For the past few years, Mills has traveled with Brian Wilson, recording on his Grammy-winning epic SMiLE project and performing with him at venues that have ranged from the Hollywood Bowl to Buckingham Palace to Glastonbury Festival and to the Berlin stage for Live Aid 2. No matter where they’ve gone, she has been easy to pick out, as the only female member of his ensemble.

She’s performed as well with Billy Joel and shared the stage with the likes of Elton John, John Legend, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Sir Paul McCartney. In this heady company she is no stranger, known for her powerful yet disciplined vocals and pulse-quickening presence.

Yet her moment has come to rise beyond these starry circles and shine in the wider world. Lullagoodbye is her ticket to the kind of fame she has long deserved – and your introduction to an artist whose music makes a difference.

The liquid, silvery imagery of “Raven” (sweetened by harmonies from Brian Wilson, one of his two appearances on the album), the irresistible chorus hook on “Genie in the Bottle” (featuring another all-star guest shot, from Tommy Shaw of Styx), the intriguing arrangement and imagery of “Keep the Saints from Leaving,” showcasing Taylor’s ability to cover every corner of vocal dynamics and lyrical imagery …

On every track, in fact, Lullagoodbye is a triumph for a seasoned newcomer and a stunning introduction to one of the best-kept secrets in music today.

It’s also not what you would expect at all to hear from a Midwestern girl with cheerleading, dance, clear-minded ambition, and a golden voice mingling among her roots.

Raised in Des Moines, Iowa, the daughter of loving but strict Baptist parents, Taylor developed her taste for melody as a child. Her listening leaned toward pop and R&B, from the Carpenters to Roberta Flack – singers who tempered technique with personal shades of soul.

Taylor knew from the start that she wanted to pursue just one goal: to bring her talent for singing to its fullest possible flower. And so, as quickly as possible after high school, she packed up and headed to the nearest big city that seemed to offer a way to chase that dream.

She arrived in Chicago, knowing no one but made connections quickly. Fresh from Iowa, she took her place in a 17 piece band among four more experienced backup singers, all of them grounded in black gospel and R&B. "I listened like crazy and stole everything I heard from them," Taylor remembers, laughing. This lead to gigs around the city with other bands including the award-winning jazz saxophonist, Steve Cole, whose Atlantic Records debut was number one on the jazz charts.

What Taylor learned set her up for the biggest break of her career. When Cole’s drummer, Todd Sucherman, heard that Brian Wilson was looking to hire a female singer for his touring band – specifically, Sucherman remembers, “someone who was pretty and could singer her butt off” – he knew that Taylor was the perfect fit.

That’s all it took to bring her to Wilson’s home outside of Chicago for an audition. “I didn’t know what to expect,” she says. “Even though I knew the ‘beachier’ stuff he’d done with the Beach Boys, I wasn’t at all aware of Pet Sounds, SMiLE, or any of the really great stuff that he’d created over the years.”

And so, while she might have expected to hear “Surfer Girl” coming over her headphones, she was asked instead to sing along to “Surf’s Up,” one of the most enigmatic, difficult, and gorgeous works in Wilson’s repertoire. “I’d never heard the song in my life,” she says, “but they let me take a few minutes to listen to it. I memorized what I heard and sang my part, and the music director was like, ‘Yeah, I think we want you.’”

Her professional association with Wilson endures to this day. So do her personal ties to Sucherman, now her husband. Eventually, once she had established herself with Wilson, they began working together on her solo album. Progress was admittedly slow, as they began their lives together, moved first to Los Angeles and more recently to Austin, and juggled their schedules, with Taylor often on the road with Wilson and Sucherman behind the drums with Styx.

Over time, though, they assembled the material, most of it written or co-written by Scott Bennett, also a member of Wilson’s band. (Three tracks were written or co-written by Nicholas Markos, a childhood friend of Sucherman’s and a member of the group Bee; the last one, the wistfully romantic “Wish Me Well,” is a rarity from the Blue Nile’s catalog.) Sucherman recorded the drum parts; Bennett handled everything else. The results, then, are a true labor of love, professionally executed yet intimate – a perfect complement to Taylor’s strengths as a singer.

“All of these songs have great melodies and touch something inside of me,” she explains. “But maybe the most amazing thing about them is how they fit together to describe an arc of relationships, from beginning to end. Lullagoodbye isn’t exactly a story album, but it does tell a story about honesty, finding yourself, finding and losing love – things we can all relate to.”

Beginning, appropriately, with a visit to the “Center of Your Heart,” visiting moments of doubt and indecision (“Anything”), loss and reaffirmation (“Hello Sun”), proclaiming independence with power and passion (“Consolation Prize”) yet confessing to the wisdom that comes with being wounded in love (“Disappear”) and admitting to ambiguities that may never find resolution (“cradle me with arms of weakness,” the plea to “Cradle Me”), Lullagoodbye takes us through the highs and lows of life, with one exceptional singer as our guide.

You’ll see Taylor again, to be sure, with Brian Wilson and other headliners in years to come. But from the first strains of Lullagoodbye she steps as well into the spotlight on her own. Take a good, long look. Open your ears to an exceptional talent.

Say hello to Lullagoodbye … and let the secret out: Taylor Mills is here to stay.

Website >

MySpace >

 
Paul Mertens
Paul Mertens is a Chicago-based composer/arranger and a performer on saxophone, flute, clarinet and harmonica. He has performed and recorded with a variety of artists including Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Mavis Staples, Stereolab, The Sea and Cake, and Wilco. He is currently a member of the Brian Wilson Band and Poi Dog Pondering.

Paul has written arrangements and performed for Brian Wilson's tour and Grammy-winning recording of "Smile", the Pet Sounds Tour, "Live In London" "Gettin' In Over My Head" and Brian's latest recording "That Lucky Old Sun". His arrangement of "Dvorak Re-mix Fantasy" was premiered at Orchestra Hall with Poi Dog and the Chicago Sinfonietta in 2005, and "Carmen Remix" in 2008.

Writing credits include music for Steppenwolf Theater, the Peabody Award-winning documentary "The Lost Children of Rockdale County"and "Merchants of Cool" for Frontline, and the long-running "Workplace Essential Skills" for PBS.

Paul and his wife, Cynthia Von Orthal, have written and performed an original puppet musicals "Akuba's Dream" "The Yellow Wallpaper" "Peaches and Popcorn" and "Tara's Story" for their own company, Von Orthal Puppets.

 
Nelson Bragg
In 1992, Nelson Bragg was told by L.A. songwriter and late 70's rocker Chris Fradkin (co-author of The Plimsouls classic "A Million Miles Away), that he should move to Los Angeles. L.A. needed a good singing drummer. It took Nelson seven years to work up the courage to take his advice…

Nelson started drumming at Boston's Emerson College as a traps player for musicals. That led him to performing for eight musicals in as many weeks at The New London Barn Playhouse in New Hampshire. That kind of discipline taught him all he needed to know about dynamics in percussion. "You have to play for the actors, the musical director and the audience. Rehearse the next show by day, play the current show by night. That's a lot of pressure, so I left and became a slacker at Bard College in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY, home to Steely Dan.”

There began Nelson’s 80's odyssey with "Big Noise," Woodstock’s post punk dance band that got its start at Bard. That trip lasted for six amazing years of world beat, Ska, Rock and funk weirdness. Towards the end of the decade he left and tried his luck in NYC, where he landed a job at Manhattan Center Studios (home to The Hammerstein Ballroom) as the "house drummer" and elevator operator. Seven or eight bad heavy-metal records later with dignity somehow intact, Nelson moved back to the security of his hometown, Rockport, MA.

As the 1990's trudged along in Massachusetts, Nelson lent his talents to numerous bands, most notably the folk-rock outfit "Farmhouse" and a stint with Boston rock icon Brian Maes. "Working with Brian taught me a lot about how to have fun and to stop worrying about things.” In 1999 that worry-free attitude finally led him to take his friend Chris's advice. He moved to Los Angeles, and was back where he started: at the bottom of the barrel.

For the next four years, Nelson focused on his passion for melodic pop music with emphasis on vocal harmonies. That led him to play drums and sing in stellar L.A. bands The Quarter After, Cloud Eleven, The Mello Cads, The Now People, The Mockers and rock/poet Stew. It was after recording at Wondermints’ studio and auditioning for a Byrds tribute band led by Andrew Gold and Jeffrey Foskett that Nelson appeared on The Brian Wilson Band radar. In 2003 Nelson was hired for the Smile project, joining the band on percussion and vocals.

Recording and touring with Brian for the next four years inspired Nelson to release a solo CD "Day Into Night," (Side B Music) to much critical acclaim. "That record is a big deal to me. It was the culmination of many years of music and life experience. Playing with Brian Wilson? That was the catalyst for finally doing it. All that music rolling around in my head...it was overwhelming." The CD came out in 2007.

"All in all, I am so grateful to be experiencing The Brian Wilson Band. It's a gift from God."

Nelson cites his twin sister Louise as his main inspiration.

Website >

 
Mike D'Amico
Michael D'Amico is a multi-instrumentalist , singer / songwriter originally from New York City. After many years of live performances and recording sessions, Michael joined the L.A. based Wondermints in 1992. Throughout the 90's, the Wondermints have enjoyed success all over the world including Japan and the U.K. They were also featured on the 'Austin Powers' film soundtrack and Rolling Stone magazine. In 1999, the Wondermints joined Brian Wilson's newly formed solo band.

His original position was on percussion / guitar / vocals and is currently Brian's drummer. He has performed with Paul McCartney , Billy Joel , Elton John, Heart, Vince Gill, Carol Kaye and Nancy Sinatra to name a few.

He resides in West Palm Beach , Florida with his wife Cynthia and daughter Malena.

 
Todd Sucherman
Todd Sucherman grew up the youngest in a musical family and has been playing the drums since the age of two and professionally since he was six. He has held the drum chair for the multi platinum band STYX for the past twelve years, touring the world and recording several albums with them.

He has also recorded and performed with artists as diverse as Brian Wilson, Peter Cetera, Eric Marienthal, Spinal Tap, Steve Cole, Michael Bolton, John Wetton, Brian Culbertson, Tommy Shaw and many more. Sucherman co produced with Scott Bennett on Taylor Mills' "Lullagoodbye" record in 2007 and 2008 sees the release of his 5 hour drum instructional DVD "Methods and Mechanics."

Website >

 
Brett Simons
"Howdy! Brett Simons here. I'm a Bassist, Producer, Composer, Songwriter and all-around Collaborator currently living in Los Angeles. I feel I've been very lucky in striking a comfortable balance between working as a producer, multi-instrumentalist and writer, while touring just enough to keep it fresh – all with a diverse palette of artists whose work I really enjoy.

A few projects that I've recently been involved with as a sideman include current releases by Peter Himmelman and Michael Brook and recent releases by Aidan Hawken and Christian Doscher.

I've had the pleasure of touring with artists whose music I really dig. These include most recently Pat Monahan and Fiona Apple and in the not so distant past Anastacia and Liz Phair, among others.

I'm also involved with a handful of projects of my own which are due to see the light of day soon. A couple casual gatherings with guitarist Julian Coryell, keyboardist Jeremy Ruzumna and drummer Herb Graham Jr. turned into four solid days of purposeful freestyling in the studio. A lot of music was made. We intend to sort through the damage and create a monster. Another is Date/Of/Birth is a Jazz/Ambient trio with piano/keyboardist Deron Johnson and drummer Oscar Seaton and Shiny is a sort of collective of Chicago based musicians started back in 1998. Both of these projects are slated to be released on my label Veristic Records later this summer.

I recently did some recording for Brian Wilson's record That Lucky Old Sun, to be released on Capitol in early September. I was subsequently asked to join the touring ensemble and just a couple weeks later found myself back at Capitol to shoot a DVD of the new work top to bottom live in the studio. Some footage from the DVD can be viewed in this EPK from Brian's site."

Website >

MySpace >

 
The Wondermints
Although they don't share the vast performing experiences that their colleagues share, they are both active students of classic 60's pop production techniques and arranging styles (Priore has stated that back in the 80's, Darian and Nick used to wow their pals with note-perfect living room renditions of "Pet Sounds" numbers).

They started writing and recording their own songs for themsleves and other artists (a Christmas album by Lisa Mychols titled "Lost Winter's Dream," and Baby Lemonade's "Exploring Music"). The band was performing at a 1994 Brian Wilson tribute show in Santa Monica when Brian himself first saw them perform. It was during their set that Wilson remarked, "If I had these guys in 1967, I could have taken SMiLE out on the road." That is exactly what happened.

Darian Sahanja, with his keen studio expertise was credited as "musical secretary" for the 2004 SMiLE. Armed with a laptop full of the original music from the multi-tracks (and his own collection of SMiLE boots), Darian helped Brian and SMiLE collaborator Van Dyke Parks put the pieces of the SMiLE puzzle together culminating in one of the greatest pop events of 2004, if not of the new millenium. They are both supremely talented singers/songwriters with three studio albums of original songs to their credit and one "covers" album as well.

MySpace >

 
The Stockholm Strings 'n Horns
Hailing from Stockholm, Sweden, this is the orchestral ensemble that performed and recorded with the band in 2004 and 2005 for the SMiLE shows, studio CD, and live DVD, as well as playing on the 2007 tour of That Lucky Old Sun in the UK. They came to the attention of 60's pop fans via their performances with Arthur Lee and Love during a tour where the classic Love album "Forever Changes" was performed. Their work greatly enhanced the SMiLE experience live, and they clearly had a lot of fun onstage.

Website >

.

 
Click to view Brian and his band bring down the house with "California Girls."