Brian Wilson, the musical savant who scripted a defining Southern California soundtrack with a run of hit songs with the Beach Boys before being pulled down a rabbit hole of despair and depression when his highly anticipated masterwork was shelved unfinished,

"We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away," the statement read. "We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving.

Wilson's fellow founding Beach Boys members also paid tribute. Al Jardine, best known as the band's rhythm guitarist and occasionally singing lead vocals, calls Wilson "my friend, my classmate, my football teammate,

The Beach Boys' founding member never seemed to encounter a genre, instrument or movement he didn’t want to incorporate into his soundscape. That’s why it’s equally surprising and totally believable that at the very start of the '90s he recorded a rap song,

In the comments, Margo Price wrote, “So grateful for all the beautiful music and compassion he brought into the world, while Paul McCartney guitarist Brian Ray added: “Oh geez, I’m so saddened to hear this news. I was just walking through a hotel lobby less than five minutes ago, and I thought of them, wondering how he’s doing and now.”