In Memory of Brian Wilson and the Spirit He Helped Shape

Yesterday’s passing of Brian Wilson, the legendary co-founder of The Beach Boys, marks the end of an era. For many, his music wasn’t just a soundtrack to summers gone by — it was a blueprint for a lifestyle. Songs like Surfin’ USA and Kokomo painted a picture of coastal freedom, friendship, and sun-soaked simplicity. And while surf culture was born on the West Coast, its echoes found a home here in our corner of the Gulf Coast — in the breezy rhythm of Madeira Beach, the small-town charm of Treasure Island, the family-friendly shores of St. Pete Beach, and the eclectic spirit of Gulfport.

In these towns, the spirit of surf culture lives on — not just in enjoying our beaches but in the sense of community that has always been at its heart.

Surf culture, especially in its heyday during the mid-20th century, was more than beach parties and board shorts. It was about belonging. It brought people together through a shared love for the ocean and the freedom it offered. That same ethos pulses through our beachside communities today. Walk through a weekend market in Gulfport, or catch a local band playing a sunset set at Sloppy Joe’s or Ka’tiki’s in Treasure Island, and you’ll feel it — the warmth, the welcome, the togetherness.

There’s also the environmental awareness that surf culture inspired — the respect for clean water, for untouched coastline, and for living in harmony with nature. As our cities grapple with “build it higher” development pressures, that stewardship is more important than ever. Just like surfers in the '60s rallied for cleaner beaches in California, residents here are stepping up to protect our fragile barrier islands and our marine life from the ill effects of increased density.

Brian Wilson once said, “Music is God’s voice.” Through his harmonies, he gave voice to something sacred — a longing for simplicity, beauty, and connection. That’s a longing our communities understand well. We’re proud of our small-town feel, even as larger forces push for change. In many ways, surf culture — and the music that brought it to life — gives us a blueprint for holding onto what matters most.

We may not all be surfers. But we do know the feeling of salt in the air, of sand underfoot, of waving to neighbors and chatting with shopkeepers who know your name. In that sense, we all know a little place like Kokomo. And maybe, just maybe, we live in it too.

As we say goodbye to Brian Wilson, we remember more than a man. We remember a movement — one that brought joy, community, and rhythm to our Gulf Beach communities. Let’s honor that legacy not just with nostalgia, but with intention: to preserve what makes our towns special, to foster belonging, and to keep the good vibrations going.

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Share this newsletter with your friends and neighbors. Sign up for the Citizen Beach group on Facebook, where we’ll be holding Facebook Live events, email me (Carlos Miro at [email protected] with your thoughts). We are creating an initial group to begin the process of ensuring we maintain our small-town environment.

Share your thoughts, or volunteer for local efforts to keep our height limit in place. Together, we can protect the small-town soul of Treasure Island, ensuring it remains a beacon of togetherness for generations to come.

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