Brian Wilson in 2015

Bruce Springsteen has paid a heartfelt tribute to late “maestro” Brian Wilson.

On Wednesday, family members announced that the co-founder of the Beach Boys had died at the age of 82.

A cause of death wasn’t announced, though Brian had been diagnosed with dementia in February 2024.

Following the sad news, Bruce took to Instagram on Thursday to issue an emotional statement.

“Brian Wilson was the most musically inventive voice in all of pop, with an otherworldly ear for harmony. He was also the visionary leader of America’s greatest band, The Beach Boys. If there’d been no Beach Boys, there would have been no Racing In The Street,” he wrote, referring to his 1978 track. “Listen to Summer’s Gone from The Beach Boys’ last album That’s Why God Made The Radio and weep.”

To conclude, Bruce declared he had “nothing but love and a lovely lasting debt” to the Good Vibrations hitmaker.

“Farewell, Maestro,” he stated.

In addition, Dolly Parton shared her own message in honour of Brian via Instagram Stories.

“I never was a beach babe, but I loved his music like everybody else. I thought Brian Wilson was a genius, and I still think it,” the country music icon commented.

Meanwhile, Beach Boys co-founder Al Jardine remembered Brian as his “brother in spirit”.

“You were a humble giant who always made me laugh and we will celebrate your music forever. Brian, I’ll really miss you… still I have the warmth of the sun,” he praised.

And in a lengthy statement, Beach Boys vocalist Mike Love described his “beloved cousin” as a “genius”.

“From the first time we sang together as kids in my living room, I knew there was something otherworldly in him. His musical gifts were unmatched. The melodies he dreamed up, the emotions he poured into every note – Brian changed the course of music forever,” the singer added.