'Thank God for giving us him': Milwaukee's Beach Boys cover band remembers Brian Wilson

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Brian Wilson – the man behind The Beach Boys -- died Wednesday, June 11. He was 82.

His musical legacy lives on. In Milwaukee, cover band Catch a Wave was founded in 1986 and for nearly four decades, they’ve honored The Beach Boys legacy at the Wisconsin State Fair.

“It’s that happy, fun, you know roll the windows down the car, being a perfect 75° day and stuff like that and just cruising the lakefront and just forgetting about everything,” said Kevin Kamin, the lead singer of Catch a Wave.

The California crooning that took the nation by storm, the Beach Boys left their mark on music and Milwaukee.

“It was a good hour tribute just to The Beach Boys,” said Kamin. “What they have done for the music industry over the years and for musicians like myself that are really into that style of music. It’s just an incredible feeling when you're on stage being able to perform their greatest hits.”

For Kamin, standing up on the stage and singing the same songs lead singer Wilson has been more than just a performance, it’s been a way to honor his music and now, Wilson’s legacy.

“What made Brian Wilson so spectacular is that he never just settled for being mediocre,” said Kamin. “It was really sad and it kind of wanted me to go back in my room, no pun intended and just start writing all over again.”

Kamin says Wilson's influence on music today is hard to describe, but it’s pretty easy to listen to.

“Thank God for giving us him. To be honest with you. Thank you, God, for giving us a man like this that sees the big picture in music,” said Kamin.

Catch a Wave will be honoring The Beach Boys once again at this year’s Wisconsin State Fair in August.