Brian Wilson To Finish George Gershwin Songs

It seems like there hasn’t been anything in the news besides new touring bands, side projects, and possible collaborations.

Add this one to your mental notepad. Pair famous composer George Gershwin, known for his sophisticated and beautiful jazz standards like “Rhapsody in Blue ” and  “Someone To Watch Over Me”  with Beach Boy chief songwriter Brian Wilson, known for catchy hits like “I Get Around” and “California Girls,” and we have the first collaboration beyond the mortal realm.

The LA Times has reported that the estate of the George Gershwin recently authorized Wilson to complete some songs left behind when the composer passed away in 1937.

Although the pairing of the two may seem out of nowhere, Gershwin’s great-nephew, Todd Gershwin, states that the decision seemed very logical after they had thought about it:

“George for his time was a visionary. He certainly crossed genres and musical lines, tried things that hadn’t been done before and Brian Wilson has done exactly the same thing.”

How does 67-year-old Beach Boy think about the opportunity? Wilson is “thrilled to death” to pick up where the legend left off but is also very aware that doing fragments (sitting in dust for seven decades) justice won’t be an easy task. Todd Gershwin mentioned that the pieces of music vary from “a few bars to some almost finished songs and everything in between.”

Wilson will be completing at least two songs while numerous others are in the hands of Warner/Chappell Music. Pianists have been working old manuscripts and producers have been thinking about putting unfinished pieces in a Gershwin tribute featuring dozens of artists, hopefully released in 2010.

Do you think Wilson can do the job?