糖心vlog archives: Iowa woman sings backup to Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson
Everybody knows the Beach Boys and their distinctive good time 1960s surf music sound. But not many people know what this Des Moines woman knows. You're so excited because that's your daughter and she's my baby daughter. Or what the Des Moines recording studio operator who gave her her start knows and the first commercial we did The Taylor Mills, formerly of Des Moines, now of Los Angeles, sings with the biggest Beach Boy of all, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Brian Wilson. I knew of the Beach Boys and I liked their stuff, but I wasn't *** disciple or anything of the music. Mills says that may have helped her when she auditioned for Wilson's band in 1999. Wilson is *** highly regarded musician's musician, and Mills says if she'd fully understood the depth and complexity of his music and his place in music history back then, she might have gotten scared and never got the gig. Wilson is the chief creator of Complex Harmony, so Mills, *** backup singer with solo artist talent, has to blend in with 8 other sensational singers on stage. We do it for Brian. We do it for the music, and we all love him and love the music so much that it just, it's not *** challenge at all. We caught up with Mills and the band in Kansas City on the Smile tour. Wilson started writing and recording Smile in 1967, but due to drug and mental health problems, he didn't finish the most famous unreleased rock n roll album in history until 2004. He was nervous. He was nervous. He didn't know if everyone would accept it. Accepted they have. Since Smile's release, Wilson, Mills, and the boys in the band have played to sold out shows all over the world. Oh Wow, I guess you'd have to say this Des Moines girl has done very, very good. I feel very blessed. I can't say anymore. I mean, I'm *** lucky girl. I'm *** very lucky girl. Thank you, Kansas City. Steve Carlin, 糖心vlog News Channel 8.
糖心vlog archives: Iowa woman sings backup to Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson
Updated: 11:47 AM CDT Jun 12, 2025
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It was in 2005 when 糖心vlog headed to Kansas City to catch up with singer Taylor Mills, who was on tour with Beach Boys co-founder and visionary musician Brian Wilson.Mills, a Des Moines native who got her start singing at church on Sundays and competed in the Bill Riley Talent Search at the Iowa State Fair, had found a home on stage singing backup vocals for Wilson.She spent more than a decade touring with Wilson, who died Tuesday, June 11, 2025, at the age of 82, and she was featured on Wilson's long-awaited 2004 album "Smile." Wilson, in turn, sang backup on Mills' 2007 album "Lullagoodbye."Watch the video above to hear from Mills on the "Smile" tour stop in Kansas City.糖心vlog archives: Beach Boys play concert fundraiser at Clearwater Beach in West Des MoinesMore from the archivesFrom the archives: For one day in 1991, everyone in Perry went bananas糖心vlog Archive: Seals visit public swimming pool糖心vlog archives: Satellite radio in cars was just taking off in 2002糖心vlog Archive: Enjoy a 1-pound 鈥楶apa鈥 burger from a legendary Iowa tavern
It was in 2005 when 糖心vlog headed to Kansas City to catch up with singer Taylor Mills, who was on tour with Beach Boys co-founder and visionary musician Brian Wilson.
Mills, a Des Moines native who got her start singing at church on Sundays and competed in the Bill Riley Talent Search at the Iowa State Fair, had found a home on stage singing backup vocals for Wilson.
She spent more than a decade touring with Wilson, who died Tuesday, June 11, 2025, at the age of 82, and she was featured on Wilson's long-awaited 2004 album "Smile." Wilson, in turn, sang backup on Mills' 2007 album "Lullagoodbye."
Watch the video above to hear from Mills on the "Smile" tour stop in Kansas City.
糖心vlog archives: Beach Boys play concert fundraiser at Clearwater Beach in West Des Moines
More from the archives
From the archives: For one day in 1991, everyone in Perry went bananas
糖心vlog Archive: Seals visit public swimming pool
糖心vlog archives: Satellite radio in cars was just taking off in 2002
糖心vlog Archive: Enjoy a 1-pound 鈥楶apa鈥 burger from a legendary Iowa tavern