American Masters

Explore the life and career of the singer, songwriter and co-founder of The Beach Boys. The film traces the legendary performer’s journey of reflection on a drive through Los Angeles with his longtime friend and Rolling Stone editor Jason Fine.

See musical genius Brian Wilson at work producing his song, "Honeycomb." "Start with a background track, then you do the background vocals, then you do the leads," said Wilson of his process.

This archival footage from 1966 shows Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys working on "Good Vibrations" in the studio. "Back at that time, there's a lot of upbeat, up-tempo songs but Brian brought in this haunting harmony," said producer and songwriter Linda Perry.

In this outtake from "American Masters—Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road," Brian Wilson stops at Hawthorne High School, his alma mater, where the current principal helps right a wrong in his grades.

Jason Fine first convinced his boss at Rolling Stone to let him cover Brian Wilson's burgeoning solo career in 1997. Since then, Fine and Wilson have enjoyed a lasting friendship.

Meryl Streep was touched, but perplexed when Joe Papp asked her to take over The Public Theater after his passing. "What he wanted was bigger than what could be, which was sort of always what was true with him," said Streep.

Joe Papp, founder of The Public Theater, Free Shakespeare in the Park and producer of groundbreaking plays like "Hair," "A Chorus Line" and "for colored girls," created a 'theater of inclusion' based on the belief that great art is for everyone.

Inspired by public libraries, Joe Papp made it his mission to have theater be accessible to the public. "I just don't do shows," he said. "They must have meaning."

When developing Free Shakespeare in the Park, it was important to Joe Papp that people felt represented in the theater. "Joe wanted to fill the stage with the same kind of people he was gonna fill the audience with. All the people of the city," said James Earl Jones, a frequent collaborator of Papp's.

In his search for a home for new American theater, producer Joseph Papp saved a historic building in "ruins" from demolition. It was once the Astor Library, which became the first free public library in New York, and had been converted into a place for homeless Jewish people after World War II. In the 1960s, the building would evolve into a permanent space for The Public Theater.

Joe Papp built a stage on a 35 foot portable truck so he could bring Shakespeare to other communities. "I found myself directing all the plays on the mobile unit, because I felt this was the thing I wanted to be closely identified with, to bring Shakespeare to these communities," said Papp. When the truck fell apart in Central Park, Shakespeare in the Park found its permanent home.

Paul Strauch, Duke's former surf teammate, recounts a conversation he had with Duke about the power of the word "Aloha." "Alo" translates to "in the presence," and "ha" is "the breath of life." "[Aloha] was a symbol of intense greeting and respect." This is an outtake from "Waterman—Duke: Ambassador of Aloha."