As the music industry mourns the death of Brian Wilson, who co-founded the Beach Boys and an entire genre of California rock, Elton John paid special tribute to his friend on Instagram. "Brian Wilson was always so kind to me from the day I met him,

“Brian Wilson was always so kind to me from the day I met him,” John said. “He sang ‘Someone Saved My Life Tonight’ at a tribute concert in 2003, and it was an extraordinary moment for me. I played on his solo records, he sang on my album, The Union, and even performed for my AIDS Foundation.

There are almost no corners of the music world that Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson didn’t touch, so since news broke earlier today that he had died at age 82, there have been an outpouring of tributes from friends, fans, and fellow musicians. In many cases it’s all three in one person.

"Brian wasn't just a musical genius," musician-actor said. "He was a gentle, soulful, funny, complex, beautiful man"

Brian Wilson, who formed The Beach Boys in Southern California as a teen alongside with his brothers, cousin and close friend, has died at the age of 82. In 2009, Wilson spoke to LAist about his then-new album That Lucky Old Sun.