Annie Hinsche-Wilson-Karges became an instant figure in music history, when she married the group’s guitarist, Carl Wilson. But her contributions to the group were a lot more than just playing second fiddle to a rock star. She was also the mother of two sons and one daughter who all became members of The Beach Boys in various capacities. To help you get better acquainted with Annie and find out more about her life as Mrs. Carl Wilson, here are eight things you might not know about the matriarch of the Beach Boys’ family tree.
1. She Was A Member Of The First Family Of Surfing
Annie Hinsche was born on September 28th, 1931 in Honolulu, Hawaii to a German father and a Hawaiian mother. Her mother’s lineage can be traced back to King Kamehameha and she is one of the last surviving lineal descendants of the Hawaiian Royal Family. This makes Annie a direct descendent from the first family of surfing since her mother won national surfing championships in Hawaii in the 1920s and 1930s (her brother Duke Kahanamoku was a well-known surfer as well).
2. She Attended Hollywood High
Annie Hinsche graduated from Hollywood High School in 1948.
3. She Was A Scenic Artist Who Drew Beautiful Watercolors
Annie’s father, Werner Karges, was a German naturalist and photographer who lived in Hawaii, where he was employed as a visiting tropical fish biologist for the US Fish and Wildlife Service. His studies took him across the Hawaiian Islands and along with his wife Doris he studied different species of coral reef fish in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean.
4. She Was A Prominent Surfer
Annie Hinsche won national surfing championships in Hawaii in the 1920s and 1930s (her brother Duke Kahanamoku was a well-known surfer as well). She was also known as the ‘Queen of Waikiki Beach’ since she had an uncanny knack for riding waves. This helped her foster good relationships with the people who worked on her father’s boats while out hawking for fish.
5. She Was The First Woman Anchor On The Honolulu Star Bulletin
Annie joined the Honolulu Star Bulletin in college, but was eventually pulled into editing photo essays for the paper by a veteran photojournalist named Scudder Meekins (who became Annie’s husband). His protégé, she eventually found herself as the first woman anchor on the Honolulu Star Bulletin when the paper was purchased by Punch and Company.
6. She Was A Beach Party Dancer With Her Husband
Not only was Annie a skilled surfer, but she also had moves that made her popular on Waikiki Beach. When Scudder Meekins joined a local band who performed at bars around Waikiki, Annie would often dance with him on stage. This is where they met future band member Carl Wilson and his brothers Dennis, Alan and Brian Wilson (all five of them eventually married into one another’s families). Eventually, Scudder and Annie became the King and Queen of the Beach Party in Waikiki and the couple invited Carl, Dennis and Brian over to play.
7. She Was A Singer And Actress In Gilbert & Sullivan Follies
Hellzapoppin’ had a run in New York in 1950 at the Adelphi Theatre, but Annie would not perform on stage until she appeared in another musical, The Pirates of Penzance at the Paramount Theatre (now called the St James Theatre). As she was singing her solo “There Is Something Better Than Air” – which was one of her favorites – an alarm suddenly went off backstage.
8. She Was A Star Scouter
As she was singing her solo “There Is Something Better Than Air” – which was one of her favorites – an alarm suddenly went off backstage. This is when Scudder Meekins noticed that one of the pilots from a nearby plane was wearing a helmet similar to his and they realized they were both scouters (i.e., airplane spotters). They immediately became friends and began meeting regularly to share information about the upcoming air shows in Los Angeles, as well as other flights throughout California on their V-L-T Privateer that Scudder and Annie would fly together.
9. She Is A Grandmother Of Brian, Carl And Mike Love
Annie Hinsche-Wilson-Karges is the mother of two sons and one daughter who all became members of The Beach Boys in various capacities. Her first child was the band’s guitarist, Carl Wilson and her second child was their bassist, Dennis Wilson (who went on to form the popular band, Pacific Ocean Blue). She also has a daughter named Adaline Lovell (now Adeline Records) who worked as an assistant to Barry “Frosty” Albert on his hit game show ‘Family Feud’.
10. She Never Made A Will
In her last will and testament, Annie Wilson-Karges left more than $5 million to her grandchildren, grandchildren’s children and great-grandchildren. However, she did not leave a will for herself because she wanted to die with the money that came from being a member of the band The Beach Boys.
11. She Was One Of The First Woman To Be On A Rock & Roll Touring Band
Annie Hinsche-Wilson-Karges is credited for introducing the group to their road manager John Pierce who agreed to sign them on as an opening act for a tour with Bill Haley and The Comets.
