AceShowbiz - Early in 2026, Chris Cron, a Nashville-based singer known for his work with the Beach Boys tribute group Pet Sounds Live, received an unexpected call that would change his career. Brian Eichenberger, the musical director for the current Beach Boys touring band, informed him that Bruce Johnston, a classic-era member of the group, was retiring after an extraordinary 61-year tenure.

Johnston, who joined the Beach Boys in 1965, contributed vocals to iconic tracks such as "California Girls" and the entire Pet Sounds album, performing in over 6,000 shows. With his departure, the band needed someone to fill his considerable shoes. Eichenberger reached out to Cron to ask if he was interested in joining the group full time—a prospect that initially seemed almost unbelievable to the singer.

"He said, 'Bruce is retiring, and we need someone to fill his spot. Are you interested?'" Cron recalls. "The offer didn't even make sense to me at first." For Eichenberger and the current touring lineup, led by founding member Mike Love, the decision was clear. Cron's Instagram account was filled with viral videos showcasing his exceptional ability to replicate the unique harmonies and vocal styles of the Beach Boys’ classic lineup.

Performing with Pet Sounds Live, Cron had already demonstrated his skill in delivering historically faithful renditions of the band’s music across the country. His credibility was further bolstered in late 2025 when he briefly substituted for Christian Love, singing and playing guitar for the touring Beach Boys.

Despite this, Cron did not anticipate becoming a permanent member replacing a legendary figure like Johnston. "People say, 'You're in the Beach Boys!' and I say, 'Well, I'm a touring member of the current thing right now, so I guess so,'" he says. "It's just weird to be like... I don't know what to think. It's just fun. This was never on my bingo card."

Cron's journey to this point began in Orange County, California, where he grew up immersed in music from the Beatles, Elton John, and Steely Dan. His early musical influences evolved over time, shaped by moments like discovering Weezer’s "Buddy Holly" music video bundled with Windows 95 and being introduced to British second-wave ska by a youth pastor.

In 2000, Cron formed the indie-rock band Mêlée, which signed with Warner Bros. Records. The group toured extensively, including two summers on the Vans Warped Tour, and released three albums blending sounds reminiscent of Something Corporate and a style he described as "Elton John meets Keane." However, the band struggled to maintain momentum as the music industry shifted, and their final record was never released in the United States.

"We took it back and tried to shop it around to other labels, and no one was biting," Cron says. "I was just tired and burnt out. I told the guys I was done."

At nearly 30 years old, still living with his parents, Cron was uncertain about his future. He took jobs at Cold Stone Creamery and a grocery store, got married, and eventually moved to Nashville to start fresh. There, his wife worked an office job while Cron managed an after-school program at the YMCA and took on various construction jobs.

One of those jobs led to a surprising encounter with Paramore’s Hayley Williams. Years after Mêlée had toured with Paramore opening for them, Cron found himself working on Williams’ kitchen. "I said to her, 'I don’t know if you remember this, but your band opened for us.' She did remember, and she was super sweet and nice. We talked about the good old days of the Warped Tour," he recalls.

With a baby boy and family responsibilities, Cron prioritized steady income over a full-time music career, though he continued teaching piano lessons. Later, he found work with Simply, an Israeli software company that develops music learning apps like Simply Sing and Simply Guitar, which use AI to help young musicians improve.

Rather than licensing original recordings, Simply opted to re-record classic rock songs. Cron was hired to sing many of these, including the Beach Boys’ hit "Wouldn’t It Be Nice."

Although Cron was familiar with the Beach Boys’ biggest hits growing up, he never deeply explored their catalog until 2003. While recording with Mêlée in San Francisco, he discovered the Pet Sounds Sessions box set. "It had all the instrumentals and a cappella vocal tracks," he says. "Our producer told me to immerse myself in it."

The experience left him amazed. "They went way beyond just two guitars, bass, and drums, and maybe a piano," Cron explains. "There were clarinets, flutes, glockenspiels, and all these elements in a pop-rock production. It was magic."

Years later, after recording "Wouldn’t It Be Nice" for Simply Sing, Cron had the idea to post a video about how to sound like the Beach Boys. "I wasn’t trying to be an influencer, just throwing stuff at the wall to see what stuck," he says.

He uploaded the video on April 13, 2023. Within hours, it had 10,000 views—the most he had ever garnered—and by the next check, the views had jumped to 40,000. "I called my wife jokingly and said, 'I got a viral video,'" he remembers. The clip eventually amassed nearly 2 million views, and he followed it up with many more Beach Boys-themed videos.

The viral success caught the eye of actor and musician John Stamos, who followed Cron on Instagram. After exchanging messages, Stamos introduced him to Brian Eichenberger, who lived nearby. The two hit it off over coffee, opening doors for Cron in the Beach Boys community.

The video also attracted Jeff Celentano, a member of Al Jardine’s backing group and leader of the Beach Boys tribute band Good Vibrations. Celentano invited Cron to join a new touring project called Pet Sounds Live, aiming to perform a note-perfect rendition of the Pet Sounds album along with classic Beach Boys hits.

"I met them through Instagram," Cron says. "They said, 'We need a bass player.' I bought a bass and learned to play. I had played bass on demos before, but that was simple punk-rock stuff. Learning all the Carol Kaye parts took me a month or so."

From tribute band gigs to substituting on tour, Cron's dedication and talent positioned him perfectly to step into the role left by Bruce Johnston. His journey from a viral Instagram video to joining one of the most legendary touring bands in rock history is a testament to the unpredictable paths a music career can take.

With Johnston’s retirement after 61 years, the Beach Boys continue their legacy with Cron now an integral part of their touring ensemble. Fans can expect the signature harmonies and classic sounds to live on through his passionate performances alongside founding member Mike Love and the rest of the band.