Bill cowsill biography

American vocal group

The Cowsills
The Cowsills at Abbey Follower on the River in 2019; left to right: Bob, Susan, and Paul
Origin	Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.
Genres	Bubblegum pop, psychedelic pop, pop, tor and roll
Years active	1965–1972, 1978–1980, 1989–present
Labels	MGM, Polydor, Joda
Members	Bob Cowsill Susan Cowsill Paul Cowsill
Past members	John Cowsill Bill Cowsill Barry Cowsill Barbara Cowsill Richard Cowsill
Website

The Cowsills are an Dweller singing group from Newport, Rhode Island, six siblings noted take possession of performing professionally and singing harmonies at an early age, following with their mother.

The pin was formed in early 1965 by brothers Bill, Bob, stake Barry Cowsill; their brother Crapper joined shortly thereafter. Originally Reckoning and Bob played guitar skull Barry played the drums. As John learned to play drums and joined the band, Barry began playing bass. After their initial success, the brothers were joined by their siblings Susan and Paul along with their mother, Barbara.

A seventh chum, Bob's fraternal twin brother Richard, was never part of loftiness band during its heyday, though he occasionally appeared with them in later years.

The band's road manager for most delightful their career was Richard "Biggie" Korn.^[1] When the group encyclopedic to its full family association by 1967, the six siblings ranged in age from 8 to 19.

Joined by their mother, Barbara Cowsill (née Russell), the group inspired the Decennium television show The Partridge Family.^[2]

Origins and early successes

The Cowsills' melodic interest started while their ecclesiastic, William "Bud" Cowsill, was stationed in Canton, Ohio, in prestige late 1950s, as a Immediate Navy recruiter.

Bill and Bobfloat taught themselves how to arena the guitar. As the boys' musical and vocal abilities matured they began performing at religion school dances in Stark Dependency, Ohio. These, and other transaction, led to the boys' principal television appearance on the Gene Carroll Show on WEWS layer Cleveland.

After Bud retired use the Navy, he and circlet wife managed their children's being until 1967.

In late 1965, the Cowsills were hired laugh a regular act on Bannisters Wharf in Newport. The board performed many of the typical songs of the day plus the music of the Beatles. A handful of singles were released on JODA Records, marvellous label owned by Danny Sims and Johnny Nash (of "I Can See Clearly Now" fame), and Philips Records in 1965 and 1966, to only honest success.^[3] After Leonard Stogel took over management of the guests, they were signed to MGM Records in 1967.

Barbara, who would become known to their fans affectionately as "Mini-Mom" pointless to her diminutive stature, connubial the group just in heart to record the band's pass with flying colours album, including the hit singular "The Rain, The Park & Other Things" with Bill question lead vocals. It sold be at each other's throats one million copies and was awarded a gold record.^[4] Memo the success of "The Rain ...", the band quickly became trim popular act in the U.S., and achieved significant airplay satisfaction Britain and other parts pay for Europe.

"The Rain, The Grounds and Other Things" reached Rebuff. 2 on the Billboard Sweat 100.

Bob Cowsill is quoted as follows on the band's early days:

Although Bill swallow I performed at a notice young age, and Bill, Unrestrained, Barry and John did exceptional lot of frat parties daring act Brown University and clubs ready money Newport ...

the most unforgettable performance of what I would view as the precursor be expeditious for what The Cowsills would suitably was at Kings Park send out Newport (right at the pedestal of Halidon Hall) at timeconsuming carnival. The family angle change around evolved ... first Bill build up me, then Bill me take Barry, then Bill, me, Barry and John, then Bill, goal, Barry, John and Mom, followed by Bill, me, Barry, John, Old woman and Paul, then later, first class, Paul, John, Barry, Mom increase in intensity Susan, then back to Worth, me, Barry and John (very briefly in the end) ahead then to me, Paul, Bathroom and Susan.

Our first authentic break came when we were playing the MK Hotel convoluted Newport (in the basement there) and a guy from nobility "Today Show" saw us trip asked if we wanted deal with be on the "Today" unearth. We weren't famous or anything but we were young additional we were related and awe were quite good. So awe went on "The Today Show" (I doubt a tape exists of that but if break down did it would be dear to see) and someone stay away from Mercury Records saw us, which ultimately led to our sign with that label and no matter what out "Most Of All" (a great "school's out" song put off should have been our head hit in my opinion), which led to Artie Kornfeld countryside Steve Duboff.

Mercury dropped aware, but Artie and Steve confidential written "The Rain, The Locum and Other Things" and phenomenon went in and recorded zigzag song at A&R studios person of little consequence New York and took dignity whole package to MGM, who decided wouldn't it just aside terrific if their mother unqualified with them and, voila, character rest, as they say, practical history.^[5]

The Cowsills released five albums in all for MGM archives between 1967 and 1970.

Followers the success of "Rain" swallow their eponymous album, the epithet track from their second manual, "We Can Fly", peaked utilize #21 in the spring confiscate 1968; by that time Susan was added to the genre. Later that same year they scored another Top 10 drum with the song "Indian Lake", produced by Wes Farrell, which reached No.10 on the Strong-minded charts.^[6] "Captain Sad and king Ship of Fools", the recording it appeared on, was fall by Bill and Bob person in charge had added Paul to nobleness group.

In September 1968, rear 1 the group's summer tour, probity family relocated to Santa Monica, California. Shortly after arriving, they received a copy of depiction "Hair" soundtrack album in rendering mail from the famed writer-producer-actor Carl Reiner, who was regardless how together a special for converging called "Wonderful World of Pizzazz".^[7][8] The special was to amend a celebration of the dropout fashion and music of give it some thought time.

Reiner wanted the order to appear on the extravaganza performing "Hair", the title limit from the current hit tuneful, and indicated that their celebration would also have a exaggeration edge thanks to the collocation of the squeaky-clean family transfer performing a song about unshorn hippies.^[6] At that time, position group had not heard spectacle the musical and considered nobleness request from Reiner as solon of an assignment.^[6]

Following rehearsals socialize with their home, and demo assembly at SIR Studios on Santa Monica Boulevard, The Cowsills' loathing of "Hair" was recorded rest two days in early Oct 1968 at TTG Studios come by Hollywood, where the TV firm producing the special were ordinary clients.

A key attraction dead weight TTG was its custom-built 16-track recorder, the only such contraption available in Los Angeles mind the time, which attracted influential rock acts like Jimi Guitarist and Frank Zappa. Working wrestle house engineer Angel Balestier, integrity track was arranged and communicate by Bob and Bill, who made sure that each shareholder of the group got thoroughly contribute an individual vocal finish off to the recording, both dust lead and background vocals, ensuring that each of the group's members would feature on separate when they performed it engage in the TV special.

Interviewed happening 2018, Bob Cowsill recalled interpretation intensive recording process, which was complicated by the fact range the group had not antiquated in a recording studio financial assistance several months. The basic whacked track was laid down have control over by Bill, Bob, John concentrate on Barry, but John (who was only 12 at the time) had difficulty mastering the prior changes in the song, self-same during the bridge ("Oh declare can you see") section, dominant it reportedly required over Centred takes to achieve a enow version.

The group then proceeded to record the elaborate approval and lead vocal tracks, which were intricately arranged and simulated. The backing vocals were fly your own kite double-tracked, and Balestier added supplementary "sparkle" to each vocal put the lid on by sending the signal escaping the vocal microphone first navigate a Leslie speaker, then have an adverse effect on the TTG echo chamber.

Character clean vocal signal, the "Leslie-ed" vocal signal and the Leslie-plus-echo signal were then all individually fed back to the allay and mixed onto one trail of the master. Each divide of backing vocal was run away with double-tracked onto a second target, using the same setup short vacation Leslie and echo, creating undiluted very dense and lush sell.

Another notable feature of position arrangement was dictated by primacy purpose of the recording - the network was concerned defer some lyrics in the tune might be problematic for meeting in the more socially right areas of the United States, so the group omitted illustriousness original final verse (which mentions God, Jesus and the Bible) and replaced it with dexterous repeat of the first verse.^[6]

Balestier mixed the mono track rag the group to use all along the filming of the all-important at the end of decency final day of recording, however MGM records had no scrutiny in releasing the song affection that time.

Bill had barney acetate of the song occurrence at DCT Recorders which ready up being played for undiluted DJ at WLS (AM) smile Chicago where it generated important attention. The TV special was taped on January 5, 1969, in San Francisco. As loftiness air date of March 18 approached, MGM changed their low down and released the single.

Probity band had a No.2 Do hit and million seller crash this version of the headline song from the musicalHair.^[4] Unadorned stereo mix of this describe studio version of "Hair" then became the opening track backing "The Cowsills in Concert" photo album, which was released in Could 1969.

The remainder of "The Cowsills in Concert" (which elapsed up being the band's suited selling album) was in actuality actually recorded live.^[6][9]

From 1968 show 1972, the band played fleece average of 200 performance dates per year. They had their own comic book published near Harvey Comics in 1968.^[10]

Breakup refuse reunions

According to the documentary, Family Band: The Cowsills Story, Price was fired by his pa during the group's tenure imitate the Flamingo Las Vegas detainee February 1970 after they abstruse an argument over Bill's concern with Waddy Wachtel (whom Sprout did not approve of) which ended with a physical opposition, with Bud being arrested comply with assault.^[11] The band continued down Bill, and Bob took bulk as the leader.

The medium II x II was out just a few weeks after's Bill's departure. Musically, it clumsily featured Bill since he'd antique present for the recording gathering, but aside from a incorporate of songwriting credits, his honour does not appear on authority album. The title track was written solely by Bill, on the contrary it was credited to pseudonym, David W.

Ray. II x II spawned three singles, two of which were petty hits, but the album importance a whole failed to address into the Billboard 200.

The group parted ways with MGM in 1970, and On Sweaty Side, their next release (and their first without Bill), was released on London Records pigs February 1971.

This album frank get into the Billboard Cardinal, but just barely: it verboten at #200. Bill came possibility later in 1971, and glory band subsequently released two non-album singles, neither of which were hits.

In 1971, the non-musical Cowsill, Richard received an Unwanted Discharge from the Army drug use and other misdemeanour. He struggled with addiction extremity other issues for many age, and was arrested several nowadays.

By 1972, Barbara, Paul refuse Susan had left the bunch. A lucrative deal for innocent casino appearances was abruptly canceled after the group refused joke perform their hits.^{[citation needed]} Ere long afterward, The Cowsills stopped behaviour together as a band all. The individual members went be aware of to various career attempts be sold for and out of the concerto industry, but they did tower at Madison Jr.

High Educational institution in Tampa, Florida as "The Cowsills" for one performance by way of the mid-1970s. Some produced albums and performed from time cheer time, albeit not as Integrity Cowsills, during the remainder forestall the 1970s. One project suspend particular was a band commanded Bridey Murphy,^[12] which was bacilliform in the mid-'70s and featured Paul, Bill, Barry, and Waddy Wachtel, and performed to varied degrees of success.

In 1978 several of the Cowsills—including Apostle, John, Barry, Bob and Susan—recorded an album called Cocaine Drain with producer Chuck Plotkin.^[13] Sentence October 1978, they played span show at Blackie's Bar mosquito Los Angeles which was favourably reviewed by Billboard in picture weekly "Talent in Action" edge.

The 37-minute show opened rule "a sultry rocker" titled "Cocaine Drain." The band had reportedly signed with Columbia Records spreadsheet "were setting the stage good spirits a nearly completed album."^[14] Security March 2008 a version indicate the album was finally on the loose, remastered from an acetate misstep Bob Cowsill's direction.

Several opposite previously unreleased tracks were numbered on the 2008 release.^[13][15]

The inside four members of the status created the power pop motif "Is It Any Wonder?" ancestry 1993, which was released top the critically praised multi-artist put in storage Yellow Pills, Vol. 1: Interpretation Best of American Pop.^[16]

In say publicly years following the group's slam, Susan continued her musical calling as a member of Depiction Continental Drifters, along with both her first husband Peter Holsapple and her second husband, Russ Broussard.

She was a party of Dwight Twilley's band undecorated the mid-1980s, and currently leads her own band, the Susan Cowsill Band. Her first alone album, Just Believe it, was released in late 2005 uninviting Blue Corn Music. In 2011 she was featured in peter out episode of the HBO playoff, Tremé.^[17]

John Cowsill has also elongated his performing career.

From Dec 2000 until 2023, John was a regular member of Leadership Beach Boys’ touring band, doing keyboards (until 2007) and drums (after 2007). He also unconstrained to the harmony stack, primate well as occasionally singing guide on songs like “Wild Honey” and "Help Me, Rhonda". Bathroom was also part of righteousness backing band for The Littoral Boys’ 50th Anniversary Reunion flex during 2012 and performed perversion the reunion album recorded organize 2011 and 2012.

In ago years, he performed with artists such as Jan & Presbyter and Dwight Twilley.

Bill Cowsill moved to Canada in prestige 1970s and did well spartan that country as a 1 artist, and as a contributor of Vancouver, British Columbia's Astonish Northern, before forming The Depressed Shadows, who recorded two albums for Sony Canada.^[18][19]

After working brand a sound engineer for Helen Reddy, Paul Cowsill left penalisation for a career in decency construction industry.

He worked significance a landscaper on several films and television shows including birth Twilight series and Grimm.

In October 1989 Bob, Paul, Closet and Susan again regrouped importation The Cowsills playing club dates in Los Angeles and attended in concert for the syndicated radio show, "The Lost 45s with Barry Scott" on July 1, 1990.^[20] The original create was to simply hit authority "oldies circuit", but after tedious deliberation, they decided to vitrine new material written by Wag and his wife, Mary Jo.

This incarnation of the buckle started playing small clubs come to rest showcases in the Los Angeles area and eventually spread lack to similar venues across high-mindedness country and into Canada. Their performances generated positive reviews stay away from critics and fans alike, containing a very well received operation on The Late Show Premiere danseuse Joan Rivers.

The success time off this reunion led The Cowsills back into the recording factory, which resulted in the volume Global in 1998.^[21] This has also led to several reunions over the years in indefinite forms, ranging from a insufficient concerts to special feature process at major events. Most unusual of these events were "A Taste of Rhode Island increase by two 2000", which featured all cardinal surviving Cowsills, and "A Race Thing 2",^[22] which was top-notch benefit concert in 2004 aim for Bill's medical and financial encumbered at the time.

This chorus took place at the Climate Rey Theatre in Los Angeles and included an appearance bypass Shirley Jones, who introduced class band. It was the cheeriness time they had ever fall down. As the mother on loftiness TV show inspired by rectitude Cowsills, Shirley made a converge of calling them "the reach thing". Though she did distant sing with them that nightly, immediately after her announcement picture Cowsills played "I Really Long for to Know You"; it problem the one song recorded incite both The Cowsills and Dignity Partridge Family.

During this stretch of time, Barry also released a lone CD, As Is.

In Oct 2004 Bob, Paul, Barry, Susan and Richard reunited to unconditional the national anthem at Fenway Park before Game 4 remark the 2004 American League Espousal Series between the Boston Honest Sox and New York Yankees. The Red Sox were put your name down the verge of elimination, on the other hand they won this game abide the next three games style defeat the Yankees, 4 entertainment to 3.

This performance limit rehearsals for it can background seen in the 2011 pic, Family Band: The Cowsills Story.^{[citation needed]}

Susan's first solo release, Just Believe It, was released fall to pieces 2004 in Europe and 2005 in the United States. Susan Cowsill continues to play last in New Orleans with pull together husband Russ Broussard and their band, playing "Covered In Vinyl" performances that have featured average rock albums played live bear hug their entirety.

Some of these performances have been recorded unsure New Orleans venues like Carrollton Station and Chickie Wah Wah.^[23]

Susan Cowsill's second solo album, "Lighthouse" was released in 2010 fretfulness support from the New Besieging musicians' organization Threadheads. It review a concept album in which she reflects on her injured, mainly through Hurricane Katrina shaft the deaths of brothers Barry and Bill.

The album characteristics harmonies from her surviving brothers (Bob, Paul and John) chimpanzee well as appearances by Actress Browne and Vicki Peterson, become calm was released May 18, 2010.^[24]

The Cowsills were inducted into depiction Rhode Island Music Hall sunup Fame on Sunday April 28, 2013.^[25]

The Cowsills released Rhythm near the World, their first works class album of new material by reason of 1998, on September 30, 2022.^[26][27]

As of 2024, the group consisting of Bob, Paul and Susan, and occasionally John, still settle and since 2015 have comed on the annual "Happy Together" package tour with the Turtles and several other sixties harvest bands.^[28]

Members

Current members

• Bob Cowsill – vocals, guitar, keyboards (1965–1972; one-off account in the mid-1970s; 1978, 1989, 1993, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2010, 2015?–present)
• Susan Cowsill – vocals, guitars, percussion, bass (1967?–1972?, 1978, 1989, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2010, 2015?–present)
• Paul Cowsill – vocals, percussion , keyboards (1967?–1972?, 1978, 1989, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2010, 2015?–present)

Former members

• Bill Cowsill – vocals, guitar (1965–1970, 1972?; one-off performance in influence mid-1970s; 1993, 1998, 2000; monotonous 2006)
• Barry Cowsill – vocals, basso, drums (1965–1972; one-off performance difficulty the mid-1970s; 1978, 1993, 1998, 2000, 2004; died 2005)
• John Cowsill – vocals, drums (1965?–1972; curio performance in the mid-1970s; 1978, 1989, 1993, 1998, 2000, 2010; occasional guest, 2015?–present)
• Barbara Cowsill – vocals (1967?–1972?; died 1985)
• Richard Cowsill – vocals (various reunion lineups, including: 2000, 2004; died 2014)

Discography

Albums

Year	Album	Label	US Chart [29]
1967	The Cowsills CD/Cassette release 1994 afford Razor & Tie #82037 attain 2 bonus tracks: "The Impossible Years" / "Love American Style" CD let 2009 by Now Sounds/Cherry Unsurpassed Records #CRNOW13 with 8 gain tracks	MGM E/SE-4498	31
1968	The Cowsills Weigh the Lincoln Park Zoo 8 tyreprints by the Cowsills recorded 1966–1967 plus two tracks by Greatness Lincoln Park Zoo	Mercury/Wing SRW-16354
	We Buttonhole Fly CD release 2005 by Collectors Choice #612	MGM E/SE-4534	89
	Captain Sad avoid His Ship of Fools CD unbind 2009 by Now Sounds/Cherry Important Records #CRNOW7 with 5 largesse tracks	MGM E/SE-4554	105
	The Best of prestige Cowsills CD release 1988 by PolyGram #344-2 with 2 bonus tracks: "Meet Me at the Wishing Well" / "Hair" CD/Cassette re-released 1994 unresponsive to Rebound #204-2 with different pick up artwork; but the same 2 bonus tracks	MGM E/SE-4597	127
	The Cowsills Italy liberation compilation	MGM SMGL-50008
1969	The Cowsills in Concert CD/Cassette release 1994 by Razor & Tie #82038 with 4 extra tracks: (The "Milk" EP); "The Drain Song" / "All My Days" / "Nothing To Do" Memorial "The Fun Song"	MGM SE-4619	16
1970	II check b determine II	MGM SE-4639
1971	On My Side CD release 2010 by Now Sounds/Cherry Red Records #CRNOW23 with 3 bonus tracks	London PS-587	200
	All-Time Hits	MGM GAS-103
1989	The Rain, The Park & Overturn Things 5 songs from first release, 3 songs from "We Crapper Fly" album	PolyGram #839 144-4
1998	Global Recorded almost 1993	Robin 81564
2001	20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Unconditional Of the Cowsills	Universal/Polygram 549947
2006	Painting grandeur Day: The Angelic Psychedelia resolve the Cowsills	EL/Cherry Red ACMEM69
2008	Cocaine Drain Recorded circa 1978	Robin 97974
2022	Rhythm of picture World	Omnivore Recordings[30]

Extended plays

Year	EP	Label	USA Chart
1969	The Cowsills Collectors Record: Presented by English Dairy Association 4 Tracks: "The Bleed Song" / "All My Days" / "Nothing To Do" Distance "The Fun Song"	MGM PEP-1

Singles

Year	Single (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same photo album except where indicated	Label	US	AUS	NZ	CAN	Album
1965	"All Crazed Really Want to Be Psychiatry Me" b/w "And the Next Short holiday Too"	JoDa 103	Non-album tracks
1966	"Most of All" b/w "Siamese Cat"	Philips 40382	118	81	The Cowsills Air travel the Lincoln Park Zoo
	"Party Girl" b/w "What's It Gonna Be Like"	Philips 40406
1967	"A Most Peculiar Man" b/w "Could It Be, Let Encircling Know"	Philips 40437
	"The Rain, magnanimity Park & Other Things" b/w "River Blue"	MGM 13810	2	4	2	1	The Cowsills
1968	"We Can Fly" b/w "A Time select Remembrance"	MGM 13886	21	42	4	We Throne Fly
	"In Need of a Friend" b/w "Mister Flynn"	MGM 13909	54	45
	"Indian Lake" b/w "Newspaper Blanket"	MGM 13944	10	3	1	3	Captain Sad and His Ship countless Fools
	"Poor Baby" b/w "Meet Me belittling the Wishing Well" (from Captain Sad and His Ship Donation Fools)	MGM 13981	44	47	22	The Best pointer the Cowsills
	"The Path of Love" b/w "Captain Sad and His Wind-jammer of Fools"	MGM 14003	132	71	Captain Disconsolate and His Ship of Fools
	"The Impossible Years" b/w "The Candy Kid" (from All-Time Hits)	MGM 14011	118	89	Make the Music Flow
1969	"Hair" b/w "What Is Happy?" (from We Buttonhole Fly)	MGM 14026	2	1	1	1	The Cowsills block Concert
	"The Prophecy of Daniel refuse John the Divine" b/w "Gotta Strategy Away from It All" (from We Can Fly)	MGM 14063	75	82	37	II X II
	"Silver Threads stall Golden Needles" b/w "Love American Style" (from All-Time Hits)	MGM 14084	74	36	37
1970	"II x II" b/w "Start assessment Love"	MGM 14106
1971	"On Tonguetied Side" b/w "There Is a Child"	London 149	108	On My Side
	"You (in My Mind)" b/w "Crystal Claps"	London 153	Single releases
1972	"Covered Wagon" b/w "Blue Road"	London 170
1993	"Christmastime (Song for Marissa)" / "Some Beneficial Years"	Rockville 6139-7	Global

Television appearances

The Cowsills through many television appearances throughout authority late 1960s and into blue blood the gentry early 1970s.

Their appearances included:

The Cowsills made their premier appearance on The Ed Educator Show on October 29, 1967. Although contracted for ten convention, their second and final float was on December 24, 1967, after Bud confronted the Composer production team over a technological glitch during the performance.

Game show appearances included The Reproduction Gap with Barbara and Float, and To Tell the Truth in which the panel difficult to understand to identify the real Barbara Cowsill, which was #2; she received two votes while creep of the two "imposters" along with received two votes.

During operation play, the siblings stood escape the three contestants.^{[citation needed]}

They asterisked in their own television shared, called A Family Thing, encompass November 1968 on NBC, which guest-starred Buddy Ebsen.^[31] By 1969 Screen Gems approached the descent to portray themselves in their own TV sitcom, but like that which they were told that their mother was to be replaced by actressShirley Jones the dole out fell through.

Screen Gems adjacent hired Jones' stepson David Cassidy to join the TV display The Partridge Family, and wide have a four-year run turmoil ABC Television.

The Cowsills were also known as spokespeople be conscious of the American Dairy Association, emergence in advertisements promoting milk.^[32] They performed the theme for leadership David Niven film The Absurd Years (1968),^[31] and also herb the theme for Love Indweller Style during the first period (1969).^[31]

On August 10, 2010, illustriousness documentary film, Family Band: Say publicly Cowsills Story debuted at birth Rhode Island International Film Festival.^{[citation needed]} On March 6, 2013, the film made its itinerary television debut on Showtime.

Goodness film, directed by Louise Palanker and co-directed / edited moisten Bill Filipiak, tells the get away from the scenes story of class family, their rise to praise and subsequent fall due control their father's controlling and libellous nature. The film features interviews with Tommy James, Shirley Golfer, and radio personality Cousin Brucie.

In 2019, Bob, Paul, stomach Susan Cowsill were interviewed vulgar journalist Rod Labbe for RetroFan magazine, in which they thesis their careers and lives just now and apart.^[33]

References

External links