So we went on "The Today Show" (I doubt a tape exists of that but if it did it would be priceless to see) and someone from Mercury Records saw us, which ultimately led to our signing with that label and putting out "Most Of All" (a great "school's out" song that should have been our first hit in my opinion), which led to Artie Kornfeld and Steve Duboff. We weren't famous or anything but we were young and we were related and we were quite good. Our first real break came when we were playing the MK Hotel in Newport (in the basement there) and a guy from the " Today Show" saw us and asked if we wanted to be on the "Today" show. first Bill and me, then Bill me and Barry, then Bill, me, Barry and John, then Bill, me, Barry, John and Mom, then Bill, me, Barry, John, Mom and Paul, then later, me, Paul, John, Barry, Mom and Susan, then back to Bill, me, Barry and John (very briefly in the end) and then to me, Paul, John and Susan. the most memorable performance of what I would view as the precursor of what The Cowsills would be was at Kings Park in Newport (right at the foot of Halidon Hall) at some carnival. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.īob Cowsill is quoted as follows on the band's early days:Īlthough Bill and I performed at a very young age, and Bill, I, Barry and John did a lot of frat parties at Brown University and clubs in Newport. "The Rain, The Park and Other Things" reached No. With the success of "The Rain .", the band quickly became a popular act in the U.S., and achieved significant airplay in England and other parts of Europe. It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold record. Barbara, who would become known to their fans affectionately as "Mini-Mom" due to her diminutive stature, joined the group just in time to record the band's first album, including the hit single " The Rain, The Park & Other Things" with Bill on lead vocals. After Leonard Stogel took over management of the band, they were signed to MGM Records in 1967. A handful of singles were released on JODA Records, a label owned by Danny Sims and Johnny Nash (of " I Can See Clearly Now" fame), and Philips Records in 19, to only modest success. The group performed many of the popular songs of the day including the music of the Beatles. In late 1965, the Cowsills were hired as a regular act on Bannisters Wharf in Newport. These, and other performances, led to the boys' first television appearance on the Gene Carroll Show on WEWS in Cleveland.Īfter Bud retired from the Navy, he and his wife managed their children's career until 1967. As the boys' musical and vocal abilities developed they began performing at church school dances in Stark County, Ohio. Bill and Bob taught themselves how to play the guitar. The Cowsills' musical interest started while their father, William "Bud" Cowsill, was stationed in Canton, Ohio, in the late 1950s, as a US Navy recruiter. Back L-R: Bob, Paul, John, Mort Nasatir and Bill Origins and early successes The group receives their gold record for "The Rain, the Park and Other Things" from MGM Records President Mort Nasatir, 1967. Joined by their mother, Barbara Cowsill (née Russell), the group inspired the 1970s television show The Partridge Family. When the group expanded to its full family membership by 1967, the six siblings ranged in age from 8 to 19. The band's road manager for most of their career was Richard "Biggie" Korn. A seventh sibling, Bob's fraternal twin brother Richard, was never part of the band during its heyday, although he occasionally appeared with them in later years. After their initial success, the brothers were joined by their siblings Susan and Paul along with their mother, Barbara. When John learned to play drums and joined the band, Barry began playing bass. Originally Bill and Bob played guitar and Barry played the drums. The band was formed in early 1965 by brothers Bill, Bob, and Barry Cowsill their brother John joined shortly thereafter. The Cowsills are an American singing group from Newport, Rhode Island, six siblings noted for performing professionally and singing harmonies at an early age, later with their mother. The Cowsills at Abbey Road on the River in 2019 left to right: Bob, Susan, and Paulīubblegum pop, psychedelic pop, pop, rock and roll
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