of
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Laurie Fuhr's "Sunflowers for Roberta" Poem
. . .
VII.
Back in the car, Dylan confides
he was hoping for a sign.
He's been seeing the ghost
of Billy Cowsill for years.
No sign of him, I agree.
A horror movie set
is no place for a poet.
. . .
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Vancouver -
April 20 - This Thursday The Railway Club at 9 PM
Billy Cowsill Tribute "Thank you and Goodnight."
Billy's past band-mates and musical associates pay tribute. Featuring Lindsay Mitchell (prism, the seeds of time), Jim Byrnes, Colin James, Barney Bentall, Chris (the wrist) Norquist, El Mar, Wendy Bird, Jeff Hatcher, The original Blue Shadows and special guest Del Cowsill.
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Thanks to Ginny for finding the following videos shot at this tribute show !!
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Calgary -
May 18th, 2006 - Knox United Church hosted "On the Floor of Heaven - Remembering Billy Cowsill," a tribute featuring Billy's Co-Dependent bandmates. The event was hosted by Stewart MacDougall and, along with the Co-Dependent bandmates Tim Leacock, Steve Pineo and Ross Watson, featured fellow musicians Jenny Allen, Allen Baekeland, Christopher Duthie, Jane Hawley, Ralph Boyd Johnson, Julie Kerr, Craig Korth, Danny Patton, Tom Phillips, Dylan Sadlier-Brown, Mark Sadlier-Brown, Mike Stack and Charlie Veilleux. The event was sold out and an overflow in the basement with audio/video feeds also.
Thanks to Norma K for sharing the phamphlet from this service.
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Neil has put together this BEAUTIFUL slide show from Billy's Calgary Memorial. Click on Billy Cowsill and then click "Watch Slideshow." What will play is different than the slide show showing on page. Thanks to Ginny for sending this link along !
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added 1/3/08 ---> The following is a little more info posted by Mike on a Steve Hoffman message board.
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Just returned from the 2nd of two tribute concerts, On the Floor of Heaven: Remembering Billy Cowsill Thursday evening May 18, 2006 at the Knox United Church in Calgary. What a beautiful show. (First was in April in Vancouver.)
The concert featured the members of Billy's band The Co-Dependents - Steve Pineo, guitar, vocals, Tim Leacock, bass, Ross Watson drums along with several other musicians including Stewart MacDougall (host), Jane Hawley, Ralph Boyd Johnson, Tom Phillips and more.
There were also remembrances by 4 people including Peter Conroy (Billy's counselor, mentor for years), and music writer Peter North (see above post).
One of the big highlights of the evening for me was when Allison Brock from CKUA Radio (http://www.ckua.org/) radio came on stage to introduce 2 people. The first was Ralph Boyd Johnson. Ralph was friends with Billy for years a co-wrote a song on the first Blue Shadows album. The second person introduced (surprise guest) was Susan Cowsill.
Susan joined Ralph in singing a wonderful version of Warren Zevon's song "My Ride's Here". Ralph told the audience that Billy was good friends with Warren. Then Susan talked to us for about 5 minutes telling a funny story from the early years with The Cowsills and then about all the years the boys and her had been apart. "Even though we were far apart geographically we were a very close nit family." Susan said she almost was not able to come to Calgary as Billy's memorial service is on Saturday in Rhode Island. But she came. Said she felt she needed to be here.
At the end Susan turned to all the musicians and people in the front thanking them, "My brothers (the ones that are left, good thing I have so many) :) and I thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for taking such good care of Billy during the past year, washing his clothes, cleaning, helping him. Thank you."
I'd now like to do a song written by my brother Barry." This gorgeous alt-country song was called "River of Love". (It has not been recorded.) At the end of the song, Susan received a spontaneous standing ovation. She later came back at end of the concert with all 15 or so musicians for a rousing version of "Will The Circle Be Unbroken."
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Newport -
Bob posted the following on May 13th, 2006:
Next Saturday, May 20th will be the church service for Bill in Newport, Rhode Island. It's at 10:00am at St. Augustin's church in the fifth ward. Once you're heading towards Wellington Ave. on Thames street just keep going straight instead of turning right and the church will eventually come up on your right. This was our church and elementary school while we lived up in Halidon Hall. Anyone who wants to make it to this service is welcome to do that. It will be a Catholic mass/service that will run about 40 minutes. Father Kevin, who presided over Barry's service in the same church in February will again do the honors. That's all we'll be doing since Bill's celebration of life is taking place up in Calgary that same week. There are no other events scheduled. Again, anyone who would like to be there at the church, you're more than welcome.
Bob posted the following on March 12th, 2006:
A couple of things....things are moving along in terms of laying Billy to rest. There is still no cause of death established and that will still take some time (things go slow in Canada). Of course we will be taking Billy to Newport (his wishes) and we don't know when that will be yet. He was more of a reclusive type so there won't be the "party" that was given for Barry....just a quiet mass/spreading of ashes. There will also be a memorial event in Calgary (much more festive/musical and along the "party" line of Barry's evening at the Viking) but that hasn't been scheduled yet....probably sometime in early April (this is his community doing this and we're not controlling that). It's all very overwhelming right now but life does return to normal eventually but honestly I don't know if it ever will for us.
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Steve Pineo -
Steve Pineo was a bandmate of Billy's for years. As part of The Co-Dependents, I sure those two (with Ross and Tim) played millions of songs together.
Steve has written a wonderful song as a tribute to Billy that is on his new CD, When I Grow Up. You can purchase this CD through Megatunes in Canada. (Note: As of November 2010 it appears Megatunes is out of business.)
Steve writes, "I struggled with this tune. It took a long time after Billy Cowsill passed away for me to write something about him. Tom Phillips and Ralph Boyd Johnson had written beautiful tributes to him and I wanted to make sure my song honoured the memory of my friend and band mate. Billy named everything. Blue was his car and Rosie was his guitar. I miss him a lot ."
Make sure to get a copy of Steve's CD, but until you do, here are the lyric's to Steve's song.
Good bye old friend,
With your cigarettes and shaky hand,
You were born the leader of the band,
It was what you had to do.
Good bye old friend,
No one could touch you on a Friday night,
You couldn't sing a note that wasn't right,
We were kinda scared of you.
People come and go,
But there aren't many who can move me so,
A child star with an ancient soul,
A fallen angel on the mend.
Good bye old friend,
With your candles and your comic books,
With your stubborn stares and sideways looks,
With your "Rosie" and your "Blue",
Good bye old friend,
With your battle scars and checkered past,
I sure hope you've found your home at last,
But man we sure are missing you.
And when you let it flow,
There was nowhere else you had to go,
I thought I'd lost my faith in rock and roll,
Til you brought it back again,
Good bye old friend.
And when you gained control it was
Only 'cause you made it so,
But time must take its mortal toll,
And every song has got to end,
Good bye old friend.
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Tom Phillips -
Tom has written two songs as tributes to Billy.
Blue Shadows
(Chorus) Blue Shadows on the wall
Blue Northern, Comin' On
There's 'How lonesome' on the wind,
When a Blue Songbird spreads his wings.
Gamblers bet their luck against the wolves
Rock and roll and country western tunes
Not leaving any footprints, just a sound
An angel makes before it hits the ground
Chorus
There's ghosts on the stages where he played
Boot beats, wine, the footlights start to fade
Gunslingers with guitars
Coming down to catch you from the stars
Chorus
Cold hearts break with your cheatin game
It always seems the cards are stacked this way
Go With Him it always slips way
That don't stop the song that I hear rain, rain, rain
Will the roar of the crowd bring you down
Bull fighters one last round
Standin' tall try to turn it on
Spin your wheels like an endless merry-go-round
Chorus
There's 'How lonesome' on the wind,
When a Blue Songbird spreads his wings.
Sing Like An Angel
You make me want to sing like an angel
Play guitar like a train
Turn my body into breath
For a love songs refrain
Hear the voices of the great ones
Rock around in my brain
You make me want to sing like an angel
Play guitar like a train
(Chorus) Hold on to what you got boy
Never let it go
Hitch a ride on a final comet
Even if it blows out too soon
You shouldn't be blue
You give me what I need when I want it
What I want when I need
Take me places that I've been to
I just didn't see
Shine a light through a window
I'll follow, you lead
You make me what to sing like an angel
Play guitar like a train.
Chorus
Chorus
You make me want to sing like an angel
Play guitar like a train
Turn my body into breath
For a love songs refrain
Hear the voices of the great ones
Rock around in my brain
You make me want to sing like an angel
Play guitar like a train
You make me what to sing like an angel
Play guitar like a train.
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Suzi Martin -
Billy mentored many musicians over the years. Here's a beautiful (and obviously loving - meaning you can tell she loved Billy) song written by one of those musicians.
Courage, Mr. Cowsill
I came to you a humble child
With guitar in hand and mind running wild
I saw you, I saw leather and gray
At the end of your life you'd seen better days
You paid with lessons and you didn't have a dime
I'm sure that you thought I was a waste of time
No courage to even sing out loud
Mr. Cowsill I'd like to think that today I make you proud.
For the ones that you loved
You tried to give enough
To help them along
Now you're dying alone
Singing a sad and lonesome song
But you'll sing on, you'll sing on
To ____ with you we came
To hear your band just one last time
You told me stories of your youth
And I dared myself to walk a quarter mile in your shoes
"Just raise your voice," you said to me,
"The songs are there, but you have to set them free."
Then loving Patsy Cline you sang a tune,
As I recall it was "The Lovesick Blues"
For the ones that you loved,
You tried to give enough
To help them along
And now you're dying alone
Singing a sad and lonesome song
But you'll sing on, you'll sing on
I crossed the Crystal Ballroom floor
And hear your voice in songs you sang before
I lose myself in "Blue Bayou"
And the music that was found in me by you
Oh the ones that you loved
Always got enough
To help them along
Still you died all alone
Singing a sad and lonesome song
But you'll sing on, you'll sing on
"Just raise your voice," you said to me,
"The songs are there, but you have to set them free."
Well I'm setting them free
And we'll sing on, you and me Yeah
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Ralph Boyd Johnson -
Ralph Boyd Johnson wrote a song in memory of Billy and his dreams of being a cowboy, called "The Legend of Wild Billy C."
Click here to take a listen
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Years after Billy's death, he continues to be a strength to others. In September 2012 Ralph Boyd Johnson released a CD called 1723. 1723 was the address of Billy's house in Calgary and includes the last song ever written by Billy (along with other Billy references in songs). Click here to read about this CD (including a link to purchase) and several stories about Billy.
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The Ballad of Billy Cowsill
A song to soon be released on a 5 song album by the Dustin Bentall Band, "The Ballad of Billy Cowsill" pays tribute to our beloved Billy. Written by Del Cowsill bandmates Dustin Bentall, Kendel Carson and Jay Smith.
He played Ed Sullivan
He played on Johnny Cash
The stage where The Beatles played
They were his favorite band
Then in the '70's
He sat down on the streets of New York City
And all of the vagabond,
They all knew him by name.
He just had this walk
A sailor on the shore
And he sailed it north
In an American Cadillac car
And in the moonlight, driving beside him
There was a blue, blue shadow
The color just before the dawn
The proudest hour in the day of the vagabond
He cast a blue shadow
On the Johnson guitar and amps
Up in the spotlight
Making the young folks dance
He'd play on the hood of his car
When they wouldn't let him in the bar
With Rose in his hands
From the Floor of Heaven he sang
Now in the night sky
The moonlight casting a blue blue shadow
The color just before for the dawn
The brightest hour in the day of the vagabond
In the day of the vagabond
In the day of the vagabond
Click here for Jay Smith's version of this song.
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Kit Johnson
Kit Johnson is a long-time friend of Billy's. Track 11 on his Pretty Lies CD is called "Why Me?" and speaks of Billy. He describes this song as sort of a "Why are I so lucky to have this good life?"
When I was 25 I was playing in bands
I saw a man play an old guitar and there was magic in his hands
The band was hot, the people cheered, he had just hit his stride
Suddenly to my surprise I was playing at his side.
Why me?
Why me with all my flaws?
Why me out of all the others?
Why me?
Now we miss our fallen comrades constantly;
Ron Pearson, Billy Cowsill, Richard Bell and Willie P.
Their voices mute, their fingers stilled, and I'm still standing here
Spared for now to drink their health, celebrate and persevere
Why me?
Why me with all my flaws?
Why me out of all the others?
Why me?
All those roads have brought me here to you
In awe before your beauty, your true heart, your eyes so blue
The men who call, the heads that turn, you have your pick of those
But looking clearly at me ... it's me you chose.
Why me?
Why me with all my flaws?
Why me out of all the others?
Why me?
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Lindsay C. Mitchell
Lindsay included a chapter about Billy in his thesis. Click here to read that chapter.
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Still To Come
On May 10, 2007 Cowsill Fan Club President, Marsha Jordan posted:
Just received an update from Danny Casavant, a former bandmate of Billy's:
There is post production work in progress now on the Railway Club tribute show!
There are plans for another tribute to Billy in Vancouver which will be at a considerably larger venue--500+ people! The venue for this show has not yet been secured.
Also, the establishment of a Billy Cowsill Legacy Fund for charitable causes is in the works!
I'll be sure to post any further updates that I receive.
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In 2015 I ask Danny if any of these every happen. He said, unfortunately, no. None materialized.
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Joe Fournier
Ballad Of Billy Cowsill You can hear this song here.
Well he sang like a bird, drank like a ______
By the time he was 15, he'd already figured it out.
Every night after the gig, in his head he'd still be jamming.
Sang like a bird, drank like a sinner(????)
Well the angels gave him a voice, and then he took a powder.
So the demons started messing with his mind, every year it got louder.
And if he wasn't rockin', he was dyin', on the road to self-destruction
The angels gave him the voice, but forgot to give him the instructions.
He sang like a bird.
Hank Williams, Everly Brothers, Beatles and Elvis, he channeled them all
Just a Vagabond junkie with a borrowed guitar, waiting for a curtain call
From the musical highs to the soul crushing lows when it all fell apart,
And Hank Williams, Everly Brothers, Beatles and Elvis straight from the heart.
Well he sang like a bird, with that lonesome cryin' sound,
From center stage in Vegas, to a corner in Mecca, he always brought the house down.
So listen up while I tell you the tale, and believe every word.
He sang like a bird.
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Bob Chartier
Click this link to read a beautiful tribute to Billy.
Editors Note: I especially love the Mark Sadler-Brown story and Billy's comment to him after playing for a comatose patient, "Five hundred in a hall or one in a coma, we leave it all in the room." This was so Billy.
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Tim Leacock
Gotta Let You Go - Song For Billy You can hear this song here or here .
(Note: Please forgive my misinterpetation of any lyrics)
It's been said I took a pretty good stand, before the last time _____________
Read all about it on these lines on my face, getting any easier falling into place
I'm smokin' ________ outside the station, second thoughts of my destination.
I'm starin' down at the stain on the pavement, wondering where the rest of the guy went.
Was he thinking about the ties that bind, or the powers to be when he lost his mind?
Well I can't shake it, knowing that you might not make it.
Tell me why I have to let you go
Don't really want to know.
Well it's villains in the nights, heroes in the scene, victim and ___ and all the places in between
You were feeling alright as you chased away your dreams, falling through the cracks and apart at the seams
Like a little lost sheep searching for a shepherd, put your faith the man and you never found ______
And all you did to make the pain go away, seems it only brought it back home to stay
You used to talk about the come from behind, when you fell down and began to unwind
Well I've been shaking
Knowing that you might not make it
Tell me why I gotta let you go
Don't really want to know.
Don't really want to know
Well they're tearing down the church at the end of my street, there was a house of God lying at my feet
And I'd like to build a boat and maybe peel away, but how you going to float when you're only made of clay
And I don't care about the ties that bind, the powers to be just leave me blind.
Well I can't take it
That you might not make it
I can't take it
Tell me why I gotta let you go
Don't really want to know
Don't want to know
Tell me why gotta let you go.
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Laurie Fuhr's "Sunflowers for Roberta" Poem
. . .
VII.
Back in the car, Dylan confides
he was hoping for a sign.
He's been seeing the ghost
of Billy Cowsill for years.
No sign of him, I agree.
A horror movie set
is no place for a poet.
. . .
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