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For those of us lucky enough to be there, I think Cowsill Marathon IV will be the ultimate. It was a magical event that could never be duplicated. What's the big deal? For the first time EVER, all seven of the Cowsill siblings performed on the same stage is what !! This happen on September 23rd and 24th, 2000 in their home town of Newport, Rhode Island. The Howard Johnson's of Middletown once again was our host. Connie rented a suite and so that was the main gathering point for everyone. Sing-alongs seemed to go on constantly. I couldn't begin to list the people there because I'm are sure there was literally over a thousand on Saturday and perhaps as many on Sunday. The big events were the shows at the 12th Annual Taste of Rhode Island and The Cowsills played the big tent. The tent was packed beyond discription, with people hanging in the sides and standing many deep outside because they couldn't get in. Shows were about two hours on both days, and the neighbors even called the police on us for the noise! (hee hee) Aunt Flo, whom we are told looks like Barbara, joined the siblings on stage for We Can Fly. Bob commented how spooky it was. Almost as if Barbara was there with them, and I think she was. This marathon was also unique in that it was a multi-generational one as at least 3 mothers traveled many hours to join their daughters at the shows. Children of the first generation fans also were plentiful.
Also, on Sunday morning, The Cowsills hosted a Meet and Greet on Banister's Wharf where they signed endless autographs and took a zillion pictures. John was a tad late (ok nearly 2 hours late) so the lines at the Meet and Greet had to reform, but he was a trooper and stayed till he made everyone happy.
What else did we do? Well, Barry did nightly shows at the Narragansett Café. Everyone also spent time doing the Cliff Walk, touring the mansions, shopping, partying at the Narragansett Café, checking out Eddie Starr's newly release CD featuring the Cowsill song Beautiful Beige, and sampling the food in the many, many Newport establishments. T-shirts and caps - once again designed by Jo Malone - were adorned by loving Cowsill fans.
Of course, I had to comment on this Marathon too, so here's what I had to say.
I remember a video shot at TORI back in the early 90's. During 'Some Good Years' the camera slips on the tripod and goes to the sky. The operator slowly brings in back down as the words of the bridge flow "How the good shines through". I've often thought how it must have been Barbara saying something like the following. "This is the good of those years. This family together (though not complete that day), doing what they love - the music, and doing it astonishingly." Countless times we've all talked of the complete picture, dreaming how it would be, what it would feel like. I got to not only dream that, but experience it.
Bill - A physical presence of inspiration of a changed life. You look and sound awesome. Keep doing what you've been doing these past few years!!
Rich - The bravery to do something that may have been a dream come true, but also had to be so scary.
Bob - The glue to form this and to hold it together.
Paul - The energy to amaze me once again (hey Mom even changed her mind about Paul).
Barry - I can't think of any words to describe what I want to say. I was impressed, I was proud.
John - A talent unmatched
Susan - The presence to smooth the picture to completion
Thanks for sharing these things with me this weekend.
PS - Mom's review: "I liked those country songs Bill sang best" (and no Stella didn't bribe her to say that). But she gave only one standing ovation, that to a certain Cowsill's version of Cryin'.
CM IV T-shirt
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CM IV shirt sleeve
in memory of Barbara and Bud
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Once again due to the number of pictures, I've split them up.
The Seven Siblings
The Shows
Being Together
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