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Barbara Cowsill
Born July 12, 1928
Died January 31, 1985
Nicknamed "The Singing Mom", Barbara Cowsill was a member of the late-Sixties family, bubble-gum rock group, The Cowsills, joining her five sons and one daughter on a string of pop hits. Evolving out of a rock duo formed by brothers Bill and Bob Cowsill in their hometown of Middletown, Rhode Island, The Cowsills were managed by Barbara's husband, retired naval officer William "Bud" Cowsill. The last to join the group, Barbara Cowsill provided backing vocals but did not play an instrument. After honing a nightclub singing act around the Rhode Island area, The Cowsills moved to New York City to be closer to the music industry. Signing with MGM Records in 1967, the group enjoyed a quick string of chart successes with the million-selling, 'The Rain, The Park & Other Things' (1967), 'We Can Fly' (1968), 'Indian Lake' (1968), and from the rock musical of the same name, 'Hair' (1969). In 1969 The Cowsills became involved with the ABC network, first singing the theme song for the television series, Love American Style. But when ABC offered the group its own television sitcom, The Cowsills turned down the offer when the network demanded that Shirley Jones play their mother. Instead, ABC launched The Partridge Family. After disbanding the group in 1972, the Cowsill family declared bankruptcy. Several of the group's members turned to drugs or alcohol during the next two decades.
CAUSE: She died in Tempe, Arizona, after a long bout of emphysema. Her death was kept a secret for years, and the cause was not publicized. She died while working the overnight shift at a nursing home. Bud Cowsill died on September 29, 1992, from leukemia.
Barry Cowsill
Born September 14, 1954
Died circa September 2, 2005
The bassist and backing vocalist of The Cowsills, Barry Cowsill joined his brothers, a sister and his mother in the family act. Evolving from a rock duo formed by brothers Bill and Bob Cowsill in their hometown of Middletown, Rhode Island, The Cowsills were managed by their father, retired naval officer William "Bud" Cowsill. Although Barry yearned for a career in a harder rock group, his fortunes came with light pop music. After earning a regular spot at a nightclub in Newport, Rhode Island, the group was discovered by a producer from NBC's The Today Show and was given the opportunity to perform for a national audience. Signed by MGM Records in 1967, the Cowsills enjoyed a quick string of quirky hits including the million-selling, 'The Rain, The Park & Other Things' (1967), 'We Can Fly' (1968), 'Indian Lake' (1968), and from the rock musical of the same name, 'Hair' (1969). Barry Cowsill sand lead vocals on several album tracks including 'Please Mr. Postman' and 'Painting The Day'. In 1969, The Cowsills began an association with the ABC network, performing the theme song for the television series, Love American Style, but when ABC offered the group its own television sitcom, the family rejected the offer after the network demanded Shirley Jones play their mother. After disbanding in 1972, the Cowsill family declared bankruptcy. Barry continued to perform, and while in Boston during the early Eighties, he was a member of the bands Blind Lemon Pledge and The Allston Brothers. By the Nineties, Barry pursued a solo career and occasionally teamed with three of his siblings for Cowsills reunion concerts; in 1998, the group released an album of new material, Global.
CAUSE: In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Barry Cowsill took refuge in a warehouse and left his sister a chilling telephone message on September 1, asking for help in escaping the violence and looting. When he failed to make further contact, the family feared he was one of the 1,000 unidentified hurricane victims housed in a New Orleans morgue. On December 27, Barry's body was discovered by police near a pier in New Orleans, and was identified six days later through dental records. He had relocated to New Orleans the previous year.
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Steve Duboff
Born July 13, 1941
Died February 28, 2004
A singer-songwriter, Steve Duboff teamed with Art Kornfield to compose 'The Rain, The Park And Other Things' (The Cowsills), 'We Can Fly' (The Cowsills) ......
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Wes Farrell
Born December 21, 1939
Died February 29, 1996
A legendary Brill Building songwriter.... Farrell worked with a variety of pop-rock acts including The Everly Brothers, The Cowsills, and, writing most of their music including their television theme song, The Partridge Family.
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Tony Romeo
Born 1939
Died June 23, 1995
A producer and songwriter, Tony Romeo is best known for his work with Lou Christie, The Cowsills and The Partridge Family. His compositions included 'Indian Lake' (The Cowsills)
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