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EVER HEAR this saying: "Love makes the world go round"? If that's true, the world of The Cowsills is spinning round and round like a top that forgot how to stop! They love their work, their success, their new home in California, their old home in Rhode Island, their friends, their schools, their days, their nights, their play-time ... and some certain people. And it's that last item that's the most interesting. Just who do The Cowsills love? And why?
First of all, they love their mother. And it's really not terribly hard to figure out why. Besides the fact that Barbara's their mother, she's also one of their best friends.
Barry says, "Mom's everything that's kind and good in a woman. I sure can't blame Dad for loving her more every day. She kinda grows on a person ..."
Paul puts it a little more in detail. "Mom never thinks of herself," he said. "We all come first with her. I don't really think she's ever done anything for selfish reasons. Her husband and her kids are the most important things in the world to her. And everything she does is for us. Look at the way she joined the singing group. It was just because we needed another female voice. She did it for us ... not because she wanted to be famous. Who could help loving someone like that?"
Bill's wife Karen also rates high on the list of people The Cowsills love. Of course, Bill's very deeply in love with her. But the other boys (and girl) find that they get more and more attached to her as each day passes.
Susie admits, "I'm sure glad Karen and Bill moved out to California with us. She's really like a part of the family, and not just a married-into-it part, either. Maybe it's because Bill knew her such a long time and she stayed at our big house so often. All I know is she's like a sister to me. And I love her because she protects me from those big bully brothers of mine!" She giggles and adds, "Maybe I taught her a few things about dealing with them, too, though!"
The Cowsills (at least the male members of the clan) have a special fondness for California girls. Before they moved out to Santa Monica, the guys (especially the younger ones) didn't date as much as they would have liked. There just didn't seem to be enough time. But there's something about the air in California that really turns them on. And they've discovered that girls from California are among the prettiest in the world.
Bob confides, "The girls here are a gas! They're always so tan and healthy-looking! I wish I could spend the whole day, every day, talking to them one after another." He smiled. "But I don't think the record company would appreciate it if I never came to work. Neither would my father, come to think of it."
Johnny's opinion wasn't much different. "I love the girls out here! They're really groovy because they like to have fun. And since I dig having fun more than anything, I get along just fine with them!"
Who else do The Cowsills love? Well, they adore the girls who work for their manager, Len Stogel, because they're always so helpful and kind.
Barry says, "Everyone seems so interested in us, I can't believe it. If one of us has a cold, they send cards and presents. At birthdays, it's like Christmas. They even help us pick presents for other people or clothes. And they're always ready with advice and suggestions. You can't help loving and appreciating them very much."
More people they love? Well, Aretha Franklin, because she sings so well. And the nice lady who comes to help their mother, because she never scolds them for messing up the house. And the lady who lives in the big white house near them, because she bakes the best cakes in the world and always brings one over for them to eat. And Susie, because no matter how pesty she can be at times, she's still a good kid. And Susie's little friend from down the street, because she's so shy with the older boys and so cute. And the girls the school-age guys have in their classes, because they treat them like everyone else and don't make them feel uncomfortable because they're recording and TV stars. And the old lady who sells flowers near their recording studio, because she always smiles and says hello. And their father, because he's the best father a family ever had. And all the people who've helped them, because they've been kind and generous and thoughtful.
And last, but not least, there's you, the Cowsill fan wherever you are.
Bill says, "It's hard to put into words the way we feel about our fans. We get letters and they say 'I love you.' And it makes us feel terrific because it's nice to be loved. We try our best. . . and it's great to know people appreciate it and like us for it."
Barry adds, "If our fans love us, we love them even more!"
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