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FRECKLES, LAUGHTER, big brown eyes, a "Munster-like mansion" in Newport, Rhode Island, a mini-mom and a whole lot of talent. This is the Cowsills.
Since the sensational success of the Beatles, there has been a steady rise in the popularity of rock 'n roll groups And from the looks of things, there is no end to new groups popping up everywhere. So up popped the Cowsills — an entirely new dimension in entertainment today.
Twelve months ago hardly anyone had heard of them, but at the moment, they are the hottest property in the music industry; and interestingly, they were not created by the industry as most top recording stars are.
What makes the Cowsills unique in show business? They are a rare blend of two generations. On occasion, other entertainers have teamed up with their children to do a song or appear on a show. Frank Sinatra, for
example, joined his daughter, Nancy, to record Something Stupid. Dean Martin has had his daughter appear on television with him in a duet; and Bing Crosby has performed with one or all of his sons in public appearances. But a family combination performing together regularly is indeed a unique happening.
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Host Hugh Downs of the "Today" show interviews the Cowsills: Susie, Bill, Barb, Barry, and Bob
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The Cowsills corporation reads as follows: Bill, Bob, Barry, and John comprise the nucleus of the group; they are backed up by Barbara, their mini-mommy, and Susan, the Cowsill baby. These are the Cowsills the public knows. Behind the scenes there are
Dick and Paul Cowsill who perform as road managers — keeping all equipment straight and in order throughout their journeys. And heading this fantastic group is Daddy Cowsill, Bud, who dreamed up this fairy tale success story, and who masters the job of coordinating their conglomeration of talent.
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The Cowsills' story certainly does read like a fairy tale. It was only a short time ago that the Cowsills were on the brink of losing everything — they had no money, the phone was disconnected, there wasn't any oil in
the furnace. "It was so cold that Bill and Bob (the two oldest boys) chopped up their dressers to make firewood and everybody huddled together around the fireplace," recalls Mrs. Cowsill. Their mortgage was about to be foreclosed and they and the house they loved so dearly were about to be separated forever.
Desperately in need of financial help, the family came to New York. They had always performed together musically; Dad had gotten them many engagements to play at fraternity parties at Brown University and Provi-
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