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(Ed note: This article is an interview with Jan Rose Twilley who was John Cowsill's first wife)
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"I met Dwight through Susie when The Cowsills [late 60s/early 70s US teen-pop family band] were working at Clover Recorders," says Jan Twilley, Dwight's widow. "It was just a few blocks from Shelter Records on Hollywood Boulevard." Jan Rose and Susan Cowsill had been best friends from the time they met as fourth graders at Hollywood Professional School. That learning institution was filled with young stars. "All of The Cowsills went to Hollywood Professional," Jan recalls. Jan excelled in her studies, graduating a year early. "I'd always hang out at The Cowsills' place on Rockingham, and Susan would often come hang out at my pad," she says.
Released on Shelter in 1975, I'm On Fire was Twilley's debut release. The song soared to the No 16 spot on the US Billboard singles charts and reached No 57 in Canada. It was around that time that Susan Cowsill and Dwight Twilley started dating.
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Even though they had been friends for years by that point, Jan says that she had never heard any of Twilley's music until Susan played a cassette of Sincerely at her home one day. She was mightily impressed; so were the critics, the record earning critical raves in Trouser Press, Rolling Stone and beyond.
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"I (Dwight) sure am missing that harmony vocalist (referring to Phil Seymour departure)." But it quickly dawned on him that he knew of an excellent singer, one who - as Jan wryly puts it - "was right there in Dwight's kitchen, making a meatloaf." Twilley asked Susan Cowsill if she would join his band.
Beginning with Twilley's second solo album, 1982's Scuba Divers, Susan would be credited with harmony vocals (she's also listed as a recording engineer for that album). Her brother, John, played drums and sang harmony as well. At that point, Jan and John Cowsill were a married couple, having wed in 1978.
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The Always sessions would feature acclaimed bassist Leland Sklar, members of 20/20 and The Posies, Tommy Keene, Susan Cowsill and R.E.M. producer Mitch Easteer.
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After several days in the hospital (Dwight had a massive stroke) and on life support, he passed away quietly, with Susan Cowsill, longtime friend, lead guitarist Rat Matthews, and his wife Jan, at his side. He was 72.
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