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An average-looking family passing through Big Spring in their camper-trailer Saturday probably didn’t draw many second glances, but they drew applause and a few screams when they mounted stages at the Webb AFB NCO and Officers Clubs.
The average-looking family originally from Rhode Island is known as the Cowsills, from California.
One reason they may look ordinary is that, prior to the Beatles, that is what they were.
“After the Beatles came along, the kids wanted to try and see what they could do,” Mrs. Cowsill said. MGM thought they could do a lot and offered them a contract.
Before long Mama (“they bribed me by promising me new dresses”) got into the act literally and they were on their way – an overnight success even though the “night” was six years long.
Having been on the road since June, Mama and Papa Cowsill and their young’uns were enroute back to California today. During November they are scheduled to finish up an album, for which they already have five songs.
Even though they spend most of their time performing, the family is normal, says Mrs. Cowsill. “I stayed in one place for so long that I’m really enjoying this. I think I’m raising normal children, too.”
Mrs. Cowsill said she thinks children are maturing earlier now, and her children agreed.
Being on the road adds maturity even earlier, said the children.
“I wasn’t living in any shell, and I got to know a lot of people. At times I felt I was maturing so fast it scared me,” 22-year-old Bob said.
Overly mature or not, 12-year-old Sue still admitted to being homesick and missing her friends from California.
“There are a lot of things I can’t do with my friends back home because I’m on the road with the family,” she said.
It’s not easy being on the road, either, they agreed.
Traveling in a camper-trailer can cause problems.
“At times there’s a lack of privacy, and after four months it begins to get on your nerve being so close all the time,” Bob said.
“The big problem for me is finding a laundromat with a lot of washers,” Mrs. Cowsill said.
The younger Cowsills call themselves “drop-outs” education-wise. They attend a professional school in California.
“You go in every month or so and they tell you what you have to do, and you do it and take it back to them,” Sue said. When asked how her grades were she sid “I’m okay,” which later turned out to mean she maintains an A average.
Average or now, the Cowsills managed to pack in three performances Saturday – doing an afternoon show at the Webb NCO club, traveling to Snyder for a performance and then coming back to Big Spring for an 8 p.m. performance at the Webb Officers Club. Now they’re going home for a vacation.
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