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“The Cowsills,” a nationally known singing group, will appear in concert at 8 p.m. Dec 14 in Ysleta High School’s J. M. Hanks Auditorium. Tickets for the concert are available through the school’s ticket business office from Miss Lynna Counts, Speech and Drama Department chairman. Schools may purchase group tickets through Miss Counts.
“The Cowsills” will also perform for the students at Austin and Burges high school, earlier in the day. The concert series was arranged through Image International.
Six Cowsills comprise the singing group. Leader Bob, 21, plays the guitar, drums, piano and also composes for the group, while Paul, 19, plays the drums, piano and the bass guitar. Barry, 16, plays a 12-string guitar, bass guitar, drums, and composes; while sister Susan, 11, plays the bass guitar, and John, 14, plays drums and piano. Mother Barbara provides the female singing voice.
Beginning their career in a rather unique way, they started as a “family amusement.” But the family ran into difficulties with Father Cowsill away from home in the Marine Corps, and a family of seven children with a 22-room mansion to care for. The children helped with the work, but Bob and Bill found a way to raise money. They took guitar lessons and soon began performances at local functions to earn money. Later, Barry joined the duo, to play the bass guitar, and John came in as the new drummer.
They played at high school functions, local night spots and college dances. But in 1967, they decided that a female voice was needed. Mother Cowsill was the group’s choice, and she joined the boys to record a demo record “The Rain, the Park and Other Things,” which landed a contract for them with MGM. Their first record, a best seller, was followed by “The Cowsills,” which hit the Top 10.
Sister Susan was added and more talent and personality came to the group. “We Can Fly” followed by “Indian Lake” increased the family’s fame.
When they produced their third album, “Captain Sad and His Ship Of Fools,” Paul joined the family group and Bill left to begin his own one-man act. The last member of the family, Dick Cowsill, Bob’s twin, did not join the group after his return from Vietnam.
The Cowsills have grown in popularity and have had several successful LPs, including “The Best of the Cowsills,” “Hair,” which sold over two million copies, “The Cowsills in Concert,” and “IIxII.” They sing the theme song for the television series, “Love, American Style,” and the theme song for “The Impossible Year.”
The Cowsills performed at the San Remo Music Festival, in Las Vegas and have performed on the Ed Sullivan Show, The Johnny Carson, Tonight Show, Hollywood Palace and Kraft Music Hall.
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