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Bob Cowsill has been touring with his siblings as The Cowsills since 1965. The harmonizing group, which at various times has included different assemblages of the six siblings and even their mother, inspired the '70s television show, "The Partridge Family."
Today, the group is comprised of Bob, Susan, and Paul Cowsill, and the trio has spent the greater part of the past decade as part of the Happy Together tour, a collection of popular bands from the '60s and '70s that tour together playing their top hits.
"It's like summer camp for us," Cowsill said. "We're all legacy artists, oldies artists from the '60s and we're all so grateful to be on this tour."
The Happy Together tour returns to The Birchmere on June 20, with this year's lineup featuring The Turtles, Little Anthony, Gary Puckett & the Union Gap, The Vogues, The Classics IV, and The Cowsills. Combined, the six acts had more than 60 Top 40 hits on the Billboard charts.
"Everyone will do their top five or six hits that the audience knows, and one of the rules of the tour is you do your songs the way they were recorded, don't start recreating your own hits," Cowsill said. "We know what the audience wants. Their memory of these songs run as deep as the memories of the performers."
The Turtles were a radio staple in the '60s, with its harmony-heavy California pop sound on hits including "Elenore," "It Ain't Me Babe," "You Showed Me" and "Happy Together"; Little Anthony is known for his amazing vocal range and hit songs, "Tears On My Pillow," "Goin' Out of My Head," and "Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko Bop"; Puckett's trademark voice will be belting out hits such as "Young Girl," "Over You," and "Woman, Woman"; The Vogues are known for "Five O’Clock World," "My Special Angel" and "Turn Around Look At Me"; and The Classics IV achieved success with hits "Spooky," "Stormy," "Traces" and "Everyday With You Girl."
"This was music that united a generation," Cowsill said. "Back then, we were all connected and this tour is driven by these songs."
The business model for The Happy Together Tour was first introduced by The Turtles, who realized that six acts could team up and bring the audience a collection of hits that will keep them engaged throughout the night.
"We all travel together and sleep on two busses, and do it because it's still so much fun for us," Cowsill said. “We will be hitting 60 cities by Sept. 1, and everyone loves it because we can't believe we're still here and that the audience is still here. We're going to bop until we drop apparently."
And though some of the acts are getting up there in age—for instance, Little Anthony is now 82—Cowsill noted he sounds as impressive as ever, and that's true with all the acts.
"It's more magical than ever," Cowsill said. "Our audience recaptures memories from their younger days and some learn a little musical history lesson. The show is very popular and even the younger kids have been enjoying it."
The Cowsills will kick off The Bichmere show and plan on singing all of their biggest hits during a 20-minute set, including "Hair," "Indian Lake," "Love American Style" and "The Rain, The Park & Other Things."
"We love getting the first crack at the audience and getting the party going," Cowsill said. "We all only do hits. Maybe there's something new up at the merch table, but in the show, it's only the songs people want to hear."
Once the tour ends, the Cowsills will go back to touring with their sons and other family members in a seven-piece band as the music never stops for them. They also host a successful podcast (100 episodes and counting!) and will continue playing as a trio.
"People need to get off the couch and come see us play," Cowsill said. "We know how old we all are and we know how good that couch feels, but The Happy Together Tour will uplift you and bring you to places you didn’t know were still inside you and bring out the dormant memories. It’s a quick show and one that’s lots and lots of fun."
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