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The Cowsills popular musical group, will present one show at 7 p.m. October 22, in the gymnasium at LeTourneau College. Sponsored by the Student Activities Committee, the show will be open to the public.
The Cowsills began their career at home. Like the Seven Dwarfs, they whistled while they worked.
Father Bud Cowsill was away from home much of the time, completing a 20-year-hitch in the U.S. Navy. He has since retired.
His wife had the responsibility of caring for their seven children and the 22 room home they occupied in Newport, R.I.
Bob and Bill Cowsill started the musical ball rolling by taking up the guitar performing as a duo at home and later at hometown functions. Barry soon joined them on the drums, switching to bass guitar when John became their drummer.
It wasn’t long before the quartet was playing at high school functions, college dances and local night spots.
In 1967, the boys decided they needed a female vocalist and asked their mother to join them.
“At first,” she recalls, “I thought it a foolish idea. My singing had been mostly over a kitchen sink. The idea of facing an audience frightened me, then I gave it a second thought and decided that I WANTED to be a part of the boys’ group. I had struggled for years raising them, and, quite frankly, I didn’t want to be left behind.”
Barbara Cowsill joined the group to cut a demonstration record of “The Rain, The Park, and Other Things.” MGM Records heard it and put the Cowsills under contract. The recording became their first million mark seller. The single was followed by their first album, “The Cowsills, “ which it the top ten.
Young Susan Cowsill, now 11, became a part of the group for their next success, “We Can Fly” album.
Paul Cowsill, who had been working behind the scenes, joined the group on bass guitar and keyboard in time to cut the Cowsills’ third L.P., “Captain Sad and His Ship of Fools.”
The group’s biggest winner of all, “Hair”, has sold more than two million copies.
Bill Cowsill recently left the group to produce records and to continue his career as a single act. Dick Cowsill, Bob’s twin, has never been a member of the singing group. He lives in Newport, R.I., since his return from Vietnam.
The Cowsills have appeared on television in specials, and the Ed Sullivan, Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas, Jonathan Winters, Kraft Music hall, Hollywood Palace, Johnny Cash, Dick Cavett and Barbara McNair shows.
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