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The mood was festive Sunday night at the Met where Rhode Island music royalty gathered. The Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame celebrated its second induction ceremony, honoring the best musicians to come out of the state. The evening brought out the best of Rhode Island, with honorees mingling with the crowd and catching up with old friends. Following afternoon ceremonies, performers included inductees Paul Geremia, The Cowsills, and Steve Smith and the Nakeds.
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The Cowsills
Next up were The Cowsills. For longtime devotees, and those who grew up watching Partridge Family reruns, seeing the band live was a real treat. Their upbeat pop style, along with exquisite harmonies and playful lyrics is irresistible. Of course, they are well known as the Newport “family band” that inspired the hit 70’s TV show, The Partridge Family. But they are also remembered for their sibling harmonies and rich arrangements.
They delighted the crowd with well known originals including Indian Ranch, Love, American Style, and The Rain, The Park, and Other Things. They impressed on CSN’s Helplessly Hoping, and they closed with their AM radio (and Broadway) classic Hair.
The Cowsills reach the soul just as deep as Paul Geremia, albeit with better harmony. The strength of their music is that it takes us back to simpler times—real or imagined. Their sound is enduring. They truly belong in the RI Music Hall of Fame.
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Where does a Hall of Famer go from here? As Steve Smith is fond of saying, they will continue to tour until the phone stops ringing. Let’s hope that’s the case for all the inductees.
The non-profit Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame has done an outstanding job of recognizing Rhode Island’s best music. Located at the Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket, the RI Hall has honored a number of artists.
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