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William "Billy" Cowsill, the lead singer of the 1960s family band The Cowsills, died Friday, friends said. He was 58.
Cowsill, who had emphysema, osteoporosis, Cushing syndrom and other ailments, died in Calgary Alberta. He was also recovering from back surgery in which one lung had to be collapsed; doctors could not get it to re-inflate. No cause of death has been released.
The Cowsills - the inspiration for the TV series "The Partridge Family" - recorded hits between 1967 and 1970 including "The Rain, The Park, and Other Things" and "Hair." They also were spokespeople for the American Dairy Association, appearing in commercials and print ads. The band's career began in Newport, R.I., where by 1965 they had a regular gig at a club. They were spotted by a producer for NBC's "Today" show, who booked them for an appearance that led to a record deal.
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