|
"One a person, two alone, three together, for each other." Musically, these words are lyrics; realistically. these lyrics condense the life of the Cowsill family, the headline perfonners at the annual Christmas party Sunday night.
In show business for eleven years, the Cowsills have designed their show to feature music with varied appeal. "Flower Girl", now a five-year old release, marked the rise of the group into the entertainment spotlight. Since then recordings of "Indian Lake" and "Hair" have boosted their ascent.
Stage director and lead guitarist Bob Cowsill, 22, admits that some of the songs the Cowsills perform they don't like. "Hair" is an exception.
"I get a kick out of singing 'Hair.' The record was a really good record, and we do a good reproduction of it on stage."
Original music for the Cowsills' performances is composed and scored by Bob and his 17 year old brother Barry, but music for the shows isn't uniquely Cowsill. If other artists' arrangements appeal to the group as a whole, they use them.
"Usually we take their arrangement, like "country Road", and try to match wbat we hear on their record." But Bob subtlely prides himself and his brother on their ability and enjoyment of adding variety to teh show with personal arrangements.
Excepting Alaska, each of the United States hosted Cowsill performances during their June 1 - November 23 tour. A six month tour tests the patience and stamina of many single artists, but how does extended time on the road affect family relationships?
Barrv: "Out here we see each other constantly, and when we're home, we just don't see each other at all."
Mutually, the Cowsills agree that while on stage they forget who they are and what problems they may be experiencing as a family. Their first objective is to please their audience. And how does the Harding College audience rate with other college audences?
Bob: "The Harding audience gets an A plus. Colleges are the places we like to perform, because our shows are usua1ly well received like here at Harding."
Entertainers always seem to have an idol in their field that they enjoy and mime. The Cowsills are no exception. For Bob it's Neil Young; Barry grooves with Led Zepplin. John, the third brother of the performing family, likes Elton John. Susan swoons over David Castle. But early in their career one group dominated each of their ideals - the Beatles.
Barry: "We were all young and dug the Beatles."
Bob: "Plus the Beatles are great, real geniuses."
The Cowsills look back on their past as an educational experience. But what about formal education?
Barry: "We go to a professional school in Los Angeles -one that use to handle the Mouseketeers and is run by a bunch of senile old ladles. We do our homework out here and take it back. We learn twice as much out here as we would back there sitting in a building all day."
December 27, slated as the date for release of their newest single, marks an approaching day of decision for the Cowsills. Either "Covered Wagon" or "Love Song" both acclaimed as "smasharoonies" will be released.
Their problem is deciding which to release first. As Bob put it, "our future all depends on our record. If we bave a smash hit record, we'll get on a smash hit T. V. shows."
And the future of the Cowsills is as indefinite as that. With the ages of the performers ranging from 12, Susan the youngest, to ageless Barbara who is really 43 the Cowsills live to enjoy their work as entertainers and their lives as members of the same family.
And after visiting with Barbara Cowsill and her family backstage, this reporter agrees with her when she says, "we balance."
|
