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John Cowsill is only 11 years old, but as the percussionist for the Cowsills he is destined for a stardom that only America can bestow. That is not to say that he doesn't deserve it. When he, his mother, his 8-year-old sister and three of his brothers finished their concert at Town Hall yesterday afternoon, there were few in the audience who could honestly say they were not entertained.
The problem is that the audience, shrunken by the weather, was made up largely of Mr. Cowsill's contemporaries. There was a time when the median age of the 45 r.p.m. record buyer was 16. Now that median age is approaching bottom, or at least a point where pop music is competing with box tops, comic books and Ideal toys. The Cowsills' contribution is not to music, but to show business, momism and the American family. By that criterion, they're great.
As a matter of fact, they're irresistible. There was 8-year-old Susie pinch-hitting on the bass guitar, belting out "To Sir With Love," and leading Gary Stevens, the WMCA disk-jockey, around by the hand while she sang "Sweet Talkin' Guy." There was brother Bill, on the guitar and brother Bob, 18, on the organ. There was brother Barry, 13, on the bass and brother Dick, 18, working the lights and brother Paul, 15, acting as stage manager. Mama Cowsill, introduced as Barbara, sang harmony.
But most of all there was John, and you can bet your last "Good Guy" sweatshirt, your only "Superman" comic book and your one Monkee autograph that he'll become the greatest Saturday afternoon matinee idol since Baby Leroy.
Young John struts across the stage singing with all the charisma of a James Cagney playing George M. Cohan. He drums with all the style of a Gene Krupa, but with half the reach. He has enough talent in the twirl of his drumstick to keep the pockets of an army of mohair-suited managers jingling at least until his voice changes, and even yesterday there were signs that that may be soon
The Cowsills used to play free guest sets in New York discotheques and unpaid concerts on the Central Park Mall. Papa Cowsill — he's called Bud in the group's press releases - nearly lost the family's 22-room mansion in Newport, R.I., financing his children's ambitions. Now the Cowsills have a $250,000 promotion fund behind them; a single disk. "The Rain, the Park and Other Things, spiraling up the pop music charts; an album— "The Cowsills" — on the market, and an offer to do a TV series.
The Cowsills write some of their own music, but they mostly play golden oldies from the Top 40 hits and they play them with all the nostalgia they have had time for. They play their instruments at least as well as the Monkees. They offered a second Town Hall concert last night, and if that wasn't enough, they'll be back in Philharmonic Hall Jan 19 with a 20-piece orchestra behind them.
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