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Vicki Peterson and Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles, Peter Tork of the Monkees and guitarist Waddy Wachtel were some of the performers at a benefit concert for Billy Cowsill at the El Rey Theater last Monday night. Billy has been having a hard time of it with recent hip surgery and back surgery plus emphysema so friends and family came together to help him with expenses since he has always made his living singing. The Cowsills enjoyed great success during the late 60’s and into the very early 70’s not only with their music but also appearing on many TV shows as well as hosting their own special. They were approached to do a TV series but passed since the producers had already signed an actress to play the mother on the series. The series was “The Partridge Family”, actually modeled after the Cowsills family, and the actress was Shirley Jones, who appeared at the benefit. The Cowsills disbanded in the early 1970s but most of them never really left the music business and various members have regrouped through the years. Bridey Murphy, aka Paul, Bill, Barry and Waddy Wachtel, was formed in the mid-70’s, producing one single, “The Time Has Come / Be Your Mother’s Son”, with Paul doing all vocals and Waddy playing all instruments. In the 1990s some of The Cowsills (Bob, Paul, John and Susan) again regrouped. This time they intended to hit the oldies circuit but somehow playing just oldies didn’t excite them. They had too much fun with some new material written by Bob and his wife, Mary Jo. This new incarnation of The Cowsills started playing small clubs and touring. They recently released a new cd, “Global”, that has been well received by critics and fans alike. You can catch Bob Cowsill with friends and family performing once a week at the Fox and Hounds in Studio City and Pickwick’s Pub in Woodland Hills.
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