Rhode Island Music Hall Of Fame

Thanks to attendees Debbie S, Carol F., Suzanne P., Michael E. and Nina S. for contributing info for this page.

From Bannister's Wharf in Newport, The Cowsills carried their glorious pop harmonies to the world in the 1960s and '70s. Along the way, they garnered three Top-10 hits - and another nine Billboard chart entries - making them one of the most successful Rhode Island acts of all time. Their early singles featured a four-piece lineup of brothers Bill, Bob, Barry and John. By the time they'd begun their string of hits for MGM Records, they'd added their mom, Barbara, to the mix and they brought in sister Susan and brother Paul. After pursuing successful solo careers in the '80s and '90s (most notably with The Continental Drifters and Bill with The Blue Shadows on the Americana scene; and John as the drummer-in-residence for The Beach boys), the group reformed in the late '90s for an album under Bob's direction and reestablished itself as a major concert attractions. The Cowsills have become universally recognized as pioneers of the joyful genre of Rock 'n' Roll now referred to as "Sunshine Pop."

Bob reformed the group in the late 90s for the album "Global" with Susan, John and Paul remained the lineup at the time of the family's induction into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame in 2013 (with Bob, Susan and Paul performing as a trio during the times John was tied up with his “day job” with The Beach Boys.) In the 2000s, the group was joined at various performances by Barry, Bill and also Richard, the only sibling who was not a member of the original lineups. In September 2000, all seven Cowsills performed together for the first and last time at the “A Taste of Rhode Island” in Newport. Barbara passed on in 1985, Barry was lost in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans 2005. Bill passed away in 2006, the day of Barry’s memorial service.

On April 28, 2013, THE COWSILLS were inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame. Other musicians being inducted in this 2nd ever class were, George M. Cohan, Jimmie Crane, Bill Flanagan, Paul Geremia, Bobby Hackett, Sissieretta Jones, Steve Smith & the Nakeds, and Eddie Zack & the Hayloft Jamboree.

The induction ceremony was held at the Met and Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The Cowsills were featured in the 7 P.M. induction concert. John was given the day off from Beach Boys duty to join Bob, Paul and Susan in the show.

With the help of Cowsill fans across the country, and spearheaded by Debbie S., The Cowsills will have the first permanent 3-D exhibit.

Many, many Cowsills fans made the trek to Rhode Island to support The Cowsills. (If I leave you out, let me know and I'll gladly add your name in.) These fans included: Debbie S., Nina S., Suzanne P., Marilynn M., Carol F., Mike F., Lynne M., Colleen L., Tim B., Mariann B., Barbara B., AJ. W., Lynne H., Barbara B., Lizette S., Kim C., Ilene F., Sher C., Denise H., Louise B., Betsy-Dawn W. and Larry L..

Click here to read The Cowsills official Hall of Fame bio.

Induction / Thank You Transcript:

Note: The transcript below was made from online video. Click here to read Michael Edwards offical speech.

Michael: 1962 and look at the cover of the Beach Boys album. It’s a picture of Paradise Cove north of Los Angeles in California. And it’s the first time that part of a state was featured on the cover of an album. Now Segway to 1967 and the 2nd state to be featured on a lp cover was Rhode Island. 2nd state on an lp cover. It’s a fact. Now, it’s The Cowsills and here they are at Halidon Hall in Newport, right on that cover. In fact, The Cowsills featured pictures of Rhode Island on record covers and the trade magazines throughout their career and throughout the world. That alone would be reason enough to induct them into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame. They really put Rhode Island out there. But, of course, it was the music too. It started in Newport in 1966 when The Cowsills got a contract with Philips records. Three singles followed including a gem composed by Bob Cowsill called “What’s It Going To Be Like?” Bigger things followed in 1967 when they signed with MGM records and had the #1 record in the country with “The Rain, The Park, and Other Things,” what else. More big hits followed. “We Can ..” (crowd: FLY), “In Need of a …” (crowd: FRIEND), “Indian …” (crowd: LAKE), “Poor …” (crowd: BABY), and the second #1, the title song from the rock musical, (everyone) “Hair”. Something we all used to have more of, right? But as the ‘70s approached, The Cowsills, along with a lot of our heroes from the ‘60s, started to see their run of hits come to an end. But that was not the end of the group. They continued to perform and make recordings over the last 40 years. The Cowsills are still out there. In addition, Bob and Susan have their own bands and John is the drummer with The Beach Boys and he just returned from being part of the most successful tours in that groups history. We’re going to hear all of this and more in just a little while. So, let me hand you over to Dr. Robert Billington here with the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame who will formally induct the band, The Cowsills.

Dr. Billington: Thank you Michael. It takes someone from England to make the English language sound so good, doesn’t it? Thank you, Michael. Well we are about to bring out the second inductee or the third inductee of this evening. We’ve done Bill Flanagan, Paul Geremia and now we’re bringing out The Cowsills. I just wanted to … this is the passion, has been ignited. This is what has been ignited with The Cowsills induction. There was a group of fans around the country that raised money, yeah, they raised their own money. What they wanted to see was a 3 dimensional exhibit. There are one dimensional exhibit out there now, but they wanted to see it go big time. So, the first 3 dimensional exhibit we will see here in the Hall of Fame will be The Cowsills because of Deb Serrio’s allegiance to them and all the fanship that she demonstrated. Let me just tell you what they thought. They thought that they have achieved some long friendships. The family not only shares their musical talents but they inspired us with their love and sense of humor to be better people ourselves. And this is a small way that they can say ‘Thank You,’ ‘We Love You.’ We’d also like to thank the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame for bestowing this great honor on The Cowsills. We appreciate your recognition of the talent” – this is from the fans of The Cowsills - “and contribution to the music world. We hope their exhibit will be enjoyed by future generations in years to come.” Ladies and gentlemen – The Cowsills !!!

Cheers

Dr. Billington: We’re missing a few. We’re missing a few. OK, ladies and gentlemen, there’s nobody better to (John does the bunny ears over Dr. Billington’s head) tell the Cowsills story then The Cowsills.

John: Then me.

Dr. Billington: Then them. I’m going to present this small amount of appreciation for all that they’ve done for Rhode Island. I think Mike has spelled it out very, very well. And then ladies and gentlemen, it’s their show. Bob, on behalf, on behalf of the entire state of Rhode Island and The Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame, we salute you and we appreciate the travel from the other coast to here. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome The Cowsills.

Bob: (Holding the trophy over his head) I feel like I’m at mass. We’re going to start some thank yous’ and I’ve been assigned the professional thank yous. So, I’m going to be giving you some names that you’re not going to be familiar with but these are the people who signed ……

John: Please no photos. Please no photos.

Bob: … us to record labels and helped us with our careers. Dave Rosner was with Columbia, Johnny Nash was JODA, Mortin Nasatir from MGM, Shelby Singleton was Mercury Records, he signed us to Mercury Records while we were in grade school and high school. And Artie Kornfeld and Brooks Arthur these were the producer and engineer who really got us going in the recording studios and we formed a formable relationship with. Of course, my siblings.

Paul: Yeah thanks Bob.

Susan: (Can’t understand)

Bob: I would say Barry, but my brother Bill that we miss terrible of course and our brother Barry, these are the two are not here. “Well they’re not all here” and I said, “Well, that’s how that works.” And so I just want to thank them. So, who’s next to thank people? Susan, do you want to be next?

Susan: Sure I want to be next.

Bob: John do you have anything

Susan: Let John be next.

John: All I want to say is, you know, when it first started it was (Paul and Bob surround John and John turns his back to Paul), it was this guy (grabs Bob), myself, my brother Barry and my brother Bill. These other people around me came

Paul: And that was John’s favorite band. If you watch the documentary, he insinuated there was a band that he really loved but he would say to hurt feelings.

John: It was.

Paul: It was those four guys who never made it anywhere. (moans) Then me and Susan and Mom and myself ….

Susan: Go ahead John tell them about …..

John: Obviously I was speaking but Paul needs to, so we’re going to let him continue.

Paul: Oh no, no I’m last.

Susan: Carrie you’re next. Now Carrie Lynn. This is Carrie Lynn Cowsill, Barry’s daughter.

Carrie: I just want to say on behalf of my Dad, Barry, and (claps and cheers) I’m absolutely proud of my family. It’s really phenomenal. I’ve just been beaming from for them and so I stand here for myself, and my sister Kiera and my brother, Colin, and we thank you all.

Bob: Susan Cowsill has people.

Susan: Hey ya’ll – wait – hi you guys. So anyway, I was born in Canton, Ohio on May 20th. It was this nice spring day and then .. no .. I obviously this is wonderful. I got this really cool thing here.

Bob: I got a bigger one.

Susan: Well that’s all of ours. We’re going to break it and share it and things. I want to personally thank all of our fans because without ya’ll there’s no us. You’re sweet, wonderful souls, big hearts and you’ve stuck with us for 40 fr***** years and we love all of ya’ll very, very, very much. So this is all for you guys too.

Bob: Real quick before Paul takes the microphone. Because – I know this isn’t the Oscars or the Grammys – but we’d like to thank all of our families, our wives and our children and our grandchildren.

Susan: And our cousins and our aunts and our uncles.

Bob: Cousins and Freddy Presley who had a lot to do with getting this ready.

Susan: And our 2nd grade best friends.

Bob: And they’ve been supportive even – cuz gall you do this your whole life and then they felt like “When are you going to get a day job?” I’m kidding. They’ve been very supportive. Alright, Paul are you up?

Susan: Yeah, Paul’s up.

Paul: Yeah I’m up. I don’t have much to say. (everyone laughs)

Susan: Yeah right

John: Everyone get a hammock.

Paul: I just wanted to say, you know, that we have a band. This band was started with Bob and John and Barry and Bill. I’m so grateful that they all got together even though John and Barry don’t really remember it, because they were so little. But I would just like to reiterate ….

John: We actually remember it better than Paul does, but you’ll hear his version of it though anyway.

Paul: Yeah this is my version.

Susan: Oh I hope this is getting filmed.

Paul: ____ I’m going to reiterate it and I need your cooperation. But I want to say it one more time. I was born in Virginia, I live in Oregon, I always have been and I will always be from RHODE ISLAND!!!!

Susan: I guess that’s us. Thank you We love you very much.

John: Ladies and gentlemen, Paul Cowsill.

Paul: Thank you John. Hey stay around for music.

Bob: John looks good in black and gray.

(Bows)

Susan: And I got flowers

Bob: What do we get?

Paul: Cuz she’s the Flower Girl

Bob: (singing) “I love the flower…”

Michael: OK ladies and gentlemen, the 2013 inductees into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame – The Cowsills. There will be a 15-minute break and when we come back, The Cowsills will be performing live. 15 minutes – The Cowsills – Live!!

Program:

Front Cover

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Concert:

The band: Bob Cowsill, Paul Cowsill, John Cowsill, Susan Cowsill, Ryan Cowsill, and Brendan Cowsill. The Cowsills did a guitars only (mostly) 45-minute set with songs: "The Rain, The Park, and Other Things" "We Can Fly," "Indian Lake," "Poor Baby," "Helplessly Hoping," "I Think I Love You," "River of Love," "Just Believe It," "Deliver Me," and "Hair."