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The Cowsills / Induction into RI Music Hall Of Fame – Sunday, April 28, 2013
The organizing committee said, “keep it brief; they want to hear the music!”
So let’s immediately go back to 1962 and look at the cover of the Beach Boys’ first album. [HOLD UP COVER] It’s a picture of Paradise Cove, north of Los Angeles, California. and it is the first time part of a State was featured on a cover. Segue to 1967, and the second State to be featured on an LP cover was Rhode Island. [HOLD UP COVER] The group was the Cowsills – and here they are at Halidon Hall in Newport.
In fact the Cowsills featured pictures of Rhode Island on record covers and in the trade magazines throughout their career. A true reason to induct them into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame, if ever there was one.
But, of course, there 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 Barry Cowsill, “What’s It Gonna Be Like”. Look for that one on the re-issue CDs.
Bigger things followed in 1967. The signed with MGM Records and had the number 1 record in the land with “The Rain, the Park And Other Things”. More big hits followed. “We Can Fly”, “In Need Of A Friend”, “Indian Lake”, “Poor Baby” and a second number 1, - the main song from the rock musical, “Hair”.
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 have continued to perform and make recordings over the last 40 years. The Cowsills are still out there. In addition, Bob and Susan lead their own bands and John is the drummer with the Beach Boys, having been part of one of the most successful tours in that group’s history.
We are going to hear all this tonight, so let me hand over to Dr. Robert Billington, Chair Of The Rhode Island Music Hall Of Fame - to make the induction.
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