Occasionally when I am stuck for a story to write, I'll post music videos on my Facebook page and see what my friends feel strongly about... This past week I posted the Cowsills video of The Rain, The Park, and Other Things...
The Cowsills did have two Number Two hits, "The Rain, the Park and Other Things" and the title track to the hit rock musical Hair. They were nearly reality-television pioneers, as well: The filming of their daily life together was briefly considered for a TV program, before producers decided to fictionalize the story as The Partridge Family.
My friends and fans jumped all over this song... and The Cowsills in general...
The family band first performed in 1965. Bill, Bob, Barry, John, Susan, and Paul in tandem with mom Barbara were the Cowsills line up. Barry sadly passed away in the wake of Hurricane Katrina at age 51. Read More
Bill was the front man and he too sadly passed away at age 58. Bill Cowsill, who was once considered as a possible replacement for Brian Wilson in the Beach Boys' touring band, was the first family member to release a solo album, 1971's Nervous Breakthrough.
Some of the siblings eventually fell out of the music business; Bob, John, Susan and Paul briefly reunited in the late Seventies, recording a set of songs that went unreleased. It was the first of the Cowsills' periodic comebacks, most recently in 1998, when they released an Internet-only album.
The Cowsills
Both Barry and Susan had their lives turned upside down by Hurricane Katrina, which hit the gulf coast in August 2005, since both were residents of the New Orleans area at the time. Susan and her family lost their home and most of their belongings but they were all safe during the hurricane and it’s aftermath and returned to live in New Orleans in January 2006.
Barry, unfortunately, did not get out of New Orleans before Katrina hit and was among the missing of Hurricane Katrina for 4 months. Then, sadly, on January 4th, 2006, The Cowsill family got the news that Barry’s body had been found and identified
Barbara Cowsill died of emphysema in Tempe, Arizona in 1985.
Susan Cowsill has embarked on a solo career and has a new CD of singer/songwriter music that is getting high critical praise. The CD "Just Believe It" is on the Blue Corn Music label and features guest vocals by Adam Durst of the Counting Crows and Lucinda Williams.
She is good...
Quotes from my readers:
Jeff P wrote: another fine tune penned by the Father of Woodstock, Artie Kornfeld (born Arthur Lawrence Kornfeld, 9 September 1942, Brooklyn, New York) is an American musician, record producer and music executive, aka “The Pied Piper” i dig it too “The Rain, The Park & Other Things”, (aka “I Love The Flower Girl”)really i want to hear Susan Cowsill sing "And Spaghetti" from Hair one more time.
Ted C: I like Hair and Indian Lake too :)
Larry L My friend Wendy is a huge fan of them. She has been in touch with Susan Cowsill for some time
Wendy.... I'm an Endless, Lifelong Cowsill Fan. -Many tragedies in that family, including Barry and Bill's deaths. -If you are a 'True' fan, check OUT Susan Cowsill Today.... She IS Amazing. Bill Cowsill (who is singing lead on 'Rain, Park and Other Things') died at home on February 18, 2006...just as services were being held for Barry Cowsill: Who died in the midst of Hurricane Katrina.
1 comment:
I loved the rain, the park and other things. I was normally into heavier stuff...but that song had an etherial beauty and lightness about it. The vocals were so beautifully harmonized.
So sad about Bill and Barry's deaths. And sadder....the behind the scenes tragedy of the smiling on stage faces. Bud was an awful, awful man...and I don't respect Barbara for not sticking up for her kids. It causes so much damage.
I know; I was abused as a child and then as a wife. But I fight back. It's a long, long road out of hell. Bless all the Cowsill children; alive and deceased.
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