Chanteuse 2024: Susan Cowsill

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation presents Susan Cowsill on Friday, March 1, 2024, for Chanteuse: Celebrating New Orleans Women in Music, a live concert series featuring outstanding women vocalists, at the George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center (1225 N. Rampart Street).
The concert will be livestreamed: jazzandheritage.org/live
Chanteuse 2024 Schedule:
Friday, March 1 - Susan Cowsill
Saturday, March 2 - Mikayla Braun
Friday, March 8 - Margie Perez
Saturday, March 9 - Dawn Richard
Opener: Charm Taylor
Friday, March 15 - Anna Moss
Saturday, March 16 - Tarriona Ball Poetry
Opener: Indys Blu
About Susan Cowsill:
Susan Cowsill began her career in the music industry at the tender age of seven years old, when she joined her brothers Bill, Bob, Barry, Paul, and John and her mother Barbara in the pop group the Cowsills in 1966. While best remembered as the real-life group that inspired the television series The Partridge Family, the Cowsills scored a handful of fine hit singles (including "Hair," "Indian Lake," and "The Rain, the Park and Other Things") and released six albums before the group disbanded in 1971, when Susan was 12. While the Cowsills did periodic reunion shows (and cut a well-received new album in 1998, Global), Susan took a break from the music business for most of the 1970s, though she cut a pair of little-heard singles for Warner Brothers in 1977. It was in the early '80s that Susan began making a serious name for herself again in music, initially as a backing vocalist. She became a full-time member of Dwight Twilley's band and sang on several of his albums in the 1980s, including 1984's Jungle, which spawned the hit single "Girls." In the 1990s, Susan's career moved into higher gear; she was in demand as a backing vocalist, lending her talents to albums by Hootie & the Blowfish, Giant Sand, the Smithereens, Carlene Carter, and Jules Shear, and she began to step back into the spotlight when she joined the alt-country supergroup the Continental Drifters, which also featured former Bangles guitarist Vicki Peterson and Peter Holsapple of the dB's. Susan and Peter also formed a personal partnership when they wed in 1992, while Vicki and Susan devoted some of their spare time to a side project, the Psycho Sisters, who played club dates and released a single. The Continental Drifters won enthusiastic reviews and a potent cult following in the United States, and even greater commercial success in Europe, releasing three albums and an EP between 1994 and 2001. However, Susan Cowsill and Peter Holsapple divorced in 2001, and Susan opted to leave the group later that year. Susan soon formed a solo band with Chris Knotts on guitar, Rob Savoy on bass, and Russ Broussard on drums; Broussard, who had played with the Continental Drifters, married Susan in 2003, and as a side project they put together a zydeco band, the Bonoffs, which gigged periodically around their adopted hometown of New Orleans. In 2005, only 38 years after appearing on record for the first time, Susan Cowsill finally released her first solo album, the critically acclaimed Just Believe It, which featured guest appearances from Vicki Peterson, Lucinda Williams, and Adam Duritz. This biography on Susan Cowsill was written by Mark Deming.
Photo of Susan Cowsill performing at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2018 by Elsa Hahne, courtesy of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation Archive.
About the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation:
Chanteuse is a program of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, the nonprofit that owns the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell. The foundation uses the proceeds from Jazz Fest, and other raised funds, for year-round programs in education, economic development and cultural enrichment.
For more on what we do, please visit us online at jazzandheritage.org

[@mrb4886]

I am 69 and have always loved Susan. It is born from admiration. No guilt. All is good. And I love the Cowsills too.

[@tombeyerlein3813]

Wonderful! Susan Cowsill is one of the best yet most underappreciated singers out there. Great songwriter, too. Just a beautiful soul, as far as I can tell.

[@JOHNWLOUCKS]

Yes on every count !

[@pablocruise08]

Susan has done a super job of bringing the Cowsill’s name back to the 60’s feel. Keep going!

[@leapest]

Great job Susan

[@TheLittleOsmondsFan13]

I loved it😃

[@gregwentz4537]

i have been in love with her since 66 serving in nam.. when it would have been very creepy. since i am 73 . but never changed my feeling about her. still sing like an angle and has aged into a beautiful woman.her husband is a very lucky man. thankyou for the memorys.

[@4nature861]

Would love to see her more on TV. Would love to listen to her on Sirius xm. Susan has some serious talent. Everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy her musical performances.

[@leedenny4087]

A voice that sounds like her soul. A beautiful expression she shares with us!!!!!! Thank you so much susan. Lee.

[@leannbrazeal2417]

Fantastic show!! Wasn't sure I had time to watch it all, but it didn't take long for me to decide I'd make the time!

[@markjendrysik791]

What an incredible voice after all these years… keep rockin ….

[@normankennith7919]

i'm a heavy metal fan & i did think that the last track, 'you're no good', was in fact, very good!!!

[@lionheartroar3104]

Susan is talented, charming and humorous. Wish I had been there. I have so much love and respect for her ♥

[@jbyesterday3959]

I love you Susan …. & really can appreciate that amazing talent & presence that makes us all smile - whether we’re the ones from yesterday, or newcomers of today. The heartwarming family legacy & magical essence you’ve always brought & shared is truly a blessing. Thank you for still being you ❤️🙏🏼

[@brian4605]

Ya, i just saw the cowsills about a month ago in Vero Beach.. they were all wonderful singers and were kind but i was very impressed with susan and especially her rendition of " To sir with Love" But the best thing about them are the quality people they are, always caring about others and so happy and full of energy !

[@stevehassenplug5150]

I watch a lot of KZbin, and this video suddenly was offered up to me and of course I immediately started watching it. It's always a pleasure to hear Susan sing. And what a treat with a full band, including hubbie Russ Broussard playing behind her on the drums. :)

[@juliecrane9647]

The Cowsills were my 1st album. My mom gave me for Christmas along with a little portable record player. I love them. Her voice is still so strong and beautiful.😊

[@BeatlesGirlKaren]

The original flower girl!

[@allkindsamusicchick]

The Next Time That I See You!! I like that one! I miss the 70s!

[@BlueRiverMusic]

Way to go , Susan ! You sound fantastic ! Your band sounds great 👍

[@pauletteispassingiton943]

This is probably my tenth time listening …Thank you Susan Cowsill…Excellent band too!!

[@thomascramer7485]

Your voice sounds great susan 😊

[@thomascramer7485]

Memories 😊

[@davek.5939]

What an inspiration she is, such a great concert, fresh upbeat awesome! Thank you Susan!

[@tommeredith7462]

Susan is cuter than a box of kittens. What a talented performer, a songwriter, singer and she taught herself to play guitar. KZbin search The Cowsills to see Susan as a very cute girl as she performed with her brothers. Susan is sweet, pretty and talented. I’m sorry for people missing out on getting to enjoy her performances. What a treasure.

[@frankfielder]

Susan sang "When I'm 64" with her brothers on the Mike Douglas Show Sept 15th 1970. She was really great! Search youtube you will find it.

[@YUMPIN123]

Excellent video and sound! Great performance susan

[@tomedwards9221]

Amazing Susan.. Definitely The Last Song.. Love It I’m Glad I Got To See It.

[@lauralynn4504]

This whole performance was so enjoyable. I wish I was there.

[@allkindsamusicchick]

Excellent show, and in great voice! Cowsill DNA....

[@MannyEmm]

Susan, Susan, Susan…..such an amazing talent….great singing talent…..I am in awe when I see her performances such as this. She is a very beautiful person…..an excellent performer.

[@ez8546]

What a talent!

[@garyadams9016]

A pure delight.

[@mrb4886]

Great snare drum and drumming here.

[@willswalkingwest7267]

Susan gets better and better as the years go by. What a voice, what a gal. 🥰

[@leannmeixner8073]

WOW a cover of Sandy Denny's "Who knows where the time goes " !!!! originally done with Fairport Convention in the late 60's seek it out...... Incredible ! all the Cowsills were super talented..... John sang and drummed for the touring Beach Boys for many years.... Look at the clip of them in the red outfits around 1968... they do a medley of songs that just is incredible

[@donnabiegler6938]

Susan is the best! Please come perform in Savannah!!

[@williamj.sheehan2001]

Have you guys heard Susan's song called "Real Life"? Stunningly beautiful.

[@Russ-oe3yp]

Miss those Concert Window shows from Chickee Wa Wa

[@tommeredith7462]

After listening to the song dedicated to her late father in law, I’m glad she was close with him. Knowing her own father was mean and abusive, she found love in her relationship with her in-laws referring to them as mom and dad.

[@almikelipscomb]

Impressive!

[@normankennith7919]

susan held the stage for over an hour & a half! all things considered, there are not many singers of her age who can belt out a tune consistently well for that amount of time! i've said it before but the cowsills should look to perform at glastonbury, england! i'm sure they could bring some guests along with them like waddy watchel, jackson browne & vicki peterson, from the bangles!! just an idea!! anyway, great job by susan & her band at this gig!!

[@markgrissom9461]

Susan with: Dave James - guitar, vocals Rene Coman - bass Russ Broussard - drums, rubboard Michael Lemmler - keyboards

[@pauletteispassingiton943]

EXCELLENT BAND!!!!

[@denisedivelbliss5581]

Terrific voice. Excellent solo singer.

[@lorirolley5365]

Thanks

[@kensmith2839]

Excellent, she always had star quality.

[@kennethraywest322]

I really enjoyed this show!🙂👍🎸

[@paulsnith9979]

Wish each song was posted individually!!!

[@davidmartin1949]

Great performance !

[@thomascramer7485]

You sound good memories are good❤

[@billlong1206]

❤❤❤❤❤ Thanks 😊

[@beachdiva9586]

Susan belted out You're No Good! Wouldn't Linda love it. ❤❤❤

[@normankennith7919]

ditto!!!

[@LStuart762]

Better fun 🐒 or ellipse 🎉😮🤗

[@tats7859]

I got these guys on my bucket list, well hopefully one day... but I wanna see all of them including John now that love let him go, best thing that could happened for John being Mike love is nothing but a douche anyways.

[@lamper2]

Get Together not Woo Love at the start.

[@mikecrow3494]

How dy

[@davem8836]

Be honest. If her last name wasn't Cowsill would you pay to see that act?

[@fredbiden868]

sorry but way past your prime...she gas got worse in the years...maybe from her dad and brothers..

[@canarsie56]

I have all of the Cowsills albums and Susans as well, a super talent

[@roknrolbilly]