What Happened to The Cowsills?

[@keithalcorn7050]

"The Rain, the Park and Other Things" is one of the great songs that defined the 60s.

[@pmcclaren1]

always wondered the title was not 'FLOWER GIRL'--

[@user-vg6ym5xy2r]

I love Indian Lake.

[@harveysmidlap]

When I hear the song... The rain, the park and other things, it always takes me back to the 60's when my life was full of wonder and optimism. I wish I could go back in time.😥

[@johnmorris7262]

Seems all us Boomers want to that lately. Seems like we’re living on a different planet doesn’t it?

[@lylealexson8680]

Me too

[@JS-es5ep]

@@johnmorris7262 100% I do not recognize this world anymore. And, I don't like what I see. I feel so fortunate to have been raised in the 50's/60's.

[@keachmister]

I believe we have the technology to build that time machine now, so what do ya say, let's get started Ill supply the beer.

[@serenatwilite4005]

@@keachmister To quote a Cowsill's song, "Meet Me At The Wishing Well" on that one. Will tomorrow be a yesterday? Maybe if we all sat around a wishing well . . .

[@jonsmtrs]

Not mentioned was the death of Barry Cowsill in hurricane Katrina in 2005. He never evacuated New Orleans.

[@AnthonyJackson-v5l]

The first time I heard "The Rain The Park & Other Things," Immediately I was jettisoned back in time to the late 1960's!!!! & This song just exudes that ("Feel Good") ambiance that was the signature sound of the time!!!! (The Classic Hit TV Show: "The Partridge Family" was largely based on this phenomenal family of ("other-worldly") musicians!!!! 🤗👍🏼 I Highly recommend U listen to this song, while persuing relaxation mode. 😊

[@cherylb2008]

The Rain, The Park, just beautiful and exemplified the era of the sixties Their harmony is spectacular Talented voices Bill could have gone SO far The Dad was a predator and sick Barry was a standout John was gifted on the drums, a natural

[@salinagrrrl69]

I was amazed no mention of influencing "The Partridge Family".

[@ralphey8189]

Partridge Family WAS the Cowsills. Good catch that the overview missed.

[@believeinjesus8862]

The Partridge Family was a Hollywood creation,for a TV series. All lipsincing to previous recordings. Zero albums.

[@teresastommel6367]

​@@believeinjesus8862 Shirley Jones Cassidy & David Cassidy was the only 2 that COULD & DID Sing for the Partridge Family! The Partridge Family was based off of the Cowsills family band!

[@jamesalexander5623]

The Cowsills WERE Offered the Show!

[@suraya1224]

​​@@believeinjesus8862Yes, but it based on, & written for, the Cowsill family.

[@lylealexson8680]

Thank you for the music history. The Cowsills received significant airplay while I was growing up, and they bring back memories. I've read and heard that their father destroyed the band with his abusive, controlling behavior. He burnt bridges and damaged relationships.

[@albundy59]

Back in 88 or 89 I was in downtown Vancouver Canada and saw a stage set up and the performer just finished his set. It was Billy Cowsill. I came up to the stage. Billy saw me and came over. We shook hands and had a chat for a few minutes.

[@timfurnier7061]

You didn't mention that a couple of them died. One of them died in hurricane Katrina. Susan is a sweet girl who engages with the fans on social media.

[@brendaamata9233]

Sorry to hear of their passings

[@suraya1224]

The Susan Cowsill band did a song, when in the band, The Continental Drifters, called, "When It Rains", co-written by her & her sister-in- law, Vicky Peterson, formerly of The Bangles. Great song, I watched a live version on youtube. The remaining Cowsill siblings are still touring with the "Happy Together Tour" in 2024

[@nicorayo195]

The Cowsills just release a new album called 'Rhytm of the World', in late 2022 it's actually really good! Bob, Susan and Paul are carrying on, still playing live and sounding surprisingly great.

[@dino0228]

Can’t overlook the Cowsills recording backup harmonies with the Smithereens on the song “Now and Then,” on their 1991 album “Blow Up.” Sounding as fresh as ever! Great song!

[@marcusmeddow4881]

took pics of them last year here in Branson Mo. Great singing still! Lot of memories from over 50 yrs ago flooding through the brain! When they did "Hair" the place went wild!

[@salinagrrrl69]

A hard core street gang was hanging on a corner in KC. I did a drive by BLAST on them with the "FLOWER GRRRL" tune full VOLUMN!

[@Autshot20]

Quite a talented family. Great voices. Great songs. Such turmoil going on behind the scenes but they continued on. Each has their own story but each has/had their love for each other that never wavered.

[@BreakAwayFromUK]

I never realized how great of a family band they were.legends.

[@BreakAwayFromUK]

To keep an entire family together and write so many great songs.

[@FreyaF...]

I still love their song "I Love The Flower Girl" which is aka "The Rain, The Park & Other Things"

[@alpha-omega2362]

I think it's the other way around, but anyway I agree totally.....;

[@millenniumman75]

@@alpha-omega2362 It was originally named something along the lines of "Flower Girl", but there was a song out there with a similar flower girl theme...I think it was that song "If you're going.....to San Fran-cis-co", so the Cowsills' song was renamed.

[@lisajacobs3158]

@@millenniumman75 The song you're referring to is San Francisco by Scott Mackenzie. part of the chorus is "be sure to wear some flowers in your hair".

[@millenniumman75]

@@lisajacobs3158 Yep - that was it

[@gregorysharp]

The Cowsills just released a great album. Released fall of 2022. Four of them worked on the albums songs. Performed mostly by Bob, Paul, and Susanne. I’m personally wearing the new album out it’s that good.

[@TassyDeval]

For some reason its very offensive to call some1 "Suzanne" when its Susan. I know this because my sister is a Suzanne and she goes off the rail if some1 calls her Susan. Either way, its Susan Cowsill.

[@robertrusbridge5469]

They were the inspiration for the partridge family..

[@davelemire3178]

Yes they were.

[@Jo.885]

The way they did the song "Hair" made it one of the coolest songs ever.

[@penboyasgod6103]

Their *Best of the Cowsills* was their best album. _Hair_ was an awesome hit song [#1] in the Spring of 1969.

[@skipthompson2290]

I saw the Cowsills on the Happy Together Tour a few years back. And they were FANTASTIC

[@dogbarbill]

I just finished watching a video of them performing at the Indiana State Fair on August 17, 2022.

[@flynsqrls]

Saw them back in 2018 and again last Saturday in Biloxi, MS. Happy Together Tours (2018 and 2024). If you get the opportunity to see them... do NOT miss out!!! Joey Molland with BadFinger is also in the line-up this year... Awesome feel-good time! (I knew I had to say hello...hello!)

[@owensclock]

While Lenny Stogel did play an important role in the Cowsills national breakout in 1967, Songwriter producer Artie Kornfeld was also a huge factor in their early success. Kornfeld believed in the group to the point where he independently produced and co-wrote "The Rain The Park and Other Things" MGM Records bought the master and signed the Cowsills to the label. Kornfeld went on to help organize the Woodstock Music Festival in 1969..

[@infolover_68]

Oh, The Rain, The Park, And Other Things!... Incredible ballad, youth freshness, a time to remember!! Even as I was born in 1968...

[@chappy675]

Interesting that in a “what happened to the Cowsills?” Video you didn’t mention that Bill, Barry, Rich and Barbara are all dead.

[@JS-es5ep]

And Bud (the father).

[@judyraeweissman]

@@JS-es5epAnd Richard, Bob’s twin, who Bud never allowed to be in the band.

[@joannryan5929]

Wasn't the sitcom The Partridge Family modeled after them?

[@danielsuarez1571]

I Believe They Were.

[@TotoFrancey]

Barb Cowsill, a cigarette smoker since the age of 12 in 1940, died of emphysema in 1985 in Arizona.

[@LarryKelly]

Major fact: teen idol of the 60’s Barry Cowsill died by drowning during Hurricane Katrina.

[@williamweathers8183]

WOW! Thanks for that. As I was growing up, the Cowsills were pretty well-known on the Top 40 AM radio circuit. Then, amidst the thick cloud of cannabis, purple hazing LSD, and all the sex you can wring out of wayward adolescent hedonism, I just forgot about the Cowsills. Thanks for reminding me. Nostalgia fills my heart. It was a precious time. Oh, yeah, didn't the do some milk commercials?

[@johnpatterson4272]

The Harvey Comics 'Cowsills' issues must be worth a fortune now. I remember seeing "The Cowsills" advertised on the concert roster for the Toronto CNE summer fair. Tickets were $3.25 and $4.50 at the Grandstand which could hold close to 18,000 people. I wussed-out when my mother offered to take me to see the Cowsills opening for Sonny and Cher in '72. I regret my 8-year-old decision now.

[@AlexYounger]

Half of them died and, of course, the smoking alcoholic parents died soon after inflicting a lot of damage.

[@mikerafone8117]

Loved them then and still love them!

[@barackmycat9448]

Excellent job on that. The part that caught my eye was the meeting with Waddy W.. He`s a guitar genius. I didn`t know any of this stuff. I grew up with this and played the Flower Girl of course. Haaaa

[@leocobra1546]

Ouruoyav ak

[@marktubeie07]

The TV series _The Partridge Family_ was loosely based on 'The Cowsills'.

[@alpha-omega2362]

I don't think it was :"loosely" , From what i understand the producers wanted only Susan , which was refused, so they had to go elsewhere .....

[@marktubeie07]

@@alpha-omega2362 True, but I wasn't talking about members appearing in the program, just the concept of a 'musical family' etc.

[@jurandirfortes8254]

😃eles eram em tantos, agora são poucos e continuam a ser lembrados e nos deixa saudades😊

[@Alan-lv9rw]

I was about Susan’s age and I thought she was sooo cute. She’s still attractive.

[@jeffreymcfadden9403]

The fight between the old man and Bill occurred at the Flamingo hotel/casino.

[@celiagorleski2716]

What about the part where the parents spent all the money that the kids thought was in a trust fund for them?

[@AnthonyJackson-v5l]

No doubt the idea of that "worthless" husband/dad of theirs!!!! 😑

[@presto111man]

I loved soundtracks as a young kid, because my older cousin was a singer and had all of them on vinyl. My favorite was "Hair", and it always amazed me that same band was also the basis of my favorite TV show, "The Partridge Family".

[@johnpatterson4272]

Yes, they were. While I was so young at the time, the Partridge Family were my first foray into music when their TV show first hit the airwaves. I truly believed the Partridge kids actually played their instruments, wrote and played all of their own songs. Later learning it was studio musicians, including the fathers of (later) Wendy and Lisa from Prince's Revolution band. Kind of like getting the news about Santa Claus, when you were anticipating a visit from eight tiny reindeer the following Christmas.

[@samuelmatz]

Should have mentioned the TV show "The Partridge Family" thecCowsill family was the inspiration for that show. I feel an important element. Question: did the Cowsills have any relationship with the production of the show ?

[@gregsheridan4978]

I still have the first album on vinyl … perfect condition not a scratch

[@LSOK38]

What happened to the Cowsills? They got old, but then, didn't we all! They're still a classy & talented family!! If it wasn't for the song "Rain, The Park, And Other Things" I wouldn't have become involved with the woman I love 💕💕💕!

[@ohyeah2816]

I had never heard of them, perhaps because I was in the U.K. so just catching up.

[@markjulianoriginalhooli2217]

Hair absolutely belongs to them✌️

[@whathappenedtothem_]

Absolutely!!

[@cutazabutton]

The Partridge Family WAS the Cowsill family!

[@mariekatherine5238]

The thing with family groups, you know it’ll last only so long before life hits. Enjoy while it lasts. They were just fun and when the older boy joined the military and served in Vietnam, they became our (my) family favorites. Our Dad was in the Navy, too. At the time who knew what a bastard the father was? Nothing like our Dad, recently departed. RIP, miss you Dad.

[@gwine9087]

Only 3 left. So tragic.

[@flynsqrls]

Actually, 4 John plays drum forthe Beach Boys... :)

[@jfk64kennedy95]

they still tour in Summer, I live in their hometown, know the drummer

[@corrinedegennaro3241]

I just saw them a couple months ago and they were excellent!!

[@rtrout57]

One of them died in hurricane Katrina.

[@DennisBlankshine]

Yes Barry sadly was taken from us

[@docheine]

Sad

[@lorihaun9956]

Billy died in 2006. Barry died from Katrina.

[@teresastommel6367]

Yes he did,. In the flood waters of Katrina they said it took 4 months to find his body. & Their 1 & only sister also lived in N.Orleans & she pretty much lost her home in it, but thank the Good Lord she's ok. They're still playing & touring. I'd love to hear'em sing. 🙂🙏

[@TassyDeval]

Im blown away. Sound engineer for Helen Reddy.

[@billvanhorn6454]

Just saw Bob, Paul and Susan on their Happy Together tour. I highly recommend seeing them if you can. They are still great!

[@ThePoobears]

was ashamed this band never was recognition they had so many great songs..

[@clarkerobertson2764]

Wes Farrell did not write Indian Lake, Tony Romeo did. FWIW, Bill hated the song and didn't want to record it.

[@rhodayackez9570]

Don't blame him. Not a great song.

[@candacekelland2268]

I love that song!

[@jeffreymcfadden9403]

Susan was born in the great state of OHIO, the only Cowsill born in OHIO.

[@Tonetwisters]

Glad they are still rocking.

[@TomiLoveless]

😎👍👍👍Barry Died under a wharf in New Orleans in Katrina. I'd love to hear that whole story.❤❤❤

[@BreakAwayFromUK]

Thank for those who knew the partridge family series was patterned after the cowsills, I never knew that.

[@DennisBlankshine]

Their new album Rhythm of the world is out on KZbin it’s great

[@DennisBlankshine]

@norman smithers try here kzbin.info/aero/OLAK5uy_k-_ECNq834q_aTtpLnj55GVXMAf9JABVw

[@janerkenbrack3373]

Sorry to catch this video so late. You did miss something. The TV show The Partridge Family was based on the Cowsills, and they were originally going to play themselves. But the producers wanted to showcase Shirley Jones, and told the group that she was going to play their mother. But the kids said they already had a mother, and they were cut from the show.

[@eameece]

The Cowsills are said to have performed the 1969-78 theme music for To Tell the Truth. Is that true?

[@loritucker6708]

I still have two of my cowsills albums

[@barryeva8862]

I saw them last Saturday, Susan is now 64

[@TheBings]

John and Susan were in Dwight TWILLEY'S band (not Dwight "TILLY" - Good Grief!).

[@cecillunsford8417]

I saw them with the band the checkmates after first album was out

[@eLEMENTARYimage]

The Cowsills were offered the Partridge Family gig. But the studio wanted big name and looker Shirley Jones to play the mother. The band didn't want to leave their mom out of the show offer. So they declined the offer. The rest is history.

[@zachsmith3]

They came out with a new album at the end of September. Weird coincidence!

[@danielmesery2904]

TALENTED🎸😁🙏

[@kavalere]

So this is where Partridge Family idea came from.

[@stepanbandera5206]

No, mescaline is where the Partridge family idea came from.🫠

[@eves08109]

I didn't know Bobby Brady was in the band.😄

[@RevLeigh55]

Why did you not mention that Bill and Barry died in 2005? Barbara died in 1985.

[@JeffreyWLaRue]

Wasn't the Partridge Family based on The Cowsills?

[@docheine]

So are these guys kind of like the real life Partridge Family?

[@davidlaine2]

I think the show was based on them

[@John_Fugazzi]

@@davidlaine2 That's true. The writers admitted they inspired the idea.

[@teresastommel6367]

The Partridge Family was based off of the Cowsills family band.

[@rdumontdebeque]

Just Believe It is such a good record.

[@stepanbandera5206]

Didnt Jimi Hendrix Experience open for them?

[@elijahbey3366]

Many people don't know this, but the original name of this group was The Cowpies, but they quickly changed it to The Cowsills for obvious and understandable reasons. True story...

[@stepanbandera5206]

Thats 🐂💩!

[@jimbronson687]

At least 4 of them are no longer alive. 1 of them died in the Katrina storm/flood. Very sad.

[@deborahwilliams1303]

Big fact... Bill, Barry, Barbara have all passed away.

[@featherpony]

My girlfriend and I went to a restaurant where that song was playing. But this waiter, who was way out of line, took my girlfriend's arm and started kissing it.

[@westwasbest]

Their number of members seems to constantly change sometimes I see 5 sometimes 7 sometimes 9, not sure who's really a member of the group sometimes, also a vast number of record labels, I wonder why? They weren't underrated group for sure and always sounded wonderful, it's a shame MGM didn't pick them up originally and hang on to them during the duration

[@normanmeharry58]

The Sills became the Pats. I mean the Past.

[@davidbartolo5053]

The documentary on cable tv was interesting.

[@broughtonparkade5381]

7:28 Is that a Bangle I see!

[@BreakAwayFromUK]

I was living in Los Angeles at the time.

[@chuckschillingvideos]

What happened to the Cowsills should NEVER happen to any children.

[@Williamsongs]

This makes them sound like they were from Ohio when they were actually from Newport, RI. Plus, no mention of two brothers' deaths BUT - it got me to click.

[@quickdrawmcgraw450]

Didn't they team up with partridge family once

[@amcone8268]

I think so. Back behind them something like that

[@oldfarmshow]

❤️👍

[@brendaamata9233]

OMG they are from Ohio???? Wow i certainly remember the Gene Carol show

[@judyraeweissman]

They lived in Ohio for a while, Susan was born there. They then moved to Rhode Island.

[@johnwood551]

Back when music had so many new sounds. So much different types of rhythm . No two sounds alike. Not like today’s rap crap that is just foul mouthed illiterate disco.

[@donnabatroff]

The Partridge who????

[@timr31908]

Bud we'd like to know where the money is..., That was a lot of money.

[@indiecomicsjones]

It's Dwight Twilley, not Dwight Tilly.

[@flynsqrls]

You started kissing up the other arm, right??? LOL (no but really, what was he thinking, or notthinking???)

[@bobdavis4848]

Great music and information, but Dwight Twilley's name is not pronounced "Dawite Tilley."

[@ronstrong9560]

Where is Canda?

[@tonyspainhour5640]

All but 3 are dead !!

[@1401minstrel]

All but four are dead. Bob, Paul, John and Susan survive.

[@BreakAwayFromUK]

I wonder if the partridge family was copied from the cowsills.

[@MichaelHansenFUN]

they broke up got back together broke up got back together

[@BarbaraPineda-v9p]

Their's father a mangr... then mang... their's cashed but did'nt do so had spents their's, million's,amounted $5,0000 million's dollar's, that's becuz... they's did'nt trusted producers and mangr so the cowsills, father's had too handle their's son's and only daughter, finances, its so sad thought he's can be honestly no,😮😊😮

[@oldcountryboy]

They got old the girl got fat People went on to different music And I think their father spent all their money