The Cowsills started as a trio of brothers Bill, Bob, and Barry who taught themselves how to play guitar and drums in their hometown of Newport, Rhode Island. They soon added another brother, John, and began performing at local venues and on TV shows. Their father, Bud, a retired Navy officer, became their manager and pushed them to pursue a professional career.

In 1967, they signed with MGM Records and scored their first hit with “The Rain, The Park & Other Things. The song reached No. 2 on the Billboard charts and sold over a million copies. The band’s popularity soared, and they appeared on numerous TV shows, such as The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show, and their own NBC special.

The Cowsills also expanded their lineup to include their mother, Barbara, and their younger siblings, Susan and Paul. They became one of the first family acts in pop music, and their wholesome image appealed to a wide audience. They had more hits with songs like “Indian Lake”, “We Can Fly”, and “Hair”, the title song from the musical. Notably, they were the inspiration for the hit TV show The Partridge Family.

The Cowsills continued to record and tour, but their success faded as the music scene changed in the 70s. They left MGM Records and tried to reinvent themselves with a more mature sound, but they failed to find a new audience. They also dealt with personal problems, such as addiction.

The Cowsills disbanded in 1972, and each member pursued their own solo or group projects. Barbara died in 1985, and Bud in 1992. Barry died in Hurricane Katrina, Bill died during Barry’s funeral procession in 2006, and their oldest brother Richard passed in 2014.

The surviving Cowsills – Bob, Paul, Susan, and John – still perform together and keep the legacy of their family and music alive. They were inducted in the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame, and were the subject of a documentary film, Family Band: The Cowsills Story, which chronicles their rise and fall, and their love and loyalty for each other.