The Cowsills: See Photos Of The Iconic Music Group That Inspired ‘The Partridge Family’

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September 29, 2022 10:30AM EDT

The Cowsills became icons of the ‘60s with songs like ‘The Rain, The Park & Other Things’ and their cover of ‘Hair,’ but that was just the start of this dynamic family. Take a look at these music legends.

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The Cowsills

The Cowsills
Amy Harris/Invision/AP/Shutterst

 

One of the most iconic sounds of the late 1960’s came from The Cowsills, the family pop-rock band that continues to perform to this very day. First formed in 1965 by brothers Bill, Bob, and Barry Cowsill, the group grew when siblings John, Susan, and Paul Cowsill joined in. The mother of the family, Barbara Cowsill, completed the group, while Bob’s fraternal twin brother Richard would join the group later on.

 

The initial band found success with their song “The Rain, The Park & Other Things,” which climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, the band would etch their names in the history book with their cover of the title track to ‘Hair,’ the stage production that captured the spirit of the Flower Generation. The Cowsills’ “Hair” also reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, but its inclusion in pop culture since committed The Cowsills to history. The band continued to perform and earn fans (The Ramones, Melissa Etheridge, and The Smithereens are Cowsills fanatics) in the following decades, and in 2022, the band released its first album in 30 years.

Take a look at the group in this gallery. 

(Susan Cowsill, left, and Paul Cowsill of The Cowsills perform at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 2022)

September 29, 2022, 9:03AM
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The Cowsills On Stage

The Cowsills On Stage
Larry Marano/Shutterstock

Paul Cowsill of The Cowsills performs as part of ‘the Stars Of The Sixties at the Carole and Barry Kaye Auditorium’ in Boca Raton in 2019. The band continues to shine, performing to fans old and new. 

September 29, 2022, 9:03AM
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The Cowsills’ Susan Cowsill

The Cowsills’ Susan Cowsill
Larry Marano/Shutterstock

Susan Cowsill remains one of the most dynamic voices in pop music. Here, she performs as part of 2019’s Stars Of The Sixties at the Carole and Barry Kaye Auditorium. 

September 29, 2022, 9:03AM
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Two Icons Of The 60s

Two Icons Of The 60s
Mandatory Credit: Johnny Louis/W

John Cowsill and Mike Lovel of The Beach Boys pose together. The event was part of ‘John Stamos performs live with The Beach Boys’ at Marlins Super Saturday Concert in Miami, Florida

September 29, 2022, 9:03AM
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The Cowsills’ Bob Cowsill

The Cowsills’ Bob Cowsill
Larry Marano/Shutterstock

Bob Cowsill sings as part of 2019’s ‘Stars Of The Sixties’ at the Carole and Barry Kaye Auditorium. He, Paul, and Susan recorded 2022’s ‘Rhythm Of The World,’ the first Cowsill album in decades. 

September 29, 2022, 9:03AM
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The Cowsills Together

The Cowsills Together
Larry Marano/Shutterstock

Susan Cowsill, Paul Cowsill, and Bob Cowsill on stage together. For some, this is the undying spirit of the 1960s. This performance was part of Stars Of The Sixties at the Carole and Barry Kaye Auditorium. 

September 29, 2022, 9:03AM
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The Cowsills Rock

The Cowsills Rock
Amy Harris/Invision/AP/Shutterst

Susan Cowsill, left, Paul Cowsill, and Bob Cowsill of The Cowsills perform at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. This performance came roughly four months before they graced fans with their first new album in decades, a dynamic collection of music that incorporated new wave, pop, and psychadelia. 

September 29, 2022, 9:03AM
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Paul Takes It In

Paul Takes It In
Amy Harris/Invision/AP/Shutterst

Paul Cowsill enjoys the warmth of the crowd at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Nearly sixty years after the band formed, crowds still love The Cowsills. 

September 29, 2022, 9:03AM