Bill Cowsill
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William "Bill" Cowsill, Jr., also known as Billy, (January 9, 1948 – February 17, 2006) was an American singer best known as lead singer and guitarist of The Cowsills who had two top 5 singles in the late 1960s.
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[edit] The Cowsills
Bill Cowsill was born in Newport, Rhode Island. At a young age Bill began singing with his brother, Bob, and they formed The Cowsills in 1965 with their brothers: Barry on bass; Bob on guitar and organ; and John on drums. Another brother, Paul, their sister Susan and mother Barbara joined the band later. The Cowsills started playing around Newport before they recorded their first single "All I Really Wanna Be is Me" in 1967 on the independent label, Joda.
While the first single failed to chart, an appearance on the NBC Today Show to promote it led to Mercury Records offering them a contract. However, three singles on that label failed to spark interest, and they were dropped. Artie Kornfeld, the producer of the singles, remained convinced of the band's potential and persuaded Barbara to sing on the single "The Rain, the Park and Other Things", which was released on MGM Records.
This single sold over a million copies in late 1967 and reached number 2 on the Billboard tracks. Their debut album We Can Fly spawned another hit with the title track. In 1968, "Indian Lake" became another top 10 hit while their version of the title track of Hair again reached number 2.
The band made regular television appearances which lead to Columbia Pictures considering a television program based on their story and starring most of the members of the band. This would later become The Partridge Family with David Cassidy playing the lead singer.
[edit] The Blue Shadows
The Cowsills' career came to an end in 1971 in a storm of bitter acrimony that left some members estranged from each other for several years. Bill was also briefly considered as a replacement for Brian Wilson in The Beach Boys live performances, and he released a solo record Nervous Breakthrough on MGM which failed to chart.
Billy ended up in Vancouver, British Columbia in the 1980s where he fronted The Blue Shadows, who were known for their Everly Brothers-like harmonies. During this time, a drug addiction that began in the 70s became worse, until Billy was rescued by members of Calgary's music scene, including Jann Arden.
[edit] The Co-Dependents
Newly sober, Billy formed The Co-Dependents, a country-rock quartet, in the late 90s in Calgary. Other members were Steve Pineo (guitar and vocals), Tim Leacock (bass and vocals) and Ross Watson (drums). Billy considered the band to be a "weekend party band", but they were much-loved on Calgary's thriving roots-music scene. At this time, he was also enrolled at Mount Royal College in Calgary. Originally he was studying for a degree in psychology, but at the time of his death his family said he was enrolled in music education.
After releasing Live At The Mecca Cafe: Volume 2, which showed Billy's commanding stage presence, the band parted ways due to Billy's health problems.
[edit] Death
Billy battled depression in his final days. He suffered from emphysema, which prevented him from singing and playing music, and Cushing's syndrome and osteoporosis limited his movement.
He died, aged 58, at his home in Calgary, Alberta.
