John Cowsill
John Cowsill | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Patrick Cowsill |
| Born | March 2, 1956 Newport, Rhode Island, U.S. |
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| Instrument(s) |
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| Years active | 1965–present |
| Member of | The Beach Boys |
| Formerly of | The Cowsills |
John Patrick Cowsill[1] (born March 2, 1956) is an American musician, best known for his work as a singer and drummer with his siblings' band The Cowsills. He has been a drummer and vocalist for The Beach Boys touring band, which featured original Beach Boy Mike Love and long time member Bruce Johnston. Cowsill has also played keyboards for the "Beach Boys Band" performing Al Jardine's and the late Carl Wilson's vocal parts.[2] He also has performed and recorded with Jan and Dean.
Early Life
John Patrick Cowsill was born in Newport, Rhode Island to William "Bud" and Barbara Cowsill. He is the second youngest of seven children (Bill, Richard, Bob, Paul, Barry, John, Susan).
The Cowsills
In the wake of Beatlemania, John and three of his brothers, Bill, Bob, and Barry, would form their own group solely based around the Liverpool band. Soon after, their mother Barbara and sister Susan would also join. They signed to a label in 1965 and after releasing a few non-commercially successful singles, were transferred to MGM Records in 1967. Their first single with MGM was The Rain, the Park & Other Things.
John mainly backing vocals, although he sang lead on Silver Threads and Golden Needles. From 1967 to 1969, the family group would have more hit songs such as Indian Lake, We Can Fly, and Hair, they split in 1972, although John would re-appear with the band for most of its reformed tenures. The Cowsills were the main inspiration for The Partridge Family.
Tommy Tutone
In the early 1980s, Cowsill recorded with the one-hit wonder band Tommy Tutone, playing percussion and singing back-up vocals on the band's hit, "867-5309/Jenny," although he did not appear in the video.
The Beach Boys
Cowsill began playing with the Beach Boys touring band on keyboards in 2000. He moved to the drums in 2008.[3] His solos for the concerts include "Wild Honey," and "Sail On, Sailor." and also "Darlin" and "California Dreaming" on the 2022 tour. In 2011, Cowsill was confirmed to be performing alongside The Beach Boys on their 50th Anniversary Reunion Tour.[4] Cowsill appears on the band's subsequent studio album, That's Why God Made the Radio (2012). He also performed on Mike Love's solo albums Unleash the Love (2017) and Reason for the Season (2018).
Other works
In 2017, Cowsill joined with Vicki Peterson and Bill Mumy as the band Action Skulls to release an album (also including posthumous contributions from the bassist Rick Rosas) entitled Angels Hear.[5]
For a time, he was part of Dwight Twilley's band, as was his sister Susan Cowsill.
Personal life
In October 2003, he married Vicki Peterson of The Bangles.[6]
Discography
With The Cowsills
Albums
| Album | Year |
|---|---|
| The Cowsills | 1967 |
| The Cowsills Plus the Lincoln Park Zoo | 1968 |
| We Can Fly | |
| Captain Sad and His Ship of Fools | |
| The Cowsills in Concert | 1969 |
| II x II | 1970 |
| On My Side | 1971 |
| Cocaine Drain | 2008 |
| Rhythm of the World | 2022 |
Extended plays
| EP | Year |
|---|---|
| The Cowsills Collectors Record: Presented by American Dairy Association | 1969 |
Singles
| Single (A-side, B-side) | Year |
|---|---|
| "All I Really Want to Be Is Me"
b/w "And the Next Day Too" |
1965 |
| "Most of All"
b/w "Siamese Cat" |
1966 |
| "Party Girl"
b/w "What's It Gonna Be Like" | |
| "A Most Peculiar Man"
b/w "Could It Be, Let Me Know" |
1967 |
| "The Rain, the Park & Other Things"
b/w "River Blue" | |
| "We Can Fly"
b/w "A Time for Remembrance" |
1968 |
| "In Need of a Friend"
b/w "Mister Flynn" | |
| "Indian Lake"
b/w "Newspaper Blanket" | |
| "Poor Baby"
b/w "Meet Me at the Wishing Well" (from Captain Sad and His Ship Of Fools) | |
| "The Path of Love"
b/w "Captain Sad and His Ship of Fools" | |
| "The Impossible Years"
b/w "The Candy Kid" (from All-Time Hits) | |
| "Hair"
b/w "What Is Happy?" (from We Can Fly) |
1969 |
| "The Prophecy of Daniel and John the Divine"
b/w "Gotta Get Away from It All" (from We Can Fly) | |
| "Silver Threads and Golden Needles"
b/w "Love American Style" (from All-Time Hits) | |
| "II x II"
b/w "Start to Love" |
1970 |
| "On My Side"
b/w "There Is a Child" |
1971 |
| "You (in My Mind)"
b/w "Crystal Claps" | |
| "Covered Wagon"
b/w "Blue Road" |
1972 |
| "Christmastime (Song for Marissa)" / "Some Good Years" | 1993 |
With Tommy Tutone
Studio albums
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1981 | Tommy Tutone 2 |
Singles
| Year | Single |
|---|---|
| 1981 | "867-5309/Jenny" |
With The Beach Boys
Albums
Singles
- That's Why God Made the Radio (2012)
- Isn't It Time (2012)
Mike Love
Albums
- Unleash the Love (2017)
- Reason for the Season (2018)
References
- ^ "Family tree of John COWSILL". Geneanet. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ "Mempages/Jc_H-Page.Htm". Beachboysband.net. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
- ^ "John Cowsill Interview || Feeling the Vibe Magazine". Feelingthevibe.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
- ^ Patrick Doyle (December 19, 2011). "Exclusive: Mike Love 'Looking Forward' to Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Tour | Music News". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 10, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
- ^ Andy Hermann, "Meet Action Skulls, a New Band Featuring Vicki Peterson, John Cowsill and Bill Mumy", LA Weekly, August 4, 2017.
- ^ "John Cowsill". August 1, 2008. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
External links
| Authority control databases: Artists |
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