The Cowsills, the legendary family recording group founded in the mid-1960s, are part of the California Music Hall of Fame’s 2024 induction class.
The Cowsills, the legendary family recording group founded in the mid-1960s, are part of the California Music Hall of Fame’s 2024 induction class. The group that is still actively touring and recording in its current incarnation – siblings Bob, Paul, and Susan Cowsill – will be honored at a ceremony set for April 14 at TVHS Golden Bears Theater in Temecula, CA. Others to be inducted at that event include Bob Eubanks, Walter Egan, B.B. King, Casey Kasem and David Cassidy, who will be celebrated by Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Ron Dante.
The Cowsills, as a band, formed in Newport, Rhode Island but moved to California after their initial recording successes and were seen on numerous national TV programs originating from Los Angeles, including The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and the Carl Reiner-directed NBC special The World of Pizazz. It was Reiner who suggested the band record a version of the title song for the hippie-love-rock musical Hair. They did so and that record joined their pantheon of hits that had already included “The Rain, The Park and Other Things,” “Indian Lake” and “We Can Fly,” as well as the theme for the ABC series Love, American Style.
The fact that the late David Cassidy is being honored at the same event underscores the relationship between The Cowsills, an actual family band, and The Partridge Family, the fictionalized TV family band that was overtly based on The Cowsills, whose line up had consisted of six siblings (today’s three members plus brothers John, Bill, Barry and Richard) and Barbara Cowsill, their mother. The Partridge Family also included a mom, played by Shirley Jones, plus three brothers, one of whom was played by David Cassidy, and two sisters.
Past CMHOF inductees have included LeAnn Rimes, BJ Thomas, Ritchie Valens, Three Dog Night’s Chuck Negron, Canned Heat, Rick Derringer and Carol Kaye, as well as the aforementioned Ron Dante. The Cowsills, Negron and Dante are veterans of the annual Happy Together summer tour with this summer’s outing marking the tenth time The Cowsills will have been featured. This summer’s edition includes Jay & The Americans, The Association, The Vogues and Badfinger, as well as the music of the Turtles, the focus of Ron Dante’s efforts in the troupe. Tour dates are listed below.
Upon hearing of their forthcoming induction, The Cowsills issued a statement that reads: “We are honored to be inducted into the California Music Hall of Fame. It’s nice to be recognized by the state we used as a base of operations and spent decades in performing, touring, and recording. Thank you for this induction and for your continued support. It is greatly appreciated.” Last year was an eventful one for the group with the release of their critically lauded Rhythm of the World album through Omnivore Recordings as well as the holiday EP titled A Christmas Offering from The Cowsills.”
Earlier this year the band was inducted into the New England Music Hall of Fame in recognition of their Newport, RI roots.
Tickets for the 2024 California Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony are available now
The California Music Hall of Fame advocates for music education programs in schools to encourage and champion young people in music and to serve as a catalyst for gender equality in the music industry in the believe that music plays an integral role in all of our lives.
The Cowsills in concert
March 14 – Rock & Romance Cruise departs Miami returning March 21
March 21 – Flower Power Cruise departs Miami returning March 28
May 04 – North Towanda NY – Riviera Theatre –
Happy Together Tour 2024
Jun 01 – Biloxi, MS – IP Casino Resort and Spa
Jun 02 – Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall
Jun 04 – Pensacola, FL – Pensacola Saenger Theatre
Jun 05 – Daytona Beach, FL – Peabody Auditorium
Jun 06 – Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theatre
Jun 07 – Hiawassee, GA – Georgia Mountain Fairground
Jun 08 – Myrtle Beach, SC – Carolina Opry Theater
Jun 11 – Alexandria, VA – Birchmere
Jun 12 – Englewood, NJ – Bergen PAC
Jun 14 – Morristown, NJ – Mayo PAC
Jun 15 – Westbury, NY – NYCB Theatre at Westbury
Jun 16 – Hyannis, MA – Cape Cod Melody Tent
Jun 18 – Cohasset, MA – South Shore Music Circus
Jun 19 – Glenside, PA – Keswick Theatre
Jun 20 – Red Bank, NJ – Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre at the Count Basie Center for the Arts
Jun 21 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino Resort
Jun 22 – Lancaster, PA – American Music Theatre
Jun 23 – Lowell, MA – Lowell Auditorium
Jul 12 – Paso Robles, CA – Vina Robles Amphitheatre
Jul 14 – Prescott Valley, AZ – Findlay Toyota Center
Jul 19 – Scottsdale, AZ – Talking Stick Resort
Jul 21 – Costa Mesa, CA – Pacific Amphitheatre
Aug 01 – Lynn, MA – Lynn Memorial Auditorium
Aug 04 – Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
Aug 08 – Lima, OH – Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center
Aug 09 – Northfield, OH – MGM Northfield Park Center Stage
Aug 11 – West Allis, WI – Wisconsin State Fair
Aug 15 – Kettering, OH – Fraze Pavillion
Aug 16 – Saint Charles, MO – The Family Arena
Aug 17 – New Buffalo, MI – Hard Rock Cafe Four Winds
Aug 18 – Wabash, IN – Honeywell Center
Aug 21 – Effingham, IL – Effingham Performance Center
Aug 22 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
Aug 23 – Shipshewana, IN – Blue Gate PAC
Aug 24 – Wisconsin Dells, WI – Crystal Grand Music Theatre
Dr. Rock Positano is The Cowsills Executive Producer who has worked closely alongside Grammy-winning producers Phil Ramone and Jack Douglas during his career. Positano also had the privilege of being mentored by the legendary Ahmet Ertegun, co-founder of Atlantic Records and former chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He currently practices non-surgical foot and ankle orthopedics at the world-renowned Hospital for Special Surgery.
