Figure 2.--The full seven-member Cowsills band can be seen here wholesomely promoting milk. |
HBC will attempt to assess this trend and archive information on individual and groups of entertainers. Man of the pop singers we have noted are American becauise of our greater familiarity with American singers anbd groups. HBC has little knowledge in this area of popular culture, but will be glad to add individual entertiners suggested by our readers. We also have a section on prodigies that deals primarily with music, but these individuals and groups have focused on popular mkusic and commercial performances. Several readers have forwarded us information on singers and groups in their countries. Hopefully more readers will do so to expand this section.
A HBC reader suggests that a good example of the trend of boys entering popular music and entertainment is Aaron Carter. If you look at his press photos, Aaron is always dressed in trendy clothes like these bib-front jeans. His photography department always does an excellent job in presenting him to his fans. I do not yet have any information on his musical career.
We note a Japanese children's pop group. We think that the group's name was the clippers. They seem to have been composed of four boys and a slighter older girl. They apparently were popular in the 1970s. A set of publicity shots shows them costumed in fancy outfits, but I am not quite sure how to describe the style. It doies not look Japanese to us, but rather an unidentified European look with small ponchos. Perhaps our Japanese readers will know something about them.
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The Cowsills are the only one of these groups that inspired a hit TV show based on their exploits. The Cowsill brothers formed their band in the early 1960s. The original band consisted of four brothers, Bill (guitar), Bob (guitar and organ), Barry (bass guitar) and John (druns). Fior some reason Bob's twin Dick did not participate in the group. John was the youngest brother. He was just age 7 when the band was formed. They worked serious on their music for some time, developing tight vocal harmonies. Their first engagements were at local churches and school dances in and around their home at Newport, Rhode Island. The band was greatly ingluenced by the Beatles who were sweeping America at the time. The band began performing at a local club where they mostly did Beatles songs. They first recorded for Mercury Records. Some of the early songs were "Siamese Cat," which focused on the two youngest brothers, John and Barry. The best-known of their early Mercury songs was "Party Girl." The Cowsills left Mercury, but Mercury producer Artie Kornfield asked the boys' mother, Barbara, to join the boys on a song he wrote with Steve Duboff--"The Rain, The Park, And Other Things." The song was recorded independently, but was taken up by MGM Records and reached #2 on the charts. It sold over a million copies and put the Cowsills on the charts. Barbara became known as "Mini-Mom", but I am not sure why. The band with mom became enormously popular, but the wholseome image of mom and the younger kids meant that the band never developed into a cutting-edge rock band. The Cowsills followed this with an additional seven hit singles. Theu released several LP albumns. At this time their 7-year-old sister Susan joined the group on vocals, percussion and occasional bass guitar for live performances and brother Paul on organ and vocals bringing the total to seven. The Cowsills were the most important family performers in America during the 1960s. They were managed by their father Bud. The Cowsills released several LPs. We Can Fly was best known for "In Need Of A Friend" which was originally a short tune composed by older brothers Bill and Bob entitled "I Had A Friend Of A Friend [One Day]"). Captain Sad and His Ship of Fools included the hit single "Indian Lake"). The Best of the Cowsills proved to be a big hit. The Cowsills In Concert featured a black-and-white photo of the Cowsills with the long hair they adopted to look more hip. This albumn was a colletion of their cover songs that the group as part of their 1969-70 live act. This included "Monday Monday" (Bill lead), "Reach Out (I'll Be There)" (Paul or Bob leading), "Walk Away Renee" (Bob lead), "Please Mr. Postman" (Barry lead ), "Act Naturally" (John lead), "Hello Hello" (Susan lead), and "The Cruel War" (Barbara lead). Their biggest hit was a cover of the title song of the rock musical "Hair." This became the group's opening song in concert during 1970. The Cowsills also appeared on several television shows, pergorming among other songs, "Consider Yourself", "What the World Needs Now Is Love". Susan the youngest Cowsill introduced "What the World Needs Now Is Love" explaining how much he hoped that older brother Dick (Bob's twin) would return safely from Vietnam. The Cowsills were contacted by Columbia Pictures Television about doing a weekly TV series. A program was eventually produced and became a hit ABC series--"The Partridge Family" (1970-74) and still is seen in sindication. The producers met with the Cowsills, but did not consider them interesting enough kids for the show. Theu wound up picking kids for their looks and acting ability with no thought given to whether or not they could sing and play musical instruments. It was an accdent that David Cassidy could both sing and play the guitar. David wound up being the only Partridge kid that actually participatrd in Partridge Family recordings. The Cowsills in 1968 sang the theme song of the movie "The Impossible Years." They also did the the theme song for the hit TV show "Love American Style" in 1969. The Cowsills disbanded in 1971 as the boys got older. They did, however, produce two additional LP albums during the 1970s. They were done without Bill Cowsill who began to do solo work. One of the last LPs was On My Side. The other was i>Two by Two which included one of the the group's last big selling singles, "The Prophecy Of Daniel And John The Divine (Six Six Six)."
Another reader suggests talented American singer Billy Gillman. He specializes in country music and as a platinum albumn to his credit. Who like most of the entertainers wears the typical clothes favored by American boys.
Michaerl Junior or his real name name Michael Verschuere probably would be more accurately listed in the child prodigy section. Unlike some of these popular music groups whose appeal is significantly affected by publicity and hype, Michael is a wonderful singer. His music focuses on the classics. He is always impeciably dressed. His music appeals primarily to adults. Michael was raised in Eernegem near Bruges a part of a large family, with six sisters and one brother. He loved music from his earliest childhood and wanted to be a singer. His favourite singers are Mario Lanza, Elvis Presley and Helmut Lotti. During an intermission at a Lotti concert in 1998, Michael snuck backstage and told Lotti that he knew all of his songs by heart. Lotti asked him to sing and Michael's performance so impressed Lotti that he included Michael in his concert tours--launching his career. Michel's voice has since broken and he is attempting to comtinue his singing career with his new voice.
The Mini-Beats are an exception to the mostly American boys who dominate the popular music an entertainment area. They are four German boys who dress up like the Beatles when they perform. Of course they do mostly Beatles music. When they are not performing they wear typical 2000s casual clotes like tie-dyed "T"-shirts and baggy jeans.
The Osmonds Brothers were introduced to America by Andy Williams and his hit eekly variety show. The made one appearance and Andy asked them back--for 6 years. There were just four when they first appeared. Latter little brother Donny joined them and later Marie. Donnie who would listen to his mother's Andy Williams records was introduced singing his favorite ("Summertime") in a duet with Andy. Donnie and Marie would later have a hit variety show of their own.
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