Obit: Barry Cowsill (Jan 2006)

Subject: Obit: Barry Cowsill
From: PoppaGator
Date: 07 Jan 06 - 11:23 AM

It's been a day or two since this news broke; I'm a bit surprised that Barry's obit hasn't been posted here yet.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Obit-Cowsill.html

This is one of the more horrendous stories to emerge from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Barry was a regular solo performer at the Kerry Irish Pub in New Orleans for several years starting in about '99 or '00, but I hadn't seen him a couple of years. In fact, the last time I saw his face was on TV two Octobers ago, singing the National Anthem with his brothers and sister at Fenway Park for the Red Sox's first World Series home game.

Barry and Susan were the two youngest Cowsill siblings, and both have lived in New Orleans in recent years. Susan maintained a higher profile as a member of the Continental Drifters, and recently went off on her own as a solo act.

Barry kept himself a bit further under the radar, with just the one regular but very local and low-key gig at the Kerry. On occasion (such as the first time I saw him), he could be a tremendously entertaining performer, able to very engagingly put across just about any song of any kind with just an acoustic guitar and his solo voice. Other times, I soon learned, he wasn't nearly so much fun.

I eventually concluded that the guy was just such a thoroughly trained musician, from such an early age, that his playing always betrayed and conveyed his personal mood much more strongly than that of the average player. More often than not, Barry was depressed (and drunk), and his performances in such circumstances would serve only to make the audience feel similarly depressed. On the other hand, when you caught him in one of his rare good moods, he could make the entire room happy and lively.

Too bad Barry was back in town for the hurricane, after having left and stayed away for well over a year. Putting himself into danger of being swept away by the storm may have been a half-consciously suicidal move on his part ~ we'll never know ~ but without the occasion of the storm, he probably still be with us, stumbling aloong and trying to find his way.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Cowsill
From: GUEST,SunnySister
Date: 07 Jan 06 - 01:39 PM

Very well written, PoppaGator. I just heard about Barry this morning and this really says it all. May he be finally at peace.

Thank you.

--SunnySister

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Cowsill (Jan 2006)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Jan 06 - 05:53 PM

A Google search to see what he looks like turns up this.

I probably drove my parents nuts playing my copy of the song "Hair" when it was such a big hit.

SRS

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Cowsill (Jan 2006)
From: GUEST,TJ
Date: 07 Jan 06 - 09:28 PM

About two weeks after Katrina, I saw his sister Susan (who is a fine rootsy singer/songwriter these days) at Johnny D's in Somerville, Mass. At the time she was on a tour with no immediate end since her house in New Orleans was inaccessible. At one point she mentioned from the stage that she hadn't heard from her brother since before the storm and was hoping that he was OK, and that there had been times in the past where he had just dropped out of sight for a while and she was hoping this was just another one. Obviously he wasn't OK, which is a really sad ending to thr story.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Cowsill (Jan 2006)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Jan 06 - 11:20 PM

It is sad. And one wonders how many unresolved stories there are still.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Cowsill (Jan 2006)
From: PoppaGator
Date: 21 Feb 06 - 03:03 PM

Memorial service and "Irish wake" for Barry this coming Sunday afternoon at the Kerry Irish Pub on Decatur Street in New Orleans, site of his last regular singing gig. It'll be Mardi Gras weekend, so a number of folks from out of town will be in the area.

So sad that older brother Billy also just passed away. Condolences and best wishes to Susan and all the other surviving Cowsills.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barry Cowsill (Jan 2006)
From: GUEST,Wordless Woman
Date: 21 Feb 06 - 03:19 PM

My cousin was a family friend and babysitter to the younger members of the family back in the 60s. Through her connection, I was given autographed photos and complementary 45s. My cousin was a big promoter of the Cowsills and we played their first hit, "Most of All", to anyone who would listen.

Although I didn't know Barry, I was grieved to learn of his death. I heard the news on the one-year anniversary of my cousin.