The Cowsills/Partridge Family in Norfolk

The Cowsills were a popular singing group, all from the same family, who began performing in the mid 1960s.

The father, William "Bud" Cowsill, was in the US Navy from 1942 until 1965. Mr Cowsill earned 4 good conduct medals and retired as a Chief Petty Officer. He met his future wife, Barbara Russell, while they were living in Rhode Island.

On July 3, 1947 While serving in Norfolk, Bud married Barbara. The ceremony took place in the Chapel on Norfolk Naval Base right inside Gate Two. Within the next three years the couple had three sons, Paul, Robert, and Richard, all born at Portsmouth Naval Hospital. They would go on to have four more children.

In the mid 1960s, six of the siblings and their mother formed a band known as "The Cowsills". They would go on to produce 13 albums, including many hits, and be featured in two television specials. They performed live across the country including a show on September 18, 1971 at Military Circle Mall.

Eventually, the family was approached by CBS to do a weekly television show fictionalizing their lives. CBS wanted all of the children to play themselves but the mother was to be cast from outside. The family decided to decline the offer due to their mother not being included and CBS instead rewrote the series as "The Partridge Family". None of the Cowsills were involved in the final production.