William Cowsill, lead singer of family ensemble The Cowsills, the inspiration for TV series The Partridge Family, has died aged 58. The band, originally four Cowsill brothers, later joined by their mother and younger sister, formed in Rhode Island in the 1960s, first achieving success when they secured an appearance on a US TV show which subsequently led to a record deal.
The singer died on Friday in Calgary, Canada. No cause of death has been given but he was known to be suffering from emphysema and osteoporosis and had recently undergone back surgery, during which doctors had to collapse one of his lungs. His death follows the loss of brother and bandmate Barry Cowsill, who was drowned last year during Hurricane Katrina. Cowsill is survived by two sons, Travis and Del.