David Cassidy in the News
Cassidy's Voice Earns Respect of Colleagues
September 14, 1992
The Post Standard
To the Editor:
Being in the music business, and being a record collector since the early 1960's, I've always had an interest in any type of music from any decade by any artist.
As a longtime Beach Boys fan, I stopped going to their concerts when they became stagnant - basically doing the same show every year. What brought me out to the Sept.4 show at the State Fair was the opening act of David Cassidy.
Cassidy was most likely added to the Beach Boys' show because of the little-known fact that Beach Boy Bruce Johnston produced two of his post-Partridge Family albums. Johnston also wrote the Barry Manilow hit "I Write The Songs" originally for Cassidy on one of those LPs on which he and other members of the Beach Boys played.
Cassidy always had the great pop voice needed from the beginning to gain viewers and to make "The Partridge Family" show and records a huge hit.
His vocal talents were also well respected in the music field by Mick Ronson, Richied Furay, Randy Meisner and more recently George Michael, who sang backup on Cassidy's British hit "Last Kiss."
Also, one listens to the vocal performance on the new single "For All The Lonely," and anyone with an open mind and an ear for a melody will know Cassidy can sing.
Rivito's comment, "This guy can't sing," was a personal remark and not that of a qualified reviewer.
Having followed and liked both acts for a number of years, it was clear to me Cassidy's performance, along with his stage presence, equaled the Beach Boys'. Both of these acts have been in the music business for many years. Cassidy obviously learning a lot from his predecessors with whom he shared the stage.
Rivito is obviously young and uninformed to know any background on the acts he passes judgment on. If it is an artist he doesn't know or like, he could write the "review" without even watching or listening to the performance.
Robert G Robbins
Chittenango
