David Cassidy in the News
Cassidy: The Comeback Kid
September 19 - October 2, 2000
By Donna Yahner
What's On in Las Vegas
David Cassidy calls Las Vegas home. It might not be forever, but Cassidy learned early that forever is an illusory concept.
In his lovely Spanish-style home the entertainer and writer has his comfortable private retreat/study warmed by lots of leather and earthy arts and crafts décor. Here he conducts business and indulges his long-standing passion for thoroughbred racehorses, owning and breeding many. Most walls are adorned with vintage racing posters. One wall encompasses an enormous TV screen so that he can monitor horse races across the country and perhaps indulge in a Yankee game or two.
After spinning out entirely from his early TV hit show, "Partridge Family," and No. 1 pop-star status, Cassidy spent a lot of time figuring out how to bring his show business soul back to life.
"Not letting my fans down and always trying to live up to their expectation of who I was left me hollow inside. No one can stay successful that way," says a wiser, older Cassidy speaking of his youth. When the tide of idol hysteria subsided Cassidy ended up at ground zero-emotionally, financially and without an entertainment identity.
Spending time in Europe was healing. He recorded an English hit "Lying to Myself" and successfully toured, but he was homesick for the United States.
Once back and with nothing to do he began co-writing songs with Sue Shifrin, prominent songwriter to Olivia Newton-John and Smokey Robinson. That was a beginning. Now married 12 years, Cassidy and Shifrin have between them numerous gold and platinum records that hang in one area of the Cassidy study.
A stint on Broadway brought him back in front of an American audience. Then came another offer that landed him in the land of neon. Arriving to bail out a beleaguered "EFX" at the MGM Grand in 1996, Cassidy and the show went on to rave notices due in no small measure to his creative input as well as his talented singing and dancing. But 1,000 performances dancing on a steel stage took their toll. Cassidy developed Morgan's neuroma in his foot and required surgery. (The leading "EFX" role is now played by Broadway star Tommy Tune.)
Afterwards, he and partner Don Reo went on to write, produce and direct "Rat Pack is Back," which is currently playing at the Sahara Hotel & Casino. "I've always loved the Sinatra era. I'm in Las Vegas. I wanted to keep the memory of the Rat Pack alive and pay tribute to them," says Cassidy. "I come from a story place and I believe people always respond to a good story."
That sense of theater, embedded in Cassidy's genes, is also evident in "David Cassidy at the Copa" playing at the Rio All-Suites Hotel & Casino. He wrote, produced and stars in the show.
"I think there's always been an ambition in me to write and produce. Now I'm having that opportunity," declares Cassidy. "I'm grateful to Las Vegas. I have a home and I can spend time with my family. I can go to my son's Little League games. My wife is devoted to kids' charities."
