David Cassidy in the News
David Cassidy: Hollywood survivor
From Broadway to Vegas to Atlantic City, the former teen idol reinvents himself
April 26, 2001
By Lori Hoffman
The Whoot Weekly (Atlantic City, NJ)
David Cassidy knows what it is like to be shadowed by one's own success. He also knows what it is like to take advantage of that success and use it to launch yourself into different career directions.
While many people still think of Cassidy as the teen idol from the TV series The Partridge Family, the 51-year-old singer/actor has reinvented himself as a star in Las vegas. First he earned acclaim in an already established Vegas hit, EFX. Then, with partner Don Reo, he conceived, co-wrote, and provided songs for the show David Cassidy at the Copa last year. He also co-wrote and produced the ongoing Vegas hit show, The Rat Pack is Back, at the Sahara. When his schedule permits, he guest stars in the show as Bobby Darin.
Before his impressive foray into Las Vegas stardom, Cassidy had a career as a respected Broadway singer/actor, starring in Blood Brothers, and before that in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. In between these varied activities, he has continued his recording career, most recently with the 1998 release Old Trick New Dog. He is currently working on a CD that will incorporate new material and some audience favorites.
But for his devoted fans, the really big news is that Cassidy will be spending the spring and summer on tour. His itinerary includes stops in St. Louis, Vegas, Los Angeles and this weekend at the Showboat's Mississippi Pavilion.
In an interview in Las Vegas Weekly, he talked about his current life and career. Noted Cassidy, "I can honestly say that this is the best time of my life and career because now I'm doing more stuff that I've always wanted to do, and throughout, my fans have proven loyal over the decades. They pay to see me, buy my records, see my shows..."
Cassidy's fan base is amazing. In doing research, this writer found an incredible number of David Cassidy and Partridge Family web sites. The volume of fan sites is as varied and passionate as those devoted to any of today's hottest new stars - Britney, Christine, 'N Sync and the rest.
In the same interview, Cassidy talked about achieving stardom at such an early age. "It is a double-edged sword. We all want to be successful, but I never had any designs on being a 'superstar.' I just wanted to act, like my father (Broadway actor Jack Cassidy), and have him appreciate me for my talents. Both my parents were actors/singers... my frame of reference in this business has always been the work itself, not fame, not money. I survived a remarkable experience at a young age. During my last concert appearance in the '70s, I was playing to audiences of 40,000-60,000 people, and then I left. I wanted to see what else David Cassidy could do."
During his headliner debut in Atlantic City this past September, Cassidy provided a mix of selections from his stage show At the Copa and fan favorites like "I Think I Love You," and "I Woke Up In Love This Morning," plus other highlights from his post-Partridge career. Earlier this year Cassidy told Sound Waves magazine, "I'm really anxious to get back out on the road and see a lot of the places I played a long time ago. I'm going to play the Greek Theatre this summer in L.A. I haven't been back in L.A. in ten years so it's going to be very cool."
David Cassidy is a survivor whose work ethic allowed him to weather the ups and downs of a career that was forged in his teens. He long ago stepped out from behind the shadow of his teen success, to stand tall as a versatile entertainer.
