David Cassidy on the Web
Idol moment at the Trop David Cassidy to sing
Sunday, March 03, 2002
By Patricia O'Haire
http://articles.nydailynews.com
As the song goes, David Cassidy is on the road again. The former actor on the "Partridge Family" television series, and one-time teen idol (who remains drop-dead-handsome at 51), has come East from his home in Las Vegas. He's checking out his race horses in Florida, and will be playing two nights next weekend at Atlantic City's Tropicana Hotel.
"I have a new band, a new album and lots of new songs," he said by phone from the Sunshine State.
Cassidy may be forever linked with the 1970s, but he sees himself as a performer for the new millennium, which includes polling his fans to find out what songs they would like to hear.
"I have a Web site, and before we went on the road I asked what they'd like. The response was unbelievable. So I'll also be integrating some of the hits from the '70s, '80s and '90s along with the new ones. I've discarded the Las Vegas-style material, but I've also made 20 albums over the years, so it's a question of what fits where."
One thing is sure. Cassidy won't leave the stage without delivering "I Think I Love You" from the TV show.
ONE-ON-ONE
"I love playing live in front of audiences, being able to connect one-on-one with fans," said Cassidy. "A lot of them grew up with me. I'm one of the fortunate few to have survived going from this huge teen base to having this diverse audience now.
"Having a teen audience is usually very fleeting," he said, "but there are younger people who are aware of me, maybe through the TV reruns and music videos."
Cassidy's musical talent runs in the family. His late father, Jack, was a Broadway star, appearing in "Wish You Were Here" and "She Loves Me," among other shows. His mother, actress Evelyn Ward, was a concert pianist and music teacher. Brothers Shaun and Patrick also have had successful music careers.
After his parents divorced, his father married actress-singer Shirley Jones, who became his stepmother, and, in a quirk of fate, his mother on "The Partridge Family."
Cassidy has tried hard to shake that wide-eyed innocent image from his "Partridge" days, but it hasn't been easy. He lives in Las Vegas now, with his wife, Sue, and their 10-year-old son, Beau. In 1996, he opened at the MGM Grand Hotel in the $75 million musical extravaganza "EFX," which he rewrote, rearranged and restaged. He stayed in the show for 2 1/2 years.
Cassidy co-wrote and co-produced (with Don Reo) and directed "The Rat Pack Is Back," a variety show that opened in 1999 at the Sahara. It's still running.
He also has played Broadway, in two long-running hits: the original "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in 1983, and "Blood Brothers," with brother Shaun, in 1994; he later took it on a national tour.
David Cassidy will perform at the Tropicana's Showroom at 9 on Friday, 8 on Saturday. Tickets: $55-$100.
