David Cassidy on the Web
David Cassidy
March 23, 2009
By Jenna Gregory
Staff Reporter
The Derrick and News Herald
David Cassidy, a 1970s teen pop idol and seasoned performer, says he feels lucky to still be performing.
His career has spanned several decades and various genres. He had the No. 1 song of 1970 with "I Think I Love You," starred on stage in "Blood Brothers," "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and "Little Johnny Jones" and also starred in the Las Vegas hit show "EFX."
Cassidy will take the stage Friday at the Barrow-Civic Theatre in Franklin. And in comparison with large arenas and stadiums, performing in small venues like the Barrow is what he prefers.
The experience is better for me and it s better for the audience. Small venues allow me to really connect with each person. I m doing it because I love to play, I love making people laugh and making people cry, Cassidy said.
He said he's played at the Civic Arena and Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh, and they were both great venues, but he likes to play in smaller areas because "people there tend to care more because you're making the effort."
"I love to do this. There are not many around who started in 1970. My career has taken me so many directions and I m fortunate to be successful," he said.
Cassidy said at his concert he plans to entertain fans with some early Partridge Family music as well as some music from recent years.
He said performers who do shows and only perform new stuff are selfish because audiences "have a relationship with what you do."
When asked what his favorite song to perform his, Cassidy said he doesn't play songs that he doesn't like, but if he had to choose one, it would be "I Think I Love You."
He said "people from every walk of life," seem to connect with that song.
Cassidy said Mike Greenberg from ESPN's 'Mike and Mike in the Morning' stopped him in an airport. "Having never met me, he (Mike Greenberg) confessed he was a big fan. I said that's great, and I'm a huge fan of his," said Cassidy.
Greenberg told Cassidy that when he was young, he stole lyrics from one of Cassidy s songs to write his then girlfriend a poem. Cassidy said Greenberg thanked him because that girl is now his wife.
Using Greenberg as an example, Cassidy said bringing light and happiness into people's lives is something he wakes up each morning wanting to do.
Cassidy is continuing to add to his resume with an upcoming series on ABC Family called Ruby and the Rockits.
He is working with his brothers, Patrick Cassidy and Shaun Cassidy, on the development of the series. "This is simply the best thing I've ever done. It s the first time us three brothers have worked together," said Cassidy.
The show is about a former teen music sensation (Patrick) trying to live a peaceful life with his wife and kids when his brother (Cassidy) and former band mate shows up with a daughter and a refusal to give up his glory days of performing.
"It's the funniest, smartest, most special thing I've ever done; I love it, I just love it," said Cassidy about the show.
He said the opportunity to show up to work and be with his brothers is great. "There has never been any sibling rivalry; just real love and support," said Cassidy.
He said the show might also serve as a venue to release some of his unreleased music. "I have a lot of unreleased songs on demos, some really good songs and some are very appropriate for Ruby and the Rockits," said Cassidy.
He said he might have to do some rewriting of the music but said it s comparable to Spinal Tap, Blues Brothers or Hall & Oates.
Cassidy added that for the television show, the cast has had to film a full length music video of one of the Rockits supposed hits and he actually dug out some original performing outfits of his own from the 80s to wear in the video.
