David Cassidy on the Web
Teen heartthrob turns 60! David Cassidy to perform at Waterfront Center on Friday
April 21, 2010
By Jonathan Turner
www.qconline.com
David Cassidy has a special connection to Iowa -- one that he'll celebrate at a concert Friday night at the Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center, Bettendorf.
In 1970, the top pop-radio station in Cedar Rapids was the first in the nation to play "I Think I Love You" -- a song from "The Partridge Family" -- and it became the biggest-selling record of the year, Mr. Cassidy recalled in a recent interview.
"It had never happened before -- went nowhere to No. 1 in one week. It created such a buzz," he said. "I haven't been to Iowa in forever. I want to pay respects and homage to those people who have been such fans of mine."
Mr. Cassidy, who turned 60 April 12, had acted on Broadway and in several television shows by the time he was chosen in 1970 to star as teen heartthrob Keith Partridge, along with his stepmother, Shirley Jones, in ABC's "The Partridge Family." He led seven chart-topping Partridge Family singles and, by age 21, became the world's highest-paid performer, with membership in his official fan club exceeding that of Elvis Presley and the Beatles.
"It was the right role at the right time. All the stars aligned, which rarely happens," Mr. Cassidy said. "They looked for something unique -- something different and special, as opposed to today, what all sounds the same."
His first three albums went triple platinum. "For that time, that was extraordinary," he said.
He graced the covers of many magazines, and his likeness appeared on everything from posters to lunch boxes, comic books to toys and cereal boxes. His concerts sold out the largest arenas and stadiums in the world, including breaking records in London, New York, Houston, and Melbourne, Australia. His albums have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide and have been recognized with 24 gold and platinum recordings.
"It was like nothing anyone could possibly be prepared for," Mr. Cassidy said of that crazy time in the early '70s. "It became overwhelming to everyone that was around me. It was probably a precursor to MTV videos, and we did it every week on television. There were hundreds of people out in front of the studio every day, camped put in front of my house, following me to work.
"It was a very odd situation that doesn't exist like that any longer. It was chaos," he said. "The world's more sophisticated now. In many ways, it was way cooler and easier to deal with."
Despite massive fame, Mr. Cassidy said, he "really didn't care about being famous, making money," but more on doing quality work as an actor and singer. "That's why I've had a 40-year career.... Now people just want to be famous.
"I didn't want the attention, I ran away from it," he said. "I'm a very private person. I always have been and always will be. I let my work speak for who I am. So many people invade my privacy, try and get to me. It still exists."
In his touring show -- which he and a band take to casinos and theaters -- Mr. Cassidy takes audiences on a "musical journey," reflecting the ups and downs of his long career, which included a friendship with former Beatle John Lennon.
"I'm really blessed to have touched so many millions of people, played all over the world," he said. "It was an incredible journey. The show in Iowa will be a celebration of the music, fans that have been my fans for 40 years."
Mr. Cassidy met and played with John Lennon and Paul McCartney (separately) in the '70s and will sing some of their stuff in his show. As the Beatles have been, the Partridge Family will be immortalized in a new Rock Band video game coming in 2011.
"The Partridge Family was such an iconic part of that decade - the television show, the songs we sang, the clothes we wore," Mr. Cassidy said. "We were role models to the kids of the '70s, and we're hoping to have the same impact on kids and video gamers today."
Over the years, he starred on Broadway in the original production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat"; with his famous stepbrother Shaun in "Blood Brothers" on Broadway; with Laurence Olivier in London's West End, and in several big Las Vegas productions. He earned an Emmy nomination for a "Police Story" episode.
Mr. Cassidy returned to series television last year on ABC Family's "Ruby & the Rockits," in which he starred with his brother Patrick, along with Alexa Vega ("Spy Kids"). The show -- which ran from July to September -- was a family affair, with Shaun as producer and youngest stepbrother Ryan as production designer.
It was one of the most satisfying projects of his life, Mr. Cassidy said, noting he and his brothers are "best friends."
Show business runs in his family. Mr. Cassidy's father was actor Jack Cassidy. His wife, Sue, is a songwriter; his 23-year-old daughter, Katie, is an actress (who had a part in the recent feature film "Taken"); and his 19-year-old son, Beau, is a musician and actor who's in college in Boston.
If you go
-- What: David Cassidy.
-- When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
-- Where: Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center, 2021 State St., Bettendorf.
-- Tickets: $45; $40 for IsleOne members; (800) 843-4753.
Former teen heartthrob David Cassidy will play at the Waterfront Convention Center in Bettendorf on Friday.
