David Cassidy on the Web
David Cassidy at the Tropicana
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
www.laughlinentertainer.com
Teen idols have come and gone but nobody has come close to defining the term "teen idol" as has the biggest of them all-David Cassidy. When ABC-TV cast him as its star in "The Partridge Family" in 1970, they struck lightening in a bottle. Before the series had even aired its first episode, Cassidy was already on the cover of teen magazines throughout the world thanks to a No. 1 single, "I Think I Love You" (which would become the best-selling record of 1970). Pop and rock tunes followed and by the age of 21, Cassidy was the world's highest paid solo live performer.
In the course of five whirlwind years he was nominated for a Grammy, performed sold-out concerts in the largest stadiums and arenas all across the globe, and his fan club grew to become the biggest in history-exceeding even Elvis Presley and the Beatles. Few teen idols have yet to come close to enjoying the same success. His career album sales, highlighted by 18 gold and platinum recordings, including four consecutive multi-platinum releases, exceeded 25 million units worldwide. In 1973, he filled Wembley Stadium, in London six times in three days, a record that not even the Rolling Stones has been able to copy.
That's a lot of idolatry.
Within the confines of all of the screaming and fainting fans, relentless touring and appearance schedules and the craziness, the serious musician and entertainer was trying to break free. Cassidy was determined to prove he was more than a pretty face. The fact that he is one of a handful of artists who has had hits on the charts in all decades since the '70s is testimony to his true talents.
From television and recording to concert tours, from Broadway and London's West End to Las Vegas production shows, Cassidy has enjoyed success in just about every venture he's dipped his toes into. His talent, creativity and tenacity continue to bring people to his shows in spite of the fact that his teen idol days are long behind him.
"I'm enjoying performing now more than ever," Cassidy said in a recent conversation with us. "I have a tremendous band. We've played together the last nine or ten years and they are truly my friends-they're people I love and trust. They are all in this because they believe in the music. It's not just a job for them and that makes it pretty special."
And if there isn't a family member in the band, there could very well be one or two in the audience.
"Well, it's possible one of my brothers may come to the show," Cassidy said. "Shaun may try and make it. He hasn't seen me in about a year and a half-since the television series for ABC we were all involved in last year called 'Ruby & The Rockits.' My brother Patrick co-starred, Shaun was the executive producer, I was a co-star and our youngest brother, Ryan, was the production designer. It was fantastic."
It's no wonder the brothers haven't seen each other in a while. Cassidy doesn't sit in one place too long.
"I've been all over the place, but mostly I've been in Europe, working on recording and writing another album," he said. "I have a great working relationship with my co-producer, co-writer and co-arranger, Craig J, who also helped me on my last CD two years ago."
Because Cassidy immerses himself in a multitude of projects, it's difficult for him to pick his favorite.
"I'm invested in each project in every aspect-physically, emotionally-to get it right, to make it as great as it can be," he stated. "When you're that involved and invested, that's usually where your favoritism lies. That project is your priority, it's being in the moment, if you will."
While Cassidy wouldn't commit to one facet of his talent and endeavors over another, it became obvious from further conversation that performing in front of an audience is one of his passions.
"I love to perform-to play live," he said. "For me, that's always been the thing that separates actual talented artists from those who 'play' at performing. I don't use gimmicks or whatever technology is available to artists. Some can't sing or play without it, but they look great because they use a disguise-they have seven or eight dancers and all the bells and whistles. I'm more of an organic singer, performer and player-I learned that early on."
Cassidy's musical education was a cross pollination of old school, American roots and cutting edge-and he couldn't have anticipated better teachers. As a young up-and-coming popular artist at the top of the charts, he was surrounded by a changing musical scene. He had the best seat in the house to watch the characters who shaped that landscape and impacted Cassidy's musical course in a big way.
"After the Beatles broke up, I became friends with John Lennon. I spent some time with him and Yoko in Los Angeles, playing a little rock and roll. He was probably one of the most influential human beings in my life because of his passion for music and what he believed in as a songwriter and a lyricist. I loved his sense of humor. He gave me ideas and insight for my own musical journey."
Cassidy not only knew Lennon but he was friends with all the Beatles.
"That band was the greatest band that ever lived," Cassidy said. "Nothing comes close to their music, their songs, their arrangements and the impact they had-and they had hundreds of songs. You can put on any of their records today and the songs still sound just as great."
So the Beatles were an influence on Cassidy, but so too were many other sources.
"My dad was a huge Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin, and Frank Sinatra fan," he said. "I got a lot of different influences from my mother and dad. They were theatrical-both actors and singers and I got a lot of my influences as a young guy from them-the Broadway stuff, the legendary stuff. I got into pop and more contemporary stuff when I was 10 or 12.
"After the Beatles broke up and music was evolving, I was evolving."
He was evolving so fast, in fact, he decided to step back from the frenzy of his teen idol status. He took a break.
"For over a decade, I didn't sing or play," he said. "I hadn't played live or recorded until my platinum 1984 CD that I wrote and recorded in England."
After a couple of Broadway shows, -'Joseph (and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)' and 'Blood Brothers' -Cassidy eventually did what many entertainers have done before and after him. He headed to Vegas.
"I went to Las Vegas and started rewriting 'EFX' which I did for 29 months," he said. "It became one of the Strip's best shows.
"I also wrote, produced and directed with Don Reo, 'The Rat Pack is Back.' I drew on all of my memories and fondness for the music my mom and dad listened to when putting this show together. I talked with Bruce Jones, Sinatra's conductor and musical arranger when Sinatra recorded his live album, Sinatra at the Sands. It's such an amazing record, it's the best live album I've ever heard."
Cassidy has taken his lumps during the years, just like everyone else. There have been disappointments along with the successes, but he shakes it off and moves on.
"Personally and professionally, if you don't have perseverance and the desire to be creative and explore different things, you can't learn," he says. "Doing things that challenge you and get you out of that comfort zone are opportunities to learn from.
"I've formulated a lot of successful ventures and I've learned a lot from them, but I've also learned from the failures-projects that weren't a commercial or creative success."
This may mean Cassidy won't be tap dancing anytime soon but it also means he's exploring other venues. Like songwriting.
"I'm more of a somewhat structured songwriter," he said. "I've learned from some of the greats who have worked for me and with me-Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil and Gerry Goffin.
"Sometimes writing from emotions-being hurt, being sad-brings more of yourself to a song. But the most important thing is to write authentically."
So for the current crop of teen idols who relish their time in the spotlight of adoration, Cassidy has a bit of advice:
"Follow your own heart and instincts," he says. "Do not rely upon getting your name in newspapers and magazines-don't rely on the superficial stuff. Don't do it for the money-rather, work for the work. That's the advice I gave to my daughter and my son. It's the same advice my father gave to me. Do the work and everything else will come. Take the time to do good work-and finish things, challenge yourself-that's how you have a 40-year career."
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DAVID CASSIDY
Tropicana, The Pavilion Theater
Saturday, July 31. 8 p.m.
