David Cassidy on the Web
Teen idol is excited again
Thursday February 10, 2011
By Niz Proskocil
Omaha World Herald
www.omaha.com
A certain opportunity has former teen idol David Cassidy almost as giddy as one of his swooning young fans from his '70s heyday.
In fact, the 60-year-old entertainer - best known for his role as Keith Partridge in the TV series "The Partridge Family" - said he hasn't been this excited since 2001, the year he kicked off a world concert tour.
"I cannot wait," Cassidy said during a recent phone interview from his home in Florida. "This is a very special occasion for me and a really exciting one. I feel so enthusiastic about it. It's really, genuinely got my blood racing."
The source of all that excitement is a series of concerts Cassidy will perform with the Omaha Symphony. The singer-actor takes the stage of the Holland Performing Arts Center for three concerts Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Backed by his own band as well as the full orchestra, Cassidy will perform many of those classic Partridge Family songs that sent fans into a frenzy.
"It's a celebration of the music that so many millions of people all over the world grew up with," he said of his live show.
Following a brief acting stint on Broadway and roles on various TV shows, Cassidy skyrocketed to fame in 1970 with the success of "The Partridge Family." Almost overnight, the 20-year-old became a teen heartthrob as his records sold millions of copies and his image appeared on posters, magazine covers, T-shirts, toys and cereal boxes.
Even now, he still has a large and loyal following that flock to his concerts - some traveling thousands of miles. Five fans from the Netherlands, one from Switzerland and 17 from the United Kingdom are coming to see him in Omaha, according to symphony officials.
"It's just amazing," Cassidy said of his diverse fan base. "They're the reason I'm still doing what I do and loving it. It's a wonderful thing."
Next month, fans will get to see another side of Cassidy when he competes on Donald Trump's reality show "Celebrity Apprentice." The new season premieres March 6 on NBC.
Cassidy, who said he's never had much interest in reality TV, agreed to be part of the cast after learning that Trump "really wanted me to do it." Cassidy said he plans to donate any money he earns from "Celebrity Apprentice" to Alzheimer's research.
This week's concerts in Omaha won't be his first visit to the city. He's played here and in Lincoln in the past. In the mid-'80s, he brought one of his thoroughbred horses to compete at the former Ak-Sar-Ben race track.
He performed his first and only concert with an orchestra about eight years ago in southern California.
"It's a beautiful marriage," he said of pairing his hits with the lush sounds of an orchestra.
He's eager to revisit the format with the Omaha Symphony and looks forward to interacting with audience members.
"I'm so blessed to have the music and have people who care about the work," he said. "I'm a lucky man, and I'm still humbled by it."
