David Cassidy on the Web
Getting to know singer and actor David Cassidy with this week's 10 questions
April 24, 2012
By S Fazan
ABC Action News
www.abcactionnews.com
Are you ever curious about the real lives of politicians, celebrities, local newsmakers and athletes? Who are their mentors and who would they really like to meet? Each Tuesday, ABC Action News asks 10 questions of a Bay area leader or celebrity. They're fun questions that let you get to know the person.
This week we are excited to hear from actor, singer and former teen idol David Cassidy.
David was recently in Tampa entertaining the crowd at the Club at Treasure Island and graciously answered our questions.
But, before we get to them, let's give you a little history about this former teen mega star.
David was born on April 12, 1950 in New York. Both of his parents were performers and left for long periods of time. His maternal grandparents raised him in a neighborhood in New Jersey.
His parents divorced when David was very young.
His Father Jack Cassidy, married a woman named Shirley Jones, who would become a huge influence in David's life.
Jones, now his step-mother, played his mother in the hit 1970's television show "The Partridge Family."
During it's four year run, the show helped catapult David into unbelievable stardom and made him one of the most celebrated teen idols of all time.
As a child, David once said his life was changed forever after seeing the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show. But, he couldn't have imagined at that time what his own success would entail.
Teenage girls throughout the world pinned up posters of the Cassidy on their walls. Not to mention the millions in other merchandise sold, including t-shirts, lunch boxes, and magazine covers.
Cassidy mania forced the young David to be smuggled out of venues in laundry baskets and in the trunks of cars.
But fame came with a huge price. David's fame led to tours all over the world. That included one in White City Stadium in England in May of 1974. What happened at that concert went down as one of the worst tragedies in rock n' roll concert history.
Hundreds of Cassidy fans were injured as the crowd rushed the stage. 14-year-old Bernadette Whelan was carried out from the arena in a coma and later died from her injuries at the hospital.
Later, authorities said Whelan had a heart condition and the cause of death was directly related to the suffocation from the crowd.
The event changed David. He didn't attend the young girl's funeral because he did not want to make it into a media circus. But, he did talk to her parents and sent flowers.
The tragedy led him to retire from live performances. Not long after "The Partridge Family" slipped in the ratings and was canceled.
David tried to pursue more serious roles. He had success on Broadway, but achieved his biggest fame playing Keith Partridge.
He sold over 25 million records, had multiple Grammy nominations, won a Golden Globe Award, and sold out concert venues across the globe. It's believed David was the world's highest paid solo live performer by the age of 21.
As far as his personal life, David has been married three times and has two children Katie and Beau, who he counts as his greatest success.
Read more.....
10 questions for actor, singer, mega former teen star, David Cassidy
1. What is your all-time favorite movie or song?
I have too many favorites to name one.
2. Do you have a Smartphone? If so, what's your favorite app?
iSlinky app - everyone loves a Slinky and I sing the song on it.
3. Who do you count as your mentor(s)?
John Lennon, Jack Cassidy and Jimmy Stewart
4. What was your very first job?
Working in the mailroom, after high school, at Deering Milliken Textile Co.
5. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
I'd be a little less trusting.
6. What do you consider your greatest success?
My children
7. Tell us something about you most people don't know?
I am passionate about doing whatever I can for Alzheimer's organizations to create more awareness and to try to help to raise funds to find a cure. My mother has severe dementia that has required her to be in a 24 hour care facility for the last 7 years.
8. If you could have dinner with any three people, living or dead, who would they be?
John F. Kennedy, Thomas Edison and Stephen Hawking
9. What is in your fridge right now?
Lots of fruits, vegetables and the basics. No red meat.
10. If you could have a different career, other than what you're doing now, what would it be?
A thoroughbred horse breeder and owner which I do as a vocation, but would love to have the luxury to do full-time.
