David Cassidy on the Web
Top 10 made-for-TV bands of all time
June 21, 2016
By Jim Harrington and Chuck Barney
http://www.mercurynews.com/tv/ci_30041065/top-10-made-tv-bands-all-time
Music and television have long had an important relationship, dating back to even before Elvis Presley and The Beatles drove teens wild on "The Ed Sullivan Show."
One intriguing offspring of that relationship is the so-called "made-for-TV" band.
Some of those acts have even proven stunningly popular. Take, for example, the Flight of the Conchords, the comedy duo of Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement that saw their popularity mushroom when they starred as a fictionalized version of themselves on an HBO show. Years later, the Conchords are still going strong, playing two shows in the Bay Area next week -- Monday at the Masonic in San Francisco and Tuesday at (we kid you not) Shoreline Amphitheatre at Mountain View.
In honor of the occasion, we're offering a look at some of the greatest TV bands of all time. We're talking any act that was either created especially for a TV show or gained its true taste of fame by starring on the small screen. Thus you won't see the likes of the Jonas Brothers -- who were already a phenomenon before starring on a Disney TV show -- in this roundup.
Here is our list.
…….The Partridge Family
Inspired by The Cowsills, these singers -- along with their colorful tour bus -- were at the center of a beloved series that ran for four seasons (1970-74) on ABC. David Cassidy and his real-life stepmother, Shirley Jones, were the only cast members to provide vocals on the musical numbers.
Career highlights: Their 1970 single, "I Think I Love You," hit No. 1, outselling the Beatles' "Let It Be." Cassidy became a teen idol and the band earned a Grammy nomination (for best new artist).
Trivia: "C'mon, Get Happy"? Yeah, right. Amid his teeny-bopper fame, Cassidy often griped about being trapped and typecast. He appeared nude for a 1972 Rolling Stone cover story designed to combat his wholesome image.
Where they are now: Cassidy, Jones and Susan Dey have all done some television work over the years. Danny Bonaduce, whose struggles with drug addiction have been well-chronicled, is now a morning-show host for a Seattle radio station.
Editor’s Note: The remaining part of the article has been omitted.
