'Well...I sleep a lot, Tony..'

I've written about David Hamilton, but of course  there were other radio and tv personalities in the 70s, who helped  DC became a superstar in the UK.  He wasn't Keith Partridge there, but for a while,  the most popular pop singer, the biggest star. David and some of the most famous British DJ's became friends, they appreciated his talent, his personality, his sense of humor,  and that he wasn't another jaded teen idol .  

Tony Blackburn (born in 1943), another legend. He was with the pirate stations, Radio Caroline and Radio London before joining the BBC in 1967. I learned only a few years ago from my English friends, that Tony was also  quite a known singer himself. In the 60s he had 2 Top 40 hits. And he was not bad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlyIyRMDTW4

In the 70s, Tony Blackburn was a regular host of Top Of The Pops unill 1979. He interviewed David for Top Of The Pops' 500th anniversary programme. 'Daydreamer' was a great DC's hit in the UK at the time, #1 on October13th 1973. This David's performance..I wonder what he'd thought about it himself. Such ridiculous circumstances. We can read in Record Mirror (Jan5, 1974) the story of his suit, about five sizes too big. DC did the show with pins all over him..And it's amazing how he had changed since 1970..That hair, sex appeal..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybu3vKZ_Lz0

It was recorded on October 3th, aired the next day, and also on October 4th such an article appeared,  'Pop star David Cassidy was smuggled into London today - without a fan in sight (..) it was quiet cover-up operation (..) A TV crew interviewed him on the tarmac and filmed him miming to his latest record. They they got him back to walk back up the aircraft steps as if he was only passing through Heathrow. Cassidy was driven from the aircraft in the terminal manager's car. How long will he be here and what will be doing? 'I don't know' said a member of his entourage.' (October4th, 1973, The Liverpool Echo). That's our David, he talked a lot..but he liked doing a lot of things undercover, and he had very loyal friends..

Another Tony, Tony Prince (actually Thomas), born in 1944. He broadcast (with the first Tony) on Radio Caroline) and  Radio Luxembourg in the 60s and 70s, later he becamea programme director of RL. In the 70s Radio Luxembourg was listened to by millions of young people all  over Europe. People from the West and from the East. David Cassidy was interviewed there in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976.  We can listen to original tapes of his radio interview made at Hertford Street in 1974 (the link), and hear screaming girls waiting for him in the street. David Cassidy and Tony Prince became good friends.

http://www.davidcassidy.com/fansite/TvFilmPages/Radio1974_RadioLuxembourg_Part_1.mp3

In 2015  Tony Prince signed a petition for inducting David Cassidy to Rock&Roll Hall Of Fame and he wrote what were his reasons for doing it . It's a great, moving statement, you can read it on DC website. Here just fragments  :

'If David is to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the panel will have to get past the screams. As a Radio Luxembourg DJ and Programme Director over 16 years, I met and interviewed Cass on many occasions, his LA home, Burbank studios, on tour in Europe and on the London balcony of Radio Luxembourg as police on horseback contained the fans blocking the street and disrupting central London traffic. (..)If the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has respect for the accomplishments of those who gave their careers to music and influenced millions of teenagers to get into music, then David should be a candidate for something he deserves and would undoubtedly Cherish. (..) I’m behind this petition because I believe the RRHF has to elevate and reveal to history those who became icons in their time. And no heartthrob was more committed to making great music than David Cassidy (..).

Thank you Tony Prince.

https://www.davidcassidy.com/blog/no-heartthrob-was-more-committed-to-making-great-music-than-david-cassidy/