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Showing posts from May, 2023

Love Is All That I Ever Needed. Chapter 40. "Feelin' Alright'...

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David Cassidy’s TV career started in a spectacular way in 1969 with a string of dramatic roles in the best shows from the era.  In 2013 he played his last tv role, it was on a popular CBC show called ‘CSI’.  David played a poker player, Peter Coe, a murder victim. The episode ‘Last Woman Standing’ was aired on February 27. David used every occasion to promote the auction of his famous outfits from the 70s. He wanted to raise money for the Alzheimer Association of America. The auction was an annual event at Hard Rock Cafe in New York and took place on May 18, 2013.  Before the auction David took part in a reality show ‘Celebrity Home Raiders’ to promote the things he wanted to sell. David’s memorabilia reached high prices, one of his stage jumpsuits was sold for $15,000, another one for $3,500 and his Partridge Family lunchbox for $1000.  In 2013 he played 25 concerts, all of them in the USA, and they were amazing. Some of them with Peter Noone from Herman's Hermits, and Mi

Love Is All That I Ever Needed. Chapter 39. David At 60. Saying Goodbye To His Mother..

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In 2008 David needed a lot of support from his friends and family, and he had an opportunity to spend and work with his step brothers. ‘Ruby & the Rockits’, the ABC comedy 30-minutes sitcom, was created and co-written by Shaun Cassidy. David and Patrick played Gallagher brothers, former teen idols, who in the 80s performed together in The Rockits.  Patrick’s character led a quiet life with his wife and two sons, while David’s still performed and led a rock star lifestyle. One day, quite unexpectedly, he discovered that he had a teenage daughter, Ruby. Ryan Cassidy also worked at the production. Alexa Vega, a well known young actress and singer (born in 1988) played Ruby. Austin Butler, at the beginning of his great career, played her cousin, Jordan. The first episode was aired on July 21, 2009, the last one on September 2. It was a musical, comedy and family sitcom, all in one. In every episode Alexa was singing a song which was released onto the iTunes store. Everybody tho

Love Is All That I Ever Needed. Chapter 38. Fighting With The Image, Sweet Vendetta, And A Cry For Help

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In January of 2005 a lot was written that David topped the new American poll of TV’s greatest teen idols. He beat John Travolta, Ricky Nelson and Johnny Depp.  There was news about his upcoming tour in the UK, called ‘Once In A Lifetime’. David was to perform alongside The Osmonds, David Essex and Bay City Rollers. David asked his fans via his website what songs they would like him to sing during the tour. He also announced that the tour was going to be special as the last one outside the USA. ‘It was a hard decision but I made a promise to my son Beau never to leave the country for months at a time again and I intend to keep it. I can’t do that to my son or my wife any more.’ He took his family to the UK and 14 year old Beau accompanied him for about 10 minutes on stage at nearly every concert.  In 2005 it seemed that at last David had a horse for the Kentucky Derby. A very special one and David didn’t hesitate and bought that 2 year old colt for $210,000 in 2004, and renamed

Love Is All That I Ever Needed. Chapter 37. A Crooner. And Boone Vincent.

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  In 2003 David again had a chance to show his skills as a serious actor. He performed in the TV show ‘Agency’. The series followed the inner-workings of the CIA and its war with Al Qaeda. One of the producers was Shaun Cassidy.  The series had a great cast: Beau Bridges, Will Patton, and Gloria Reuben. This is difficult to believe but the pilot about the planned lethal attack on western countries was to premiere at the CIA headquarters on September 18, 2001.  The episode with David was called ‘War, Inc.’ and was one of the last episodes of that unlucky drama. It was aired on CBS on April 26, 2003. David played a wealthy CEO, who lost over 200 employees on 9/11. He was very convincing in the role of that hunted man, Everett Price. And he looked fabulous in posh suits, mature and very handsome. In 2003 he played 32 concerts in the USA and Canada, and they were just great. David was in fantastic shape and outstanding vocal form, relaxed and happy on stage. Very natural. There wa

Love Is All That I Ever Needed. Chapter 36. An Entertainer, A Horseman, And A Family Man..

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  2002 was the year of the ‘Rock Me Tour’. David played 26 concerts in the USA, 10 concerts in the UK, and after 28 years he performed in Australia again.  He had his own band: Lon Bronson - musical director, keyboards, road manager ; Jim McIntosh - guitar, Gary Olds - drums, Frank Fabio - bass, Lisa Mayer and Candace Davis-Martin - backing vocals. It was a kind of world tour which brought a lot of memories. David was in great form and the audience loved his gigs.  One journalist wrote that Keith Partridge and his fans were grown up, but not much had changed. - “There is not really that much difference between then and now - aside from the women’s underwear. Almost three decades after The Partridge Family went off the air, the lust remains."  David said that it was fun and he had the time of his life playing those concerts. In the 70s he had a very full social life but that was then. He also added unasked: ’I’ve been with the same woman for 16 years. We’re happy together.’

Love Is All That I Ever Needed. Chapter 35. At The Crossroads

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David was nearly 50 but had a schedule more insane than in the 70s. And even more stress, because of the amount of work, responsibility and personal problems. Tiredness began to show on him. He also had unwelcome publicity, mostly because of constant problems with Sinatra’s children and Sammy Davis’ widow.  It was noticed that sometimes on public appearances, David was irritated and touchy. ‘The David Cassidy Story’ also brought a lot of unflattering opinions. But he didn’t slow down. In the summer of 1999, David was working on a new production at the Rio Hotel.  At first, he thought about a musical loosely based on his own life. However, the concept of the show changed a few times. David wanted to have as a co-star Paula Abdul, a popular singer, dancer and choreographer. In the end Sheena Easton was available. Born in 1959 in Scotland, a very popular pop singer in the early 80s, she also had an American citizenship and stage experience performing on the West End, Broadway a

Love Is All That I Ever Needed. Chapter 34. David Cassidy. A Pop Icon

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  David didn't slow down. The next two years were one of the most stressful in his life. He became addicted to pills, antidepressants and analgesics.  He separated from his wife for a long six months. It was only his fault and in his book he called it ‘mid-madness and mid-life crisis’, and that it was especially painful for Sue.  It’s not difficult to imagine what he meant and he nearly lost his family because of it.  David behaved like a true workaholic. His career and fame, the adulation and being a star became more important than a happy family life. He felt like a fish in a water in the artificial world of Las Vegas, admired and loved there. He wanted to become a legend ...  Immediately after David’s contract with MGM ended, he started preparing a new show, ‘The Rat Pack Is Back’. It opened on July 18, 1999 at the 330- seat Starlight Lounge at the Desert Inn Hotel.  The original Rat Pack was made up of Las Vegas legends - Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr an

Love Is All That I Ever Needed. Chapter 33. David Cassidy : The Teenage Dream

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  In May 1998 David Cassidy had a new excellent album released by his own, short-lived record label, Slamajama Records, launched with Linda Blum, his business partner. David wanted to make something different and achieve a new modern sound.  The album ‘Old Trick, New Dog’ was produced by three young and popular musicians, Dino Esposito, Peter Bunetta and Scot Rammer. David left himself a decisive voice, he was an executive producer. Like always he worked with very good session musicians. Whatever he did, he wanted to have full control and everything to the best quality possible.  The album was released two weeks before the official street date over the Internet. In less than two days, it was in the top 5 in online record sales. It was a very good album - completely different from the two previous ones released in the 90s.  He made a point that this time he wouldn’t collaborate with Sue Shifrin. The album was very fresh and contemporary with new versions of his old hits from t