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CASSIDY, David

(b 12 April 1950, NYC; d 22 November 2017, Fort Lauderdale FL) TV star, singer; son of actors Jack Cassidy and Evelyn Ward. Followed them into acting on TV's Marcus Welby MD, Bonanza, Mod Squad, others; Screen Gems/Columbia, the power behind the Monkees, hired stepmother Shirley Jones to play adult lead in music- oriented kids' show; Cassidy played Keith in The Partridge Family who made music in their garage, the studio creations of Wes Farrell, who also wrote most of material (Farrell d 29 Feb. '96, LA aged 56; he also wrote 'Hang On Sloopy', 'Come A Little Bit Closer' etc). Cassidy and Jones were the only ones who sang on record.

The Family's first single was 'I Think I Love You' no. 1 '70. Unlike the Monkees, their music was secondary to their TV image, but records sold, in decreasing numbers. Cassidy went solo with safe cover of Association's 'Cherish', top ten debut '71; the album of that title sold a million. He revealed in a Rolling Stone interview March '72 that he hated the Family, liked sex and drugs; top 40 entries that year reached no higher than 25. He started all over again in the UK; with only one hit there before Feb. '72, screening of the show brought Family's records to top 20 inclcluding a no. 3 cover of Neil Sedaka's 'Breaking Up Is Hard To Do'; Cassidy had seven top 20s UK '72-4 including 'How Can I Be Sure', 'Daydreamer'/'The Puppy Song' both at no. 1. His departure from the Family late '73 effectively axed the show; teenybopper Bernadette Whelan died May '74 at a crushed, crowded London show; Cassidy retired from live performance, attempted to create adult image with help of Richie Furay (Poco), Bruce Johnston (Beach Boys), Flo and Eddie (Turtles) and others; two more top 20 singles UK '75 but LPs '75-7 were uninspired at best: discarded like many teen idols before him. Inspired by hearing Police in the early '80s he returned to music; in Broadway cast of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; returned to UK charts with 'The Last Kiss', made LP Romance '85 still with good looks, ordinary voice. CD Didn't You Used To Be was on Scotti Bros.