David Cassidy

When ABC cast DAVID CASSIDY as its juvenile star in "The Partridge Family," it launched one of the most spectacular careers in the entertainment industry. From television to recording and record breaking concert tours, and from Broadway to Las Vegas production shows, David has made his mark and been lauded accordingly.

Hailing from a family of actors, mother Evelyn Ward and father Jack Cassidy, his fate as a performer was essentially seeded at a young age. It was by coincidence that he wound up starring with stepmother Shirley Jones in the astonishing success "The Partridge Family."

Before the end of 1970, the year the show premiered, David graced every teen magazine cover in the world, had the #1 selling single of the year, and garnered multiple Grammy nominations and won a Golden Apple Award. Over the next five years, his official fan club grew to become the largest in history, exceeding those of Elvis Presley and the Beatles.

Those were only the first of many records David broke in his long and constantly evolving career. He became the first personality to be merchandised globally. His likeness appeared on everything from posters to lunch boxes and cereal boxes. His concerts sold out in the largest arenas and stadiums in the world which led him to be the world’s highest paid performer at the age of 21. He broke box office records at Melbourne’s Cricket Grounds, London’s White City Stadium, Houston’s Astrodome and New York’s Madison Square Garden. To date, his records have sold over 25 million copies worldwide and have been recognized with eighteen gold and platinum recordings including four consecutive multi-platinum LP’s.

As lead vocalist with" The Partridge Family," David was responsible for seven chart-topping singles including "Doesn’t somebody Want To Be Wanted," "I Woke Up In Love This Morning," "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" and of course, "I Think I Love You", the best selling record of 1971. As a solo artist, David had five hit singles – "Cherish," "Could It Be Forever," "How Can I Be Sure," "Rock Me Baby" and "Lying to Myself."

All of the fame and adulation did not deter David from his acting career as evidenced in the telefilm "A Chance to Live", the highest rated "Police Story" in its seven year history, which earned him an Emmy nomination as Best Dramatic Actor. He then went to Broadway where he starred in the original production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," to London ‘s prestigious West End in "Time" with Sir Laurence Olivier, and in 1994 he once again broke box office records in the stunning production of "Blood Brothers", which he then starred in on a sold out road tour of the United States and Canada.

In 1996, David opened at the MGM Grand in the $75 million extravaganza "EFX." Under David’s creative direction and by entirely re-vamping the show, it became the most successful production in Las Vegas. The MGM acknowledged that he was singularly responsible for bringing over 1 million paid customers to see EFX. Within four months of opening, the show was voted "Best Production Show" in Las Vegas, and David was voted "Best All Around Performer" and "Best Singer."

In 1999, David was again named "Best All Around Performer" in the Review Journal’s Best of Las Vegas. He was also chosen City Life’s "Entertainer of the Year" and was dubbed "Show Star of the Year" by Gaming Today.

Always seeking new creative avenues, in 1999 David partnered with writer-producer Don Reo to create "The Rat Pack Is Back!" which has been playing to sold-out audiences at the Sahara Hotel & Casino with both critical and popular acclaim.

"At the Copa," which David co-created with Don Reo, and wrote, produced and starred in, opened in 2000 at the Rio. Another first, David incorporated a Broadway musical production with that of a star’s headlining concert. The result was a non-stop, high-energy 90-minute thrill ride with music spanning the last half of the twentieth century, as well as new tunes written by David and performed by the largest big-band orchestra in Las Vegas. In 2001, he chose to go back to his first love. He closed this show to return to concert stages across the country and the world.

Although David is enjoying tremendous success today, there were many rough spots in his personal and professional life over the years, but he has always succeeded in keeping his perspective and acute sense of humor. "I’m an optimist. I mean, you have to be with my career," he laughs. "I’ve never gone out and changed my style to suit the times. I have always stayed true to myself by trying to sing about the human experience. It’s important to reveal your own fragility, faults, and mistakes. That honesty is naturally compelling and, in general, it’s what people want to see. Without that, all the flash in a show is merely empty effects. Bringing that human element to my work is the most important thing I can do as an entertainer."

Off stage, David is equally committed. He and his wife, songwriter Sue Shifrin-Cassidy, were instrumental in the 1994 Rebuild LA campaign, composing the effort’s anthem, "Stand and Be Proud." Recently they donated another song, "Message to the World", to WarChild USA. This fundraising effort led to Sue’s formation of KidsCharities.org, in which David plays a very active role.

On the horizon for David is a new record deal, international tour dates in addition to his extensive schedule in the United States, and continued attention to his passion and avocation – David owns several thoroughbred horses that race at tracks throughout the country. Hide