From television to recording and record breaking concert tours, from Broadway to Las Vegas production shows, television sitcom creation and producing, writing and directing both television and live theatrical productions, David Cassidy has made his mark and been lauded accordingly. Hailing from a theatrical family including mother Evelyn Ward, highly respected stage and television star Jack Cassidy, and Academy Award winning stepmother Shirley Jones, his fate as a performer was essentially seeded at a young age. It was by coincidence that he wound up starring with Shirley Jones in the astonishing success "The Partridge Family," which launched one of the most spectacular careers in the entertainment business.
In 1970, the year the show premiered, David skyrocketed to the top of the charts and the show became a phenomenon, as did its young star. He 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. He broke box office records 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. To date, his records have sold over 35 million copies worldwide and have been recognized with eighteen gold and platinum recordings including four consecutive multi-platinum LP's. David was responsible for numerous 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," "Cherish," and "Rock Me Baby," to name a few. He continued to act, earning an Emmy nomination as Best Dramatic Actor for the telefilm "A Chance to Live," the highest rated "Police Story" in its seven year history.
And then came his introduction on Broadway, which opened a whole new world for him. He starred in the original production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" to rave reviews and successful box office response. On London's prestigious West End, he starred in "Time" with Sir Laurence Olivier, and in 1994 he once again broke box office records in the stunning production of "Blood Brothers," which sold out throughout the United States and Canada.
In 1996, David opened at the MGM Grand in the $75 million extravaganza "EFX." Under David's creative direction the show was entirely re-vamped, and 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.
In 1999 David partnered with award winning writer-producer Don Reo to create "The Rat Pack Is Back!" which played to sold-out audiences at Las VegasÕ legendary Desert Inn and then at the Sahara Hotel & Casino, receiving both critical and popular acclaim.
Simultaneously David and Don Reo wrote and produced "At the Copa" in which he starred the following year at the Rio. The show 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.
After a 15 year absence, he then returned to concert stages across the country and the world. "I've never gone out and changed my style to suit the times. I have always stayed true to myself by trying to sing and write about the human experience." That honesty is naturally compelling and, in general, it's what people want to see. ÒBringing that human element to my work is the most important thing I can do as both a producer and 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." Their song "Message to the World" was donated to help the children in Kosovo, and led to Sue's formation of KidsCharities.org, in which David played a very active role. David and Sue have a 14 year old son, Beau.
As if that weren't enough, David breeds and races thoroughbred horses, a passion he has had since his youth.
