THE PICTURE Whenever I have a problem I rush to my room. There I find you waiting To take away my gloom. I tell you why I’m crying What is on my mind. You never think I’m silly You’re much too sweet and kind. Your eyes seem to listen In such a gentle way. As they look right at me The problems fade away. Your sweet smile reassures me DAVID CASSIDY As though you’ve always known. I’m just a lonely girl A LEGACY OF LOVE Who feels so all alone. Though it’s just your picture I’m telling my problems to. I want to thank you David For all the good you do. I know what your picture tells me Is what you’d really say. That is why I love you In a very special way. By Ruth Poulding New Zealand, 12/4/73 Edited by Louise Poynton I could have been used – I could have been a product they designed – they would have liked to, but didn’t. I couldn’t have lived like a puppet. I am not manipulated and I run my affairs. I have to work so many hours a day and that’s a form of manipulation, but nobody says do this, wear that, don’t say this kid….I’m well beyond that. Record Mirror, February 1972 2 CHERISH CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 6 TRIBUTES 10 DARLIN’ DAVID 16 MAGIC MOMENTS 110 TOUCHING LIVES 146 THE DAVID EFFECT 174 LOVE AND LIGHT 198 WE REMEMBER SUMMER DAYS 208 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 254 PICTURE CREDITS 255 Front cover: Photo: Henry Diltz/Getty Images Previous page: Henry Diltz This page: Photo: Barry Plummer 4 CHERISH CONTENTS 5 INTRODUCTION Partridge Family, I Think I Love You, remains was no room, my deepest thanks to all of you. the purest pop song but no one would ever To everyone who has shared their memories, have guessed the laser beam trajectory of including David’s friends who worked with avid Cassidy was a massive part of the David announced he was stopping touring. his career, creating a pop phenomenon. him on tour, in the recording studio or in the 1970s, musically, culturally and emotionally. I was overwhelmed at the response which A young man of devastating physical attraction theatre, and everyone who has spoken with DThere was something in his voice, looks turned into a tsunami of love when he died. with that quintessential feathered haircut, David’s huge respect for him, thank you for being and smile. He was so effortlessly a star, a man Reading these deeply personal stories has been looks may have tended to overshadow his so generous with your time and tributes. who captivated a generation, inspired and in a huge privilege. Visiting many fans to hear achievements as David Cassidy, of which he And thank you, David Cassidy. May your many ways, changed everything. His voice was their memories and look through memorabilia seemed most proud. Branching out as a solo legacy shine a light over the world forever. a vocal masterpiece with an unmistakable silky together has been an emotional journey. performer, giving concerts almost every weekend, breathy tone that could drip with emotion. These are the fans’ memories which express live on stage in the 1970s he was a pure rock Louise Poynton, United Kingdom David remains undisputedly one of the succinctly how we felt and what he gave us. star, darn good. And he knew it. David’s solo greatest male vocalists of all time. He David lives and breathes across every page work, and especially in the late 1970s, remain looked beautifully angelic and had a with heartfelt emotions in whole epochs. The some of his most acclaimed work. He continues love affair with the camera which caught stories are uplifting, heart-warming and thought- to arouse curiosity and command attention. It forever his ethereal beauty, portraying a provoking. A tribute to, and representation of, would be interesting to discover what substantial man who was simultaneously vulnerable, his superstardom, all the lives he touched and unreleased back catalogue is yet to be heard. provocative, lustrous and yet palpably real. how the reverberations of as little as a moment David reinvented David gave more to the 1970s generation in his presence have been felt for a lifetime. himself over the years, of teenagers than can ever be measured. He I was moved to tears reading the unbearable appearing in the theatre, helped many pre-teens and teenagers nd their sorrow some went through as teenagers and on television and in lms own identities, uncovering a depth of emotional how David, often unknowingly, helped them to considerable acclaim. feeling, unlocking a sense of belonging, of cope with life, not just then but many years He was still singing his discovery. He was our rst real exposure to later. At times I laughed out loud at some of the songs to adoring fans until music, to live concerts, to loving someone. more amusing memories. I have been deeply eight months before his There is something about that connection with moved by the honesty everyone has displayed death. We were regularly our childhood that stays as the years pass. in opening their hearts about David and their told he was haunted The stories shared here are a beautiful homage own lives. Some have expressed their feelings in by his demons, but that to him remembering the way he made people beautiful poetry. He taught us more throughout never stopped fans from feel, and how his music as a recording artist his life than he could ever have imagined. He caring over the decades. and performer was the catalyst for change. He often spoke about spreading love and light. His health in later years took us to a magical place and belonged to us. There was a considerable amount of love that was affected by his He was always there, like a subterranean river. radiated from and around David during his life, long battle with alcohol As many admit in these compelling memories, and that will continue forever, proving there is dependency. David they would never have made it without him. I no greater legacy than to love and be loved. died of organ failure on can’t remember a time in my life, just like millions With powerful performances in popular November 21, 2017. of others, when I wasn’t in love with him. television episodes including Marcus Welby He was 67. A wave of At the height of his fame David was the MD, Ironside, FBI and Bonanza, David looked inescapable sadness most popular person on the planet, the highest poised for a powerful acting career. He swept over me. David paid performer with the biggest fan club. His auditioned for a new wholesome television sitcom Cassidy mattered. Very worldwide concerts sold out creating scenes based around a widowed mother and her ve much. The outpouring of reminiscent of the heyday of The Beatles. His children. Cast in The Partridge Family as the grief around the world entire persona came at a critical time in many eldest son, it was a role which projected him was like mopping up the lives, his music more so, inspiring men and into the stratosphere as a teenager’s dream. ocean with a sponge. women to become musicians, songwriters, Taken on as an actor, when it was discovered This book is dedicated actors, and be better people. To someone, he could sing, he took over the lead vocals on to everyone who so somewhere, he was a very signicant inuence. The Partridge Family songs. He often lamented generously shared These are just some reasons why this book that the role of Keith Partridge, with which their stories. To those of cherished memories is so important. I rst he was so closely associated, robbed him of whose memories do not Photo: Ed Caraeff/Iconic asked fans why he has meant so much before his own identity. His rst recording with The appear because there Images 6 CHERISH INTRODUCTION 7 David wows the crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, March 10, 1974. Photo © Scott Hicks 8 CHERISH DARLIN’ DAVID 9 tributes RICHIE FURAY Founding member of Buffalo we never spoke about doing something together. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat David ran in the line of Frank Sinatra, Elvis in New York in 1983, but it was a fleeting Springfield, Poco and the Presley and Ricky Nelson. You can be made to encounter. It left an emptiness in me. Souther-Hillman-Furay band a certain degree but past that you got to have Once our relationship drifted, we didn’t see something of substance. And David had the or talk to each other – we moved to Colorado David and I would sit talking, laughing and substance. His talent is what carried him – you and he was living in California – but I could just crying together in his house. With him I was a could see it. He was an actor, a musician, a singer, sense there was still a struggle going on as if he trusted friend, I wasn’t someone he needed to a good-looking kid, but someone other people was asking himself: did I ever accomplish what ask: what do you want from me? I would go over could identify with. Here he was on a television I felt I wanted to in my life? I don’t know that to his house, hang out, we would jam and there show at a time when people wanted to be in a rock satisfaction ever became a reality in his life.