David Cassidy Set to Return to Suffolk Theater Sunday

RIVERHEAD, NY — Not even four months after he promised a crowd of adoring fans at the Suffolk Theater in Riverhead that he'd return, David Cassidy has kept his promise.

Back by popular demand, Cassidy will perform once again at the venue Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

Cassidy wowed the audience at his sold out show in April, with fans singing along to the songs they've cherished since they woke up in love with their idol in the 70s.

Waving handmade posters, pennants saved since 1972 when he played Madison Square Garden, 45 records and albums, the audience, largely women who've loved him for decades, payed homage to the man who was their first love, who created the music that became the soundtrack of their lives.

Women who are, today, school principals and elected officials, attorneys and songwriters, all shared a singular moment, exchanging stories and laughter, smiling at the memories and reveling in the magic of a night they were joyful to experience.

"David Cassidy is a place in time for me," Liza Coppola said. "Memories of my childhood are not all pleasant and David Cassidy and 'The Partridge Family' were my oasis. It was more than David, the handsome idol — although he was beautiful. He was a really good singer and I loved the music. When I was 13, I got my first guitar and have been playing since. What influences you at the that age can be very powerful."

Lisa Fox waited a lifetime to meet her idol halfway. "It took 40 years, but it finally happened," she said. "David Cassidy is a fresh reminder of what it means to have been a teenager in an innocent time. When Tiger Beat magazine was how we found out what his favorite color was. I had the lunch box, notebook binder and every record. He was my crush. My cousin Susan and I would spread out our Partridge Family bubble gum cards and smile. He is a huge part of my teenage years."

David Cassidy, taking the stage with a pure and engaging smile, shared deeply personal stories of his own. He discussed spending about two months on the East End during his childhood. When he paid tribute to longtime friend Davy Jones, who died just before the duo were slated to perform a show together, his eyes filled with tears. His dedication of "Daydream Believer" was magic.

The April concert showcased the sheer depth and dizzying range of David Cassidy's incredible talent — as well as his innate ability as a story teller who took the time to draw the crowd into the scrapbook of his life, infusing memories with honesty and humor. A story about how he rebelled about speaking the words in the middle of the song "Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted" sent laughter bubbling through the starstruck crowd.

While he delivered his familiar hits, including "I Woke Up in Love this Morning", "Come On Get Happy," and a heart-achingly poignant "Point Me in the Direction of Albuquerque," the star also captivated when he crooned standards and classics such as Cole Porter's "Night and Day," proving hands down that he's more, so much more, than a teen idol.

David Cassidy's a rare talent who continued to evolve masterfully over the years since he graced pop record album covers, and his April performance was a star turn, pure and simple, as he showcased the amazing range of his vocal gift.

When he honored B.B. King with the legend's R&B hit "Sweet Little Angel," his voice a soulful velvet, David Cassidy took his fans on a journey into the masterful performer he's evolved into, long after the teen idol days, eliciting a powerful, collective rush of unadulterated adoration in the captivated audience who hung breathless on every bluesy, sultry note.

Smiling and looking out into the screaming crowd, David Cassidy thanked the audience and said he'd be back — words that elicited a sigh of happiness from the many who've been counting the moments.

Closing the show with "I Think I Love You," a crowd of adoring fans headed to the stage, where David Cassidy took their hands and turned the microphone toward the audience, asking them to sing along. Together, they sang the words, lyrics as beloved and familiar as a first love.

Together, they sang a love song.

"I think I love you," the women rang out, in chorus.

Actually, so many said after the show, there was no "thinking" about it, with a similar refrain echoed time and time again: "David Cassidy, we know we love you."

Tickets are still available for Sunday's David Cassidy performance, which begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Suffolk Theater. For information and ticket sales, click here.