And that’s exactly what happened.
Cassidy became the face of a new generation of teen entertainment.
## From Television Star to Teen Idol
Cassidy’s popularity exploded.
Teenagers bought magazines featuring his photograph and collected posters of him. His image became almost impossible to escape if you were a young fan of popular entertainment in the early 1970s.
His popularity wasn’t limited to the United States, either. He developed a huge international following, becoming one of the most recognizable young entertainers of the era.
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The distinction between David Cassidy and Keith Partridge also became increasingly complicated.
For many fans, the two identities seemed inseparable. Cassidy was playing a fictional character on television, but audiences began to view him as the real-life embodiment of the charming young singer they saw every week.
This is one of the defining features of teen-idol culture: audiences can develop powerful emotional connections with performers they regularly see on television or hear on the radio.
Cassidy experienced that phenomenon on an extraordinary scale.
## The Music Was Just as Important
Although _The Partridge Family_ was fictional, the music associated with the series became a genuine commercial success.
The group released hit recordings, and Cassidy contributed vocals to many of the recordings associated with the show’s musical identity.
Songs such as **“I Think I Love You”** became major hits.
The success created an unusual situation. Cassidy was simultaneously a television actor and a recording artist, and fans wanted to see him perform live.
Concerts followed.
What had begun as a television role had developed into a full-scale music career.
## The Reality of Cassidy’s Concert Fame
Cassidy’s popularity became particularly dramatic when he began performing for large audiences.
Thousands of fans would gather to see him perform. His concerts demonstrated just how enormous his following had become.
But fame at that level came with a cost.
Cassidy later spoke openly about the pressure associated with being a teen idol. He was expected to maintain a particular public image, satisfy enormous audiences, and constantly perform.
The public wanted the cheerful, attractive, approachable Keith Partridge.
Cassidy, meanwhile, was a real person growing older and developing his own artistic ambitions.
The difference between those two things would become increasingly important.
## David Cassidy Wanted to Be Taken Seriously
One of Cassidy’s greatest challenges was escaping the image that had made him famous.
Being a teen idol can be a double-edged sword.
On one hand, it provides extraordinary opportunities. On the other, the public may continue to associate a performer with the character or image that originally made them famous.
