In an emotional farewell, David Cassidy took to the stage for the very last time in his hometown of Manhattan on Saturday night.
Cooing lucky attendees with hits from his over 40-year career, the former teen heartthrob pushed through arthritis and laryngitis, even asking the audience to help him through his 1970 debut single I Think I Love You.
His final show, held at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, was chosen carefully as the place to end his musical reign in a decision explained on his website.
“I’m overwhelmed with the loving, caring, supportive reaction to the fact I have the early stages of dementia. I want every single person who will ever read this, or hear this, to know that their love and care for me, and concern for me, means everything in the world.”
“I’ve chosen for 2017 to finish where I began, and where I was born, in the city of Manhattan, in New York, at BB Kings in just more than a few days. I intend to put the touring aspect of my life to rest.”
It was an emotional moment for the former alcoholic.
He went on: “I’m one of the more fortunate human beings, let alone actors, songwriters, singers, musicians, producers, creators in that I’ve had a lifetime of living my dreams. Without you all I would have very little. I am now a very, very, very heart-full rich man.”
The legend finished his poignant letter with a reassurance to fans that he will not simply disappear.
“No longer rich or wealthy but rich in spirit and heart and mind and love,” he shared.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and from the top of my head to my toes IOU a very significant debt for my happiness. Happy trails. I promise I won’t disappear.”
The star hugged his guitar fondly.
David, who rose to fame playing Keith Partridge on The Partridge Family, revealed his dementia diagnoses to People magazine last month.
“I was in denial, but a part of me always knew this was coming,” the seventies star explained to the publication.
Sadly, the memory loss illness runs in his family with both his grandfather and mother also suffering from it.
“In the end, the only way I knew she recognised me is with one single tear that would drop from her eye every time I walked into the room. I feared I would end up that way,” David recalled of his mum’s deterioration.
“As long as I have breath left in my body, I’m going to sing this song for the rest of my life,” David said at his last show.
Following the news of his condition, the singer revealed he will no longer be touring and will instead be focusing on his well-being.
“I want to focus on what I am, who I am and how I’ve been without any distractions. I want to love. I want to enjoy life.”
David’s health news came amidst a recent performance in Agoura Hills, California, where he forgot the lyrics to his hits.
In one cruel headline, gossip site TMZ went as far as labelling the incident as a “drunken performance.”
Our thoughts are with David and his family during this time.
The cast of The Partridge Family, including David on the far right, back in 1973.
