David News

DAVID WINS AT PIMLICO

Sweet Vendetta upsets Black-Eyed Susan

BALTIMORE – Sweet Vendetta, under Channing Hill, rallied past Shes All Eltish in deep stretch to win the Grade 2, $200,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes Friday May 16 at Pimlico.

Seattle Smooth finished third with Highest Class finishing fourth. Bsharpsonata, the 5-2 favorite, finished seventh in the eight-horse field.

Sweet Vendetta, a New York-bred daughter of Stephen Got Even, was making her first start since winning the Andover Way Stakes over a sloppy Aqueduct inner track in March. She is owned by entertainer David Cassidy and Team Penney Racing and trained by Gary Contessa.
Sweet Vendetta ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:49.60 and returned $17.40 to win.

When discussing a possible start in May for Sweet Vendetta, co-owner David Cassidy and trainer Gary Contessa at first thought small, examining the Bouwerie Stakes for New York-breds on May 4 at Belmont Park. But then Contessa convinced Cassidy to aim higher. On Friday at Pimlico Race Course, Cassidy probably wanted to tell Contessa, "I think I love you."

Winning owner and breeder David Cassidy said, "This is probably the best filly the mare (Sand Pirate) has had. Unfortunately I sold the mare, but I do own a half sister. With Sweet Vendetta I always believed she'd be a good three-year-old. And honestly, as a breeder, this is one of my greatest thrills."

Jockey Channing Hill said, "What a tremendous filly. She broke great. The race unfolded exactly the way I figured it was going to. I figured I was going to be a little more off the pace than I was in her previous race. I think she's enough filly to handle anything. It ranks up there. I was fortunate enough to win the Barbara Fritchie this year. This is equal to that."

Trainer Gary Contessa added, "I loved the 1 1/8 miles for her. She was training up a storm.

CLICK FOR David's interview on ESPN 5/16/08

Sweet Vendetta Wins Black-eyed Susan Race

'Remix' stitches Cassidy's songs in new patterns
Updated 3/1/2007 7:45 AM ET

By Brian Mansfield, Special for USA TODAY

The first time David Cassidy heard a finished track from David Cassidy: Part.II: The Remix, his reaction was nothing short of physical.
"I got chills," say Cassidy, 56. "My palms started sweating."
Watching the actor/singer who played Keith Partridge on The Partridge Family flush, remixer Craig J, who has worked on tracks by Kelly Clarkson and Madonna, started to worry.
"I'm doing that back and forth: 'He hates it, maybe he likes it,' " Craig recalls. "He doesn't open his eyes, but he starts singing along, and I'm like, he doesn't just like it. I think he loves this."
Remix features club versions of such Partridge Family songs as I Think I Love You and I Woke Up in Love This Morning, as well as some Cassidy solo hits. It's one of 15 titles in retailer Target's new Spotlight Music Series, launching this week.
Cassidy recorded his vocal tracks in the original keys and tempos before handing them off to Craig J. After that, most similarities between the new versions and the originals stopped.
There's hardly a harpsichord to be heard. Cherish gets a chill-out groove. I'll Meet You Halfway becomes a gospel/disco anthem.
"I changed tempos. I created harmonies out of some of the melodies that he sang. I did all sorts of stuff," Craig J says. Adds Cassidy: "It was like taking the material from an old suit, then ripping it up and putting it back every possible different way. Yeah, it's all the same material, but it doesn't look anything like the suit."
Says 180 Music founder Jim Brandmeier, whose label partnered with Target for the Spotlight releases, "Part of our philosophy is mixing something tried-and-true with something new."
The series also includes new albums from Kenny Loggins, Stephen Bishop and a compilation of performers from A.J. Croce to Salvador Santana singing songs made famous by their fathers. On New Music From an Old Friend, renowned producer Phil Ramone takes such singer/songwriters as Burt Bacharach and Brian Wilson into the studio to record old and new songs.
"We're taking some pretty legendary artists and putting them in a fresh setting," Brandmeier says.
When producing television shows or appearing on Broadway, Cassidy has gone stretches of several years without performing his Partridge hits, so he hasn't developed the distaste some teen heartthrobs get for the songs that made them famous. "I've done so much other work, I never got sick of them."

Posted 2/28/2007 10:13 PM ET
Updated 3/1/2007 7:45 AM ET

Timeless idol David Cassidy and producer-mixer Craig J (Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Gwen Stefani, Madonna, Kelly Clarkson) present club-rocking remixes of Partridge Family classics exclusively for the Spotlight Music Series exclusively at Target! These cutting-edge versions of "Come On Get Happy," "I Think I Love You" and "I Can Feel Your Heartbeat," among other gems, are a unique gift from the singer to his fans. "To do brand new dance versions of these iconic tunes was an amazing experience," says Cassidy. "It's so cool!"

"Hello world, here's a song that we're singin', come on, get happy!"

With this sunny refrain, the Partridge Family greeted a nation of devoted fans each week. Fronted by guitar-slinging teen idol David Cassidy, the velvet-clad clan conquered prime time and the pop charts.

That was then.....;this hard hitting dance CD is NOW!

Now Cassidy and producer-mixer Craig J (Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Gwen Stefani, Madonna, Cher, Rod Stewart, Kelly Clarkson) offer an unexpected, hip hoppin', high energy, made for the dance floor take on The Partridge Family's classic tunes--; supercharged wiith the latest infectious dance beats.

This high-energy dance mix, recorded exclusively for the Spotlight Music Series at Target, lives up to the Spotlight philosophy of delivering "Great Artists & Unexpected Music." David Cassidy puts his great artistry in an unexpected musical setting that is exciting, fresh & unique.

Cassidy recorded fresh vocals including club-rocking new versions of "Come On Get Happy," "I Think I Love You," "I'll Meet You Halfway," "I Woke Up In Love This Morning," "I Can Feel Your Heartbeat" and "Point Me In The Direction Of Albuquerque," among others.

The material and tracks are fantastic, and I'm excited to sing it in this fresh new setting. It feels better than ever, says Cassidy.

You'll know exactly how he feels as the passionate vocals, delicious tunes and high-energy grooves of these unstoppable remixes wash over you and keep you dancing! Come on, get happy--; resistance is futile.

Target to distribute exclusive series of music By Sue Zeidler
Thu Feb 1, 5:43 PM ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Target Corp on Thursday said it will release exclusive CDs by artists like Kenny Loggins and David Cassidy in the latest example of stars "of a certain age" bypassing music labels to partner directly with retailers.

Target on Thursday said it partnered with an independent start-up music label, 180 Music, to release 15 adult contemporary CDs in all 1,449 stores on February 25 for $9.99 each. Similar releases are set to follow, according to 180 Music founder and chief executive officer Jim Brandmeier.

Other store operators like Starbucks Corp have made a splash in the music business by releasing exclusive content under its Hear Music venture, while Wal-Mart Stores Inc. recently reached exclusive distribution deals with music icons like The Eagles and Garth Brooks.

Rock duo Hall & Oates also recently moved to release an independently-produced holiday CD exclusive to music retailer Trans World Entertainment Corp, which controls chains like Sam Goody and Strawberries Music.

"A lot of legendary adult artists have been ignored and the adult audience has been ignored as well, so we're going to put those two things together for artists to express themselves," Brandmeier said, adding that Target plans only to release the series in physical form and not make it available digitally.

Included in the first 15 CDs to be released at Target are new albums by Loggins and Cassidy as well as a Phil Ramone-produced CD with new songs by legends like Carole King, Brian Wilson, Burt Bacharach, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Richard Marx and others.

"Through 180 Music we are offering our guests Target exclusive one-of-a-kind albums that are sure to have something for everyone," said Darrell Tucker, vice president, Target.

Many of the major record labels have been struggling with an industrywide CD sales decline, forcing them to contract and slash many jobs in marketing and promotion. Various artists have also been dropped by labels as their sales have slowed to where the labels can no longer support them profitably.

While the growth of digital music sales on services like Apple Inc's iTunes has been the one industry bright spot, it still is not enough to offset the drop in physical CD sales. What's more, the Internet in certain ways has shifted the focus away from major labels, by making it easier for artists to sell directly to their fans without any middlemen.

For example, various artists have broken records on social networking sites like News Corp's MySpace.com.

Going with an independent label or a nontraditional distribution deal with a retailer can sometimes be more lucrative for an artist than a record deal, offering a chance to reap a bigger share of record sales than the standard $1 to $2 per album, industry experts said.

Brandmeier of 180 would not disclose terms of the artist deals, but said they were more flexible than standard label deals, which often require multiple album commitments.

"Artists get more freedom. It's a change from the regular business model. We don't want to tie people down," he said.

To be sure, many of the major labels are reexamining the way they do business to address changes in the marketplace, their relationship with artists and brands and retailers.

"For our survival and success, we need to get familiar with all the ancillary revenue streams," said David Ring, senior vice president business affairs and development for Vivendi's Universal Music Group, the No. 1 music company.

New Label Launches With Target Exclusives
February 02, 2007, 5:15 PM ET
Ed Christman, N.Y.
A new label is launching a branded music series by providing Target with a one-year exclusive to carry the line. The label, 180 Music, was initiated by CEO Jim Brandmeier, who formerly worked for Tambourine Inc., which is primarily a music licenser that provides lifestyle-oriented music to non-music-specialty retailers for in-store play and sale.

Springboarding off that background, Brandmeier's new label has formed a strategic alliance with the powerful Target chain in a promotion that will give the retailer a 15-title music series, priced at $9.99 each. Starting Feb. 25, the series will have its own end-caps in 1,450 Target stores.

The music line, dubbed the "Spotlight Music Series," aims for an adult demographic. It features such titles as Kenny Loggins' "How About Now," an album of new material; and a David Cassidy rerecording of Patridge Family songs given dance remixes by Craig J, who has worked with Kelly Clarkson and Madonna.

There's also a compilation produced by Phil Ramone, including such name artists and songwriters as Carole King, Brian Wilson, Burt Bacharach, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson, each contributing a brand-new song and remaking a hit song of their own. Those three titles, as well as an album of Brazilian-tinged songs by Stephen Bishop, are branded under "Spotlight Features."

Another series, "Spotlight Influences," has acts like Sarah McLachlan, the Dave Matthews Band, Avril Lavigne and Josh Stone each compiling an album of songs that have influenced them, with liner notes by each act explaining why they included the songs.

Finally, "Spotlight Red Mix" comprises themed compilations like "Nashville Now," "Woman of Song" and "Contemporary Crooners," all including licensed hit tracks.

David & Beau sang NATIONAL ANTHEM & TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME AT CUBS GAME ON AUG 1

Sleeping, one of David's Horses, won the First Race at Belmont Race Track on Father's Day.

'Partridge Family' star David Cassidy coming to Altoona

Former 'Partridge Family' star David Cassidy owns horse racing at Meadows.

By DAN JOHNSON

REGISTER STAFF WRITER

C'mon get happy, "Partridge Family" fans.

David Cassidy is coming to Prairie Meadows, but it will be his horse doing the performing.

Cassidy is co-owner of Mayan King, who will run in the July 1 Cornhusker Breeders' Cup, the marquee race of the track's stakes festival.

Trainer Gary Contessa said Mayan King is one of as many as four horses he will be sending from New York for the Iowa Festival of Racing, which consists of six stakes races worth at least $100,000 on June 30 and July 1. He said he and Cassidy will be arriving June 30 for the Cornhusker.

Cassidy, 56, forever Keith Partridge to some from the 1970s TV series, has gone from teen idol to nightclub singer and horse owner. He is a fixture in the New York breeding program, where he breeds eight to 10 horses a year. He remains a bigger celebrity than his horses.

"No matter where he goes, everybody wants to have a picture taken with him, everyone wants to meet him," Contessa said. "He's the consummate gentleman. He's happy to shake everybody's hand."

Mayan King, 4, is lightly raced because of injuries. He was on the Kentucky Derby trail after winning his first two career starts in 2005, but his year ended in March when he fractured a leg while racing.

He has returned to win two of three allowance races this year while getting speed figures equal to high-level stakes horses. He won a 1seconds, fast time for that track.

"He's ready to step up, and that's why he's coming for the Cornhusker," Contessa said. "It's a great spot for us. This is a horse that, as a 2-year-old, they turned down $1.8 million for him."

Cassidy bought Mayan King for $210,000 in a training auction in 2004. The colt dumped his rider before his workout and ran in the opposite direction, eventually crashing through a fence and running into the parking lot.

But while he was running, Contessa and Cassidy timed him in 1:09 to 1:10 for 6 furlongs, which is exceptionally fast for a 2-year-old.

"He was a horse I had to have," Cassidy said before last year's Lane's End Stakes. "I thought he'd bring between $3000,000 and $400,000. The day I bought him I thought he was a Derby horse."

Contessa could send up to four horses for the Iowa Festival of Racing.

No Sleep will run in the $125,000 Iowa Distaff Breeders' Cup. Magnolia Jackson is a possible starter for the $100,000 Saylorville Handicap for female sprinters.

Contessa said that either Forest Phantom or Harborage could come for the $250,000 Iowa Derby on June 30.

No Sleep and Forest Phantom are owned by Des Moines' Maggi Moss. Contessa has trained for Moss for years, but has met her only twice.

"She never comes to New York," Contessa said. "I actually 100 percent understand, she wants to see her horses run in Iowa. I'm part of a team, and that's what the whole Moss system is, a team system."