LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess — Former teen idol and singer-songwriter David Cassidy has announced that he plans to retire from touring as a musician to focus on his health while he battles dementia.
Cassidy's publicist, Jo-Ann Geffen, confirmed to ABC that Cassidy, 66, has been diagnosed with dementia and he recently discussed his battle with the degenerative brain condition with People Magazine.
"I was in denial, but a part of me always knew this was coming," Cassidy told People magazine in an interview.
"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," he added.
The revelations about Cassidy's health come after a rocky performance on near Los Angeles on Saturday night. According to TMZ.com, Cassidy appeared inebriated during the performance, slurring his speech and forgetting lyrics. He has previously battled alcoholism and did a stint in a rehab clinic in 2014.
Cassidy had previously announced that he was planning to retire after 2017, following a year of touring.
Cassidy is perhaps best known for his role as Keith Partridge in the popular musical family sitcom The Patridge Family. He also had a long career as a pop artist, recording twelve studio albums, three live albums, six compilation albums, two soundtrack albums, and twenty-four singles.
"I will always be eternally grateful for the love and support you’ve shown me. I still love very much to play and perform live. But it’s much more difficult for me now," Cassidy wrote in a post on his website. "I’m not going to vanish or disappear forever." – Staff Writers
