Booking The Great Gig In The Sky – A Fond Farewell To Reuben Kincaid – RIP Dave Madden

I was very saddened to hear about the passing of Dave Madden yesterday. Most people who are familiar with Dave Madden remember him best as the stressed out and lovable manager of The Partridge Family, a television series about a !ctitious Pop Group starring David Cassidy and Shirley Jones which ran from 1970-1974. Through all of the days of my youth, the music of David Cassidy and The Partridge Family were an enormous and moving in"uence on me, my music and my spirit. They were in fact, a very large part of why I chose my career as a musician. Those who are very familiar with my life and my original music are aware of the enormous amount of real estate the music of David Cassidy and The Partridge Family hold in my heart. For various reasons I have been badgered about this by many people for my entire adult life. In response, I wish it to be known that I am of the mindset that sometimes real talent gets a stereotypical bad rap for all the wrong reasons. More often than not artists in this situation are never given the respect they are due. I have always felt that way about David Cassidy.

As for Dave Madden, his character of Reuben Kincaid and the relationship he shared with Danny Partridge ( played by Danny Bonoduce ) was a very large part of the comedic humor of the show. He was a !ne actor, a kind and good man, and a wonderful comedian. He might not have been the best !ctitious agent in the world, but he was warm, loving and hilarious. It is funny to think back on my childhood when I used to watch The Partridge Family and believe that what Reuben and The Partridge Family went through was how show business really worked. Today, after being in the business for 30 years, what a joyous and jaded laugh I get out of that. I occasionally scratch my head in disbelief when I realize how long ago that was. My how life, society, culture, innocence, youth, the world and music have changed since 1970 was a new year.

I am constantly reminded by my girlfriend on how I spend too much time looking back and that I should only look forward. I know she is right, but on days like today I !nd myself thinking back with concentration and energy. What I would not give to go back to those times – if only for a day – a good day. A day where music, youth, innocence and hope !lled my world; where days of wonder and imagination would always leave a huge smile on my face and a strong dream in my heart. A good bit of my youth went with Dave yesterday. He was the !rst Partridge to leave us. Come on Get Happy? No, not today...in time. That vacant seat on the bus looks pretty lonely....My condolences to the Madden family, Danny Bonaduce, David Cassidy and Shirley Jones.

Jeff Pike