The Partridge Family premiered on ABC on Sept. 25, 1970, following a widowed mother and her five children as they formed a band. Inspired by the real-life Cowsills, the series made David Cassidy a teen idol and launched his solo music career.
Cassidy produced five albums during the show’s run. The cast was nominated for a 1971 Grammy Award for Best New Artist, and the series received Golden Globe nominations for Best TV Show – Musical/Comedy in 1971 and 1972. It ended after four seasons on March 23, 1974.
“I Think I Love You” reached the top of the charts two months after the premiere. Cassidy did not sing in the pilot; session singers handled the vocals until producers realized he could sing. Later, Cassidy and Shirley Jones were the only on-screen cast members who sang on the show’s songs.
