Former teen idol Shaun Cassidy had to relearn his own hits for first major tour in 45 years

Former teen idol Shaun Cassidy is embarking on his first major tour in years The -year-old son of Oscar-winning actress Shirley Jones and the late Tony Award-winning actor Jack Cassidy rose to fame in the mid-to-late s as a pop star after following in the footsteps of his late half brother David Cassidy At the same time Cassidy also unveiled success as an actor starring as Joe Hardy in the hit ABC series The Hardy Boys Nancy Drew Mysteries However he stepped back from the spotlight decades ago to focus on a career behind the scenes as a television writer and producer Now Cassidy is returning to the populace eye as he launches his first arena tour since DAVID CASSIDY'S BROTHER SAYS IT WAS TERRIBLY HARD WATCHING PARTRIDGE FAMILY STAR BATTLE ALCOHOLISM During an interview with People magazine Cassidy revealed that he has been brushing up on his guitar skills and relearning his own hits as he prepares to hit the road once again I literally had to take guitar lessons I hadn't played guitar in so long he mentioned I had to relearn songs I had written I didn't know how to play them For his upcoming tour Cassidy informed the outlet that he is taking the fresh challenge of playing bass instead of guitar He also shared that his old songs feel new to him after his decadeslong hiatus from performing Because I haven't been trilling them for years they're not dead to me They feel new and I'm only caroling the songs I really liked back then that feel appropriate to me melodizing now Cassidy stated I can sing better than I sang when I was because I haven't been trilling I think I didn't burn my voice out for years Cassidy's -city The Road to Us Tour the longest of his career will kick off Sept at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville Tennessee The singer explained People that the tour will span his full career featuring classic hits new music and personal stories The setlist will include Cassidy's cover of Da Doo Ron Ron originally a song by the girl group The Crystals Da Doo Ron Ron was the first single circulated from Cassidy's self-titled debut album in The song became Cassidy's first major hit topping the Billboard Hot chart and helping him earn a Grammy Award nomination for best new artist However Cassidy communicated People that Da Doo Ron Ron wasn't his choice for the single that would launch his music career LIKE WHAT YOU RE READING CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS I liked the song It was my idea to record it Cassidy disclosed But that wasn't the song I wished to be the first single off my album he continued I didn't get a vote and I guess they were right It went to No It was a big record but there were like three or four other songs I would've preferred or chosen And by the way that's been the circumstance with every record I ve made Despite being raised in a show business family Cassidy admitted that he was never really at ease in the limelight during his time as a teen heartthrob I've never enjoyed being a society figure I don't like all the attention I'm basically an introvert I don't really like being famous he notified People But the only thing more ridiculous than being famous is being formerly famous because you're still famous but a lot of people don't necessarily know why anymore And if it were up to me I'd prefer neither of those things CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER For years I was like I don't want to tour because I'll just be trying to replicate specific version of myself at which I unfailingly thought would be embarrassing and why try Cassidy noted But I discovered and the audience informed me this that I didn't need to do that because I had truly all these other cards I could play he added Now I'm a storyteller By the mid- s Cassidy had shifted almost perfectly to behind the scenes in Hollywood For the past meager decades he has worked as a television writer and producer launching shows including American Gothic Roar and New Amsterdam While speaking with People Cassidy acknowledged that the trajectory of his career was atypical CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP It's a weird r sum he mentioned I don't know anybody else that plays the Houston Astrodome for people says Goodnight and see you soon and then doesn't show up again for years but that's kind of what I did I think I'm the luckiest person in the world that I can do that Cassidy added