Biography

Cassidy got her start in the music business as the lead singer, and main songwriter for a New York based rock band.  Known for their grass-roots indie ethic and non-stop touring schedule they released four independent albums between 2000 and 2004.

In 2005, then president of Lava/Atlantic Records heard a song Cassidy had written called “Better”.  Based on this discovery he attended a single show in Hoboken NJ, after which he immediately entered the dressing room and offered the road warriors a major label record deal.

This soon led to a partnership with mammoth coffee chain Starbucks and Cassidy’s former band became the first artist in the company’s “Hear Music” series.  The album, which was recorded in front of a live studio audience at the famed Sony Studios in NYC, debuted on Billboard’s top 100 comprehensive chart at #92 and went on to sell upwards of 15,000 copies a week through the summer of 2005.  Reportedly showing the highest sales for any artist within the entire Warner Music Group during those weeks. It has sold over 500,000 copies to date.

Cassidy has toured with The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Rob Thomas, The Dead, Jackson Browne, Lucinda Williams, The Allman’s, Joe Jackson, Perry Ferrel, Macy Gray, and Norah Jones.  As well as performed at prestigious festivals such as Bonaroo and South By Southwest, where veteran Rolling Stone Magazine rock journalist David Fricke wrote, “…the big rock show of the festival…(featured) country gospel harmonies….and a Janis Joplin-esque vocal dynamo named Cassidy.”   The Chicago Sun Times reported, “Opening for The Rolling Stones….Cassidy took the stage as if she was born there.”

In 2006, she gained national exposure in a print and television campaign for designer clothing company 7 Jeans.  Cassidy appeared in commercials and all Conde-Nast publications for 6 months, including Cosmo, Elle, and Vanity Fair. She enjoyed sponsorships with Mustang and Motorola and in 2006 appeared in Rolling Stone Magazine’s “Year in Rock Calendar.”

VH1 aired a half-hour special featuring the band from its humble beginnings to its steady rise.  CMT, Nashville’s #1 music video channel also embraced them, playing the video of their single on heavy rotation and featured them in various programs and on their website.  Cassidy can also be seen on many of VH1’s “I Love…” series, as well as VH1’s “Bad Girl’s” special and was a guest on The Tonight Show, The Today Show, A&E’s “Breakfast With The Arts”, local morning programs and radio stations across the U.S.

Cassidy has written songs with such legendary and Grammy winning songwriters as Rob Thomas (Matchbox Twenty, Santana), Annie Roboff and Beth Nielson Chapman (Faith Hill), Darrell Scott (Dixie Chicks).  She has been invited several times by the NFL to sing the national anthem at NY Giants Stadium and the Philadelphia Eagles Veterans Stadium and also can be heard on multiple tracks on Rob Thomas #1 solo album Something to Be including the title track “Something to Be”, the hit single “This is How a Heart Breaks,” and “My My My.”

In 2008 Cassidy decided to pursue outside projects.  In the months following she began writing freelance for various New York City based lifestyle magazines and has multiple published articles to date focused on travel, dining, and nightlife.  She has also launched her own magazine TheBeerSessions.com with her brother Eugene and life-partner Andrew.  The Beer Sessions is a guide to the burgeoning world of craft beers and breweries where Cassidy is co-editor-in-chief, contributing writer, and is featured in videos.

In July of 2009 Cassidy filmed a national ad campaign for THE GAP “Born To Fit” in conjunction with Andrew Zuckerman’s WISDOM PROJECT. “Inspired by the idea that one of the greatest gifts one generation can pass down to another is the wisdom it has gained from experience. Produced with cooperation from Archbishop Desmond Tutu THE WISDOM PROJECT seeks to create a record of a multi-cultural group of people who have all made their mark on the world.”  Some participants of WISDOM PROJECT include, Clint Eastwood, Robert Redford, Madeline Albright, Willie Nelson, Buzz Aldrin, just to name a few among an impressive group.  It is a documentary/interview style ad that began airing in August of 2009. Cassidy’s segment is called “Born To Empower.” Her partnership with Gap has lead to many exciting things, not to mention a closet full of great clothes!!

Perhaps the most exciting new chapter to Cassidy’s story is the music, playing solo acoustic for the first time in her career she has taken her music to new heights.  Some of the old favorite songs sound more organic and rhythm focused, while the new writing reveals a more seasoned Cassidy at the top of her game and ready to conquer the next phase of her climbing career.  Lyrically and vocally she is stronger than ever, most certainly the Cassidy we have come to know and love, but with experience and a sense of  self rarely seen in artists today.

The film titled The Skeptic (2008 Cannes Film Festival/2009 limited IFC theater release. Starring Zoe Saldana, and Tim Daly) presents Cassidy in her film-acting debut.  In addition she was commissioned by the director to write, produce, and perform the only song in this full-length feature.  The song is aptly titled “Proof”.

In 2010 expect more tour dates, a brand new album, and her one-woman show to hit the Manhattan stage.

 

*Cassidy is currently represented by William Morris/Endeavor, The Katz Company, and Boosey and Hawkes.