The Partridge Family was a fictional musical family that gained popularity in the early 1970s through a television series of the same name. The show aired from 1970 to 1974 and featured a family band led by the widowed mother, Shirley Partridge, played by Shirley Jones.
In the context of the television show, the characters were portrayed as musicians who sang and played instruments, forming a band that traveled in their iconic multi-coloured school bus. While the actors on the show did portray their characters playing musical instruments and singing, not all of them were accomplished musicians in real life.
Shirley Jones, who played the role of the mother and band manager, Shirley Partridge, was an exception. Jones was an accomplished singer and had a background in musical theatre. She had won an Academy Award for her performance in the film "Elmer Gantry" before taking on the role in The Partridge Family. Therefore, when she sang on the show, it was her actual voice.
David Cassidy, who played the eldest son, Keith Partridge, was another exception. Cassidy not only portrayed the lead vocalist of the family band, but he also had a successful solo career as a singer during and after the show. His pop idol status was solidified by hits like "I Think I Love You."
The other actors, including Susan Dey, Danny Bonaduce, Suzanne Crough, and Brian Forster, were not experienced musicians before the show. However, they were trained to mimic playing their respective instruments for the on-screen performances. Music for the show was primarily recorded by a group of studio musicians known as The Wrecking Crew.
So, while The Partridge Family characters were depicted as a musical family, with some of the cast members having genuine musical talents, the reality was a mix of both professional musicians and actors learning to play their roles convincingly on screen.
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