In conversation with compilations producer, Mike Ragogna

<p>Mike Ragogna admits he would never have had a music career had it not been for David Cassidy.</p> <p>A young obsession with The Partridge Family and especially the music, led to him pursuing a career as a singer-songwriter working with producers Terry Cashman and Tommy West. A number of their songs appear on The Partridge Family catalogue.</p> <p>Born in New York, Mike’s impressive and varied resume includes working for record labels EMI, Universal, BMG and Razor & Tie producing compilations and reissues for hundreds of artists.</p> <p>As compilations producer at Razor & Tie who reissued The Partridge Family albums on CD, he assembled a David Cassidy collection of his RCA material in 1996, and takes us through the process. He explains:</p> <ul> <li>The music publishing concept</li> <li>Examines the prejudice behind David’s desire to be accepted as a serious musician</li> <li>Makes a passionate plea explaining the importance of why David’s unreleased back catalogue must be put out in a deluxe boxset</li> <li>Why he considers Sound Magazine one of the greatest pop albums of all time</li> <li>Offers an analysis of David’s RCA albums The Higher They Climb, Home Is Where The Heart Is, Gettin’ It In The Street</li> <li>The genius of lyricist Tony Romeo</li> <li>Recalls his career as a recording artist with The Almost Brothers</li> <li>Relives the first time he heard How Can I Be Sure</li> <li>With great humour, recollects a moment, not knowing how to break the ice when meeting David Cassidy and Donny Osmond in a bathroom</li> </ul> <p>Mike’s original songs have featured in various projects including The Roar soundtrack and a Spider-Man release.</p> <p>He has acted in productions of Hair, South Pacific, Annie and Big River. He featured in a Bruce Springsteen tribute, performed as Bobby Darin in a movie music retrospective, co-produced and added background vocals to the Midwest indie group Control’s debut CD.</p> <p>More details of how David inspired Mike’s career can be found in my book, Cherish David Cassidy A Legac