In the past I’ve written that I never know where an idea for a blog is going to come from. Suddenly, out of the blue, it’s just there.

Our entire family has been down for most of this week with a very unfriendly bug. That means my creative juices haven’t been flowing. The will to write has been nowhere near 100%. And yet I’ve wanted to do bang out some material and try to keep up the weekly commitments here like the oldie.

This week’s isn’t the most clever, the most researched. Hell, it’s not even one of the most interesting. So stay with me anyway.

When you’re sick and down for the count, two of your best friends quickly become the bed and a TV.  While the TV was on the Friday oldie jumped out at me during a 1988 episode of Matlock.

The subject of the oldie played the son of an organized crime leader. He hadn’t seen or spoken to his father for 10 years, hoping to once and for all distance himself and move on to a controversy-free life. But he was accused of murdering a Congressman who was investigating him and white collar crime. You’ll see our oldie in this clip. Do you recognize or remember him?

That’s Shaun Cassidy, the half brother of…

Shaun is also the son of Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy.

In 1977 “The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries” series premiered.

Shaun Cassidy starred with Parker Stevenson and Pamela Sue Martin played Nancy Drew.

While in high school Cassidy signed his first recording contract. Most of his songs were covers of oldies.

Ten years prior to guest starring in Matlock, Cassidy performed an original song on national television during a nostalgia craze in 1978. This legendary rocker (said with tongue in cheek) scored a #3 hit.

Again that went to #3. No, I’m not kidding.

Cassidy’s previous single, a remake of “Da Doo Ron Ron” made it all the way to #1.

A lengthy recording career just wasn’t in the cards for Cassidy. The whole teen idol deal lost its appeal, so Cassidy turned to acting, and eventually was very successful in creating, writing and producing several shows like “American Gothic.”