Cassidy traveled to South Africa in 1980 with the rock band Blood,  Sweat and Tears (BS&T) and was subsequently offered a job writing music for film in Cape Town. Initially intending to stay for a year, he made his home there for the next 23 years, immersed in the local culture and the African music scene.

 

While in South Africa, Cassidy  composed music for feature films, documentaries and TV specials, and arranged music and produced recordings for many local artists, including Columbia recording diva Sibongile Khumalo, Vusi Mahlasela, The Soweto String Quartet, gospel singer Rebecca Malope and many others.

 

Upon returning to his native Canada in 2003, Cassidy worked for five years as musical director with BS&T songwriting and singing giant David Clayton-Thomas. He now concentrates on his own African-influenced musical projects.