Clark’s agent
confirmed the news in a statement that the 82-year-old TV legend, who brought
rock and roll into the American living room, died of a massive heart attack this
morning.
Hi Kent,
Despite his massive success at like, everything, Dick
Clark had a real heart for radio, and a kind appreciation for radio people. He
did weekly radio right up until the stroke, I believe. I carried his AC Top 40
show in Fort Wayne back in 2003 and he cut custom drops "I'm Dick Clark and
you're listening to ... " for every one of our personalities. A big star does
not have to do that. Dick did.
In 1995 he did a live interview with me when I was doing mornings in Columbus and he was launching a restaurant chain there. He was touting the restaurant opening and a marvelous family act of three young brothers. I cannot for the life of me remember their names. They were amazingly talented, yet defied format classification, but Dick simply believed in them, so it was them in studio and Dick on the phone.
I recall calling the restaurant and telling the girl there that I was Fabian. It was a good old fashioned, good natured prank that Dick loved so much. A great show, and great fun. I felt as if I'd been anointed by the radio gods. I still have my custom Dick Clark drop somewhere. Someday I'll find it and smile.
Jim Shea
In 1995 he did a live interview with me when I was doing mornings in Columbus and he was launching a restaurant chain there. He was touting the restaurant opening and a marvelous family act of three young brothers. I cannot for the life of me remember their names. They were amazingly talented, yet defied format classification, but Dick simply believed in them, so it was them in studio and Dick on the phone.
I recall calling the restaurant and telling the girl there that I was Fabian. It was a good old fashioned, good natured prank that Dick loved so much. A great show, and great fun. I felt as if I'd been anointed by the radio gods. I still have my custom Dick Clark drop somewhere. Someday I'll find it and smile.
Jim Shea
Here's my Dick Clark story ...
We had just come offstage from jointly introducing
Jan & Dean in concert at the National Association of Broadcasters convention
in Anaheim, 1986. I was supposed to be wearing chinos and a Hawaiian shirt like
Dick, but United Airlines lost my luggage so I ended up wearing the same suit
and shirt and tie for two days!
Dick Bartley
I grew up looking forward to Saturdays and American Bandstand. I would always 'rate a record' and see how my scores compared to the kids on the show. In the 1990s, I got my nerve up to call Dick Clark's offices to see if he would talk to me on my radio show for a few minutes. I was amazed to learn that his personal secretary was from Wisconsin. After a nice conversation with her I was talking to the man himself! I was extremely nervous ... however, he made me feel at ease when he started asking me questions about radio, which he said was his first love. He called me by my first name several times during the interview which made it seem like he had known me for a long time. Even though it was a brief 15 minutes for him it was a major hi-lite in my small town career that I will never forget. He was a class act.
Phil Nee -
WRCO
I remember fondly the summer of 1957. I
lived in Lawrence, Ma, and my day consisted of playing baseball every morning
beginning at 9 am, breaking for lunch or what they called a tonic (pop or soda)
at noon and playing ball or swimming after lunch. Then we would go home, eat and
get in our Legion baseball uniforms and go play our game. But that summer had a
new addition! We would all gather (about 25 guys and girls) at 3:30 pm at
Maryann sometime - or - other's house because they had a 21 inch TV set and we
would watch American Bandstand for an hour and a half. What a great time I
had ... partly because of the girls ... but mostly because of the great
atmosphere created by Dick Clark and American Bandstand. Everyone picked out
their favorite girl or boy (mine was Justine -- yikes, was she hot and a little
older!). We'd also pick our favorite dancers (Pat Molitere and Harvey something)
and favorite couple (Kenny and Arlene). How do I remember such stuff? Because it
was so much a part of my 13th summer! Such wonderful memories.
I was fortunate to meet Dick Clark and
interview him in 1979. He was appearing as part of a lecture series at the
University of Rochester. He was to be on stage from 8 to 10 but the response was
so great that it didn't end until around 11:15. Then he thanked his hosts and
signed autographs. Jack Garner from the Democrat and Chronicle was to interview
him first at the auditorium location and then I was supposed to interview him at
the U of R studio. It was around midnight when Jack started his interview and I
figured mine was toast as his assistant had told me that Dick had a 6 am flight
out of Rochester. I hung around hoping to get a quick sound bite, but Dick,
against the wishes of his assistant, insisted on doing the interview. It was one
am when we began and he got into it and we did a 35 minute interview. He could
easily have brushed me off and I certainly would have understood if he had. It's
something I'll never forget as not all of my early heroes have been so nice. He
was certainly a part in many of our early years.
God bless Rock and Roll and Dick
Clark.
Danny Guilfoyle
PS -- I didn't hold back in my interview.
I asked him how he escaped the payola scandals and he said it was because he
didn't take money but paid money as part owner of record labels, which he was
ordered to divest.
Dick Clark and Dick Clark Productions gave me
American Bandstand archive footage Free of Charge to be included in my Philly
Pop Music documentary via the help of former Bandstand dancer Bunny Gibson.
Also Jeff James at Dick Clark Media Archives was very helpful with Bunny Gibson choosing the clips that included Dick and Bunny on American Bandstand that Jeff sent me for our documentary.
Dick also sent me a personal note via mail in support of our documentary.
Over the past few years we did communicate via email and he was very encouraging in regards to my efforts about the documentary I have been in production with, Philly pop Music, The Lost Pioneers.
Dick was a Pop Icon.
Back in the mid 60's I went to one of his shows on Steel Pier in Atlantic City featuring The Supremes plus Jan & Dean. Shook his hand and the artists right at the foot of the stage. Amazing days for Pop Music.
You can view clips of American Bandstand, Dick Clark and Bunny Gibson in our Promo Trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2OxUhwRWiU
May Dick rest in peace.
My condolences to his family and friends.
George Manney
http://phillypopmusic.com/
Also Jeff James at Dick Clark Media Archives was very helpful with Bunny Gibson choosing the clips that included Dick and Bunny on American Bandstand that Jeff sent me for our documentary.
Dick also sent me a personal note via mail in support of our documentary.
Over the past few years we did communicate via email and he was very encouraging in regards to my efforts about the documentary I have been in production with, Philly pop Music, The Lost Pioneers.
Dick was a Pop Icon.
Back in the mid 60's I went to one of his shows on Steel Pier in Atlantic City featuring The Supremes plus Jan & Dean. Shook his hand and the artists right at the foot of the stage. Amazing days for Pop Music.
You can view clips of American Bandstand, Dick Clark and Bunny Gibson in our Promo Trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2OxUhwRWiU
May Dick rest in peace.
My condolences to his family and friends.
George Manney
http://phillypopmusic.com/
Well Hello Kent, and GREETINGS from the banks of the
Colorado River in LAUGHLIN, NEVADA!
It’s been a long time (way TOO long, and, sorry) since I’ve submitted any news or information to FORGOTTEN HITS. But, upon learning of the death of television and music legend DICK CLARK, I decided it was, finally, time to chime in again with a cool little story about my own brief encounters with the immortal music man.
I never really got to know Dick Clark personally, but did go to a couple of parties hosted by him back “the day.” One in particular has a great story attached to it. It was 1978, and Dick owned a house on the beach in Malibu. It was at the eastern end of Malibu Cove Colony Drive (not to be confused with the infamous Malibu Colony, which is a few miles east on this stretch of the coast, where PCH runs east and west). My parents had a rented apartment in a beachfront complex just east of Malibu Cove in a tiny and secluded beachside neighborhood known as Latigo Cove adjacent to Pacific Coast Highway. (The nearby stretch of PCH has appeared in scores of movies and TV shows as a location that stars are driving on in Malibu coast.) My folks rarely used the apartment, and gave me a key to the place. I was in my mid-20’a then so, needless to say, I took advantage of the digs as often as I could.
At the time, I was co-producing THE SUNSET BOMBERS (a punk rock band with Doug Fieger as one of its members) and tons of radio and television commercials for CASABLANCA RECORDS and a couple of other major record labels. The infamous ARTIE WAYNE was representing me as a spot producer and selling my services to other major labels in L.A. Things were going pretty well for me back then, but it was also pretty crazy. One weekend Artie and I drove out to my parent’s Malibu apartment just to get away from all the madness of the band and the biz and my Hollywood digs (a very cool little house just off of the real street named Melrose Place).
I’m not sure of the exact date or even the month, but, to the best of my recollection, it was in the spring of 1978 (April or May). Artie and I arrived at the beach on a Friday afternoon and decided to take a walk on the beach with my cool dog, a white German Shepard named Lester. Dick Clark’s pad was just around the bend of Latigo Point. When we made the turn on to Malibu Cove Colony stretch of beach, we noticed there were lots of people hanging around on the beach adjacent to Dick’s house at the end of the road. As we got closer, it was obvious there was a big party going on. I told Artie that I believed that this was Dick Clark’s house, and I could see Artie’s mouth begin to water. We looked at each other and nodded. Let’s crash this thing! I sent the dog on his way (Lester was an incredible dog who fared very well on his own, could find his way home and never strayed.) Artie and I wandered up to the house and joined others on the beach that were going in and out of the house, then casually joined others and made our way up the stairs into the home.
It’s been a long time (way TOO long, and, sorry) since I’ve submitted any news or information to FORGOTTEN HITS. But, upon learning of the death of television and music legend DICK CLARK, I decided it was, finally, time to chime in again with a cool little story about my own brief encounters with the immortal music man.
I never really got to know Dick Clark personally, but did go to a couple of parties hosted by him back “the day.” One in particular has a great story attached to it. It was 1978, and Dick owned a house on the beach in Malibu. It was at the eastern end of Malibu Cove Colony Drive (not to be confused with the infamous Malibu Colony, which is a few miles east on this stretch of the coast, where PCH runs east and west). My parents had a rented apartment in a beachfront complex just east of Malibu Cove in a tiny and secluded beachside neighborhood known as Latigo Cove adjacent to Pacific Coast Highway. (The nearby stretch of PCH has appeared in scores of movies and TV shows as a location that stars are driving on in Malibu coast.) My folks rarely used the apartment, and gave me a key to the place. I was in my mid-20’a then so, needless to say, I took advantage of the digs as often as I could.
At the time, I was co-producing THE SUNSET BOMBERS (a punk rock band with Doug Fieger as one of its members) and tons of radio and television commercials for CASABLANCA RECORDS and a couple of other major record labels. The infamous ARTIE WAYNE was representing me as a spot producer and selling my services to other major labels in L.A. Things were going pretty well for me back then, but it was also pretty crazy. One weekend Artie and I drove out to my parent’s Malibu apartment just to get away from all the madness of the band and the biz and my Hollywood digs (a very cool little house just off of the real street named Melrose Place).
I’m not sure of the exact date or even the month, but, to the best of my recollection, it was in the spring of 1978 (April or May). Artie and I arrived at the beach on a Friday afternoon and decided to take a walk on the beach with my cool dog, a white German Shepard named Lester. Dick Clark’s pad was just around the bend of Latigo Point. When we made the turn on to Malibu Cove Colony stretch of beach, we noticed there were lots of people hanging around on the beach adjacent to Dick’s house at the end of the road. As we got closer, it was obvious there was a big party going on. I told Artie that I believed that this was Dick Clark’s house, and I could see Artie’s mouth begin to water. We looked at each other and nodded. Let’s crash this thing! I sent the dog on his way (Lester was an incredible dog who fared very well on his own, could find his way home and never strayed.) Artie and I wandered up to the house and joined others on the beach that were going in and out of the house, then casually joined others and made our way up the stairs into the home.
There were lots of people inside, drinking, laughing
and partying. We found a couple of drinks and grabbed them, so as to look like
we belonged. Within a couple of minutes we found ourselves standing right next
to Dick, who was holding court with a handful of his guests, laughing and
trading barbs.
Fortunately, it was an informal bash, so, as under-dressed as we were, we didn’t appear too out of place in our shorts and flip-flops! There were a few other musicians there, so we did kind of fit in. Artie, who, of course, knew just about anyone who was in the music business back then (and was a master at convincing folks that he knew THEM as well) stepped right up to Dick and confidently put his hand out.
“Dick!” Artie exclaimed. “Great to see you!” Dick looked confused and didn’t appear to recognize Artie (and probably was wondering if he was even invited to the party). Without missing a beat, Artie says his name, and then something (which I can’t remember, but I think it was about New York) to establish to Dick how he knew him. Dick’s look of bewilderment turned to a broad smile (as Artie had saved him from an embarrassing moment of not knowing who he was). Next thing you know, Artie is chatting it up with the living legend, mentioning many names of people in New York and Hollywood that they both knew. Then Artie introduces Dick to me, and I did my best to act worthy. Artie jumps in and tells Dick that I’m a hot-shot record-ad producer and that all the labels in town are scrambling to hire me to produce all their record album spots! Dick did his best to act impressed, while I, humbled by the presence of the almighty host of Bandstand and Rockin’ New Years Eve, fumbled for the right words to add to Artie’s glowing praise about my work. I think I said something like, “Oh, it’s not all that. I’m just a fledgling ad-man who happens to like music.” Dick laughed and said something like, “We need more guys like you in the business. Keep it up, kid!”
Artie, Dick and I chit-chatted for a few more brief minutes about the current music scene, the disco world (which was at its zenith then), Neil Bogart, Robert Stigwood, the movies and television. Then Artie mentions a few projects he was involved in and suggested that he and Dick get together for lunch! Dick seemed interested,and then graciously excused himself and wandered off to mingle with other party guests. In retrospect, it really was an amazing five minutes with one of the reigning rulers of the entertainment world, and Dick really did make us feel important for the brief time we spent with him.
After disengaging with Dick, Artie and I gave each other a quick high-five and then, safely ensconced in this cool soirée as “legitimate” guests, made the rounds ourselves, sampling the bountiful offerings of food and libations. We moved from one group to another, and Artie boldly introduced himself to dozens of other party guests as if he’d known them for years! I did my best to look and act cool myself, but, in reality, I was, for the most part, taking it all in, dumbfounded by the dumb luck of just being there.
We hung out at Dick’s bash for about an hour as the sun set, then exited down to the sand on the same stairs we climbed to get in. Walking on the beach back to the apartment, Artie and I shared a whole lotta’ laughs as we mused about what a great “party-crash” we had pulled of. But Artie was not nearly as impressed with it all as I was, telling me how easy this shit was. He said the key to successfully crashing an event was in looking like you totally belonged there from the get-go. It was advice I never forgot, and I have to admit, used it to wrangle my way in to many other parties and events in the years to come! (The technique worked especially well at Malibu parties, many of which spilled out onto the sand from beachfront homes, as Dick’s party did.)
Even when I was invited to an event, I remember hiding my invitation and still trying to “sneak in” without showing the invite, as I did with Artie. Those were the days, my friend!
I can’t recall whether Artie ever got his meeting with Dick Clark. But, the story doesn’t end there. Fast forward about six years later, to early 1984. Thanks, in part, to Artie’s very effective representation, my career was on the fast-track and I was able to afford to rent my own weekend beach apartment in Malibu. As fate would have it, I ended up renting an apartment in the very same complex where my parents had rented back in the 70’s. Dick Clark had sold his house in Malibu Cove Colony by then and moved to a bigger place close to Paradise Cove, a few miles west. Little did I realize, however, that I was destined to run into Mr. Clark once again, at another party miles away from Malibu beach.
It was December of !984. It had been a colossal year in L.A. and the whole music scene. MTV was in its second year. The Summer Olympics brought a magical aura to the city which lingered late into the fall. My own career was now at its peak, and I was producing an endless stream of record album ads. To coin the age-old phrase, life was good. One of my good friends at that time was an artist named Bobby Sheen (best known as the lead singer in Bob B Soxx and the Blue Jeans and background singer on lots of other Phil Spector productions in the 60’s and 70’s). Bobby, in turn, was good friends with Larry Klein (no relation to me) who was (and still is), a close confidant of Dick Clark and the lead producer for Dick Clark Productions.
Dick Clark’s American Music Awards show had become red-hot since it’s inception, and the 1984 show was just a week or so away. Another good friend, artist / songwriter DWIGHT TWILLEY was also having a very successful year himself (with a hit single and album on EMI-America Records). I had introduced Dwight to LES GARLAND at my home a few months before. Les was the program director of MTV back then and, thanks to the well-timed introduction, Dwight’s 1984 single, GIRLS, became a huge MTV video hit So, what does Dwight have to do with the story. Well, since he was at the peak of his popularity that same year, Dwight was asked to appear on one of the first MTV live concert shows. This, and all of his other media exposure, lead to Dwight being asked to appear as a presenter on the 1984 American Music Awards.
During this time, I was anxious to attend every “A-list” event I could, so I asked Dwight if he could get me tickets to the AMA telecast. Dwight told me that each presenter was only allocated a few tickets so he probably couldn’t get me any. The people I knew at the record labels I was working with similarly couldn’t come through, as the AMA’s were a red-hot event that year. Coincidentally, I ran into Bobby Sheen and mentioned how badly I wanted to go to the AMA’s. Bobby offered to call his friend Larry and see if he could get tickets for me. He actually came through, and managed to get me tickets to the telecast, along with tickets to the after-party and a VIP access pass. Dwight had told me that there was going to be a big pre-telecast party as well, but invites to this were very hard to come by and Dwight said he couldn’t get me on “the list” for this bash.
I was determined to do it all. Armed with tickets to the awards show and after party, I decided to be bold, and use the “crash technique” I had learned a few years earlier with Artie to get in. The party was at some swanky hotel ballroom (I can’t remember which one) and I showed up a bit late, when I knew people would be swarming to get inside. It didn’t take much to talk my way in. All I had to do is mention Larry Klein’s name and say that I was his brother, Joe! Okay, maybe not the coolest thing to do, but, what the hell, it’s just a party I am trying to crash! What harm will it do?
I flashed my ID and, VOILA, I was in! It was clear sailing from that point on. I soon ran into Larry Klein and introduced myself, using Bobby’s name as an ice-breaker with him. Then I mentioned that I was a pal with Dwight, one of the presenters. So, Larry warmed up quickly and we had a nice “shmooz” for a couple of minutes before moving on.
Less than five minutes later, wouldn’t you know it, I ended up face to face with Dick Clark! He had just finished talking with a small group of people when he turned around quickly and practically bumped into me. I remember how Artie had done it, so I just extended my arm and fearlessly introduced myself. Dick had that same perplexed “Do I Know You?” look on his face that he had when Artie introduced himself to Dick a few years before. But it quickly disappeared when I reminded Dick that I had met him at a party at his Malibu beach house about six years earlier, along with Artie Wayne. Amazingly, Dick remembered (or at least SAID he remembered) meeting me. He remarked about what a great party that was. He asked me how my career was going, and how Artie was doing. He said to say hello to Artie and then moved on.
This was the second and, sadly, the last time I ever encountered the great Dick Clark, but will always remember what a smooth and gracious man he was. A real pro of the highest degree.
I tried to initiate a relationship with Larry Klein, hoping to get some promo announcing or production work from Dick Clark Productions. We had a short chat at the party and we exchanged business cards. He told me to call him (no email or texts back in those days), which I did, and we actually set spoke and set up a meeting. Unfortunately for me, Larry canceled at the last minute and the meeting never got rescheduled. That’s show biz.
Meanwhile, back at the beach, a couple of years later I learned that my new neighbor in Malibu was none other than BRIAN WILSON, who was then under the care, and control, of Dr. Eugene Landy (which became the subject of much controversy in the late 80’s). The house Brian lived in was just down the little private road from my apartment in Latigo Cove, in between my place and Dick Clark’s former home. Every time I walked past Brian’s house, I thought about walking the same route with Artie and ending up at Dick Clark’s party. I never actually encountered Brian, but did spot him from a distance wandering on the beach in his bath robe a couple of times. It was having Brian as a Malibu neighbor that, in part, inspired me to write the song CHRISTMAS IN MALIBU in 1988. I recorded a cover of Wilson’s immortal SURFER GIRL with the same group in 1989, which was never released, but was featured on the Forgotten Hits blog a few years ago.
Sadly, my friend, the very talented Bobby Sheen, passed away himself back in November of 2000.
On the Dick Clark Productions company blog on the day of Mr. Clark’s passing, the company’s CEO, MARK SHAPIRO, wrote, “Dick Clark was an American institution. He was able to replicate the magic he brought to American Bandstand, not once but several times, through The Golden Globes, New Year’s Rockin’ Eve and thousands of hours of programming in almost every genre imaginable. He was the first of his kind — a pioneer, entrepreneur and creative visionary who bridged and cultivated the music scene with traditional show business. Dick Clark entertained and touched the lives of several generations. He is truly irreplaceable and will be greatly missed by the employees of our company and millions of fans worldwide."
It’s a cruel irony how the passing of those we so admire serve to conjure up so many cool memories, from so many, of the bygone days of “the business.” To be sure, the 60’s and 70’s were the golden years. The excesses of the 80’s, in their own ways, were memorable as well (despite the drawbacks resulting from all of the “sex, drugs and rock and roll.”) In a time where there were no digital cameras or smart phones to capture all the craziness as it occurred, memories are all we now have of those wild days. Way too many of those memories are hazy and clouded, but, on the flip-side, so many others are vivid ... and cherished.
I hope that the few memories I’ve shared here were enjoyable, and sparked many similar recollections with the class of FORGOTTEN HITS! Who could ask for a better tribute to a true industry giant that was DICK CLARK.
Moving to the present, there has been lots going on in Laughlin lately that should be of interest to the FH community, not the least of which is an appearance this weekend by the incomparable ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK! Many other great artists from the FORGOTTEN HITS era have appeared on the river in the last couple of years and many more are appearing in the weeks and months to come! Stay tuned and I’ll send a comprehensive update very soon!
Meanwhile, to all those we’ve lost, rock on forever and a heartfelt THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES that will NEVER be forgotten!
\\\Joe Klein\\\
www.NewMediaCreative.com
Fortunately, it was an informal bash, so, as under-dressed as we were, we didn’t appear too out of place in our shorts and flip-flops! There were a few other musicians there, so we did kind of fit in. Artie, who, of course, knew just about anyone who was in the music business back then (and was a master at convincing folks that he knew THEM as well) stepped right up to Dick and confidently put his hand out.
“Dick!” Artie exclaimed. “Great to see you!” Dick looked confused and didn’t appear to recognize Artie (and probably was wondering if he was even invited to the party). Without missing a beat, Artie says his name, and then something (which I can’t remember, but I think it was about New York) to establish to Dick how he knew him. Dick’s look of bewilderment turned to a broad smile (as Artie had saved him from an embarrassing moment of not knowing who he was). Next thing you know, Artie is chatting it up with the living legend, mentioning many names of people in New York and Hollywood that they both knew. Then Artie introduces Dick to me, and I did my best to act worthy. Artie jumps in and tells Dick that I’m a hot-shot record-ad producer and that all the labels in town are scrambling to hire me to produce all their record album spots! Dick did his best to act impressed, while I, humbled by the presence of the almighty host of Bandstand and Rockin’ New Years Eve, fumbled for the right words to add to Artie’s glowing praise about my work. I think I said something like, “Oh, it’s not all that. I’m just a fledgling ad-man who happens to like music.” Dick laughed and said something like, “We need more guys like you in the business. Keep it up, kid!”
Artie, Dick and I chit-chatted for a few more brief minutes about the current music scene, the disco world (which was at its zenith then), Neil Bogart, Robert Stigwood, the movies and television. Then Artie mentions a few projects he was involved in and suggested that he and Dick get together for lunch! Dick seemed interested,and then graciously excused himself and wandered off to mingle with other party guests. In retrospect, it really was an amazing five minutes with one of the reigning rulers of the entertainment world, and Dick really did make us feel important for the brief time we spent with him.
After disengaging with Dick, Artie and I gave each other a quick high-five and then, safely ensconced in this cool soirée as “legitimate” guests, made the rounds ourselves, sampling the bountiful offerings of food and libations. We moved from one group to another, and Artie boldly introduced himself to dozens of other party guests as if he’d known them for years! I did my best to look and act cool myself, but, in reality, I was, for the most part, taking it all in, dumbfounded by the dumb luck of just being there.
We hung out at Dick’s bash for about an hour as the sun set, then exited down to the sand on the same stairs we climbed to get in. Walking on the beach back to the apartment, Artie and I shared a whole lotta’ laughs as we mused about what a great “party-crash” we had pulled of. But Artie was not nearly as impressed with it all as I was, telling me how easy this shit was. He said the key to successfully crashing an event was in looking like you totally belonged there from the get-go. It was advice I never forgot, and I have to admit, used it to wrangle my way in to many other parties and events in the years to come! (The technique worked especially well at Malibu parties, many of which spilled out onto the sand from beachfront homes, as Dick’s party did.)
Even when I was invited to an event, I remember hiding my invitation and still trying to “sneak in” without showing the invite, as I did with Artie. Those were the days, my friend!
I can’t recall whether Artie ever got his meeting with Dick Clark. But, the story doesn’t end there. Fast forward about six years later, to early 1984. Thanks, in part, to Artie’s very effective representation, my career was on the fast-track and I was able to afford to rent my own weekend beach apartment in Malibu. As fate would have it, I ended up renting an apartment in the very same complex where my parents had rented back in the 70’s. Dick Clark had sold his house in Malibu Cove Colony by then and moved to a bigger place close to Paradise Cove, a few miles west. Little did I realize, however, that I was destined to run into Mr. Clark once again, at another party miles away from Malibu beach.
It was December of !984. It had been a colossal year in L.A. and the whole music scene. MTV was in its second year. The Summer Olympics brought a magical aura to the city which lingered late into the fall. My own career was now at its peak, and I was producing an endless stream of record album ads. To coin the age-old phrase, life was good. One of my good friends at that time was an artist named Bobby Sheen (best known as the lead singer in Bob B Soxx and the Blue Jeans and background singer on lots of other Phil Spector productions in the 60’s and 70’s). Bobby, in turn, was good friends with Larry Klein (no relation to me) who was (and still is), a close confidant of Dick Clark and the lead producer for Dick Clark Productions.
Dick Clark’s American Music Awards show had become red-hot since it’s inception, and the 1984 show was just a week or so away. Another good friend, artist / songwriter DWIGHT TWILLEY was also having a very successful year himself (with a hit single and album on EMI-America Records). I had introduced Dwight to LES GARLAND at my home a few months before. Les was the program director of MTV back then and, thanks to the well-timed introduction, Dwight’s 1984 single, GIRLS, became a huge MTV video hit So, what does Dwight have to do with the story. Well, since he was at the peak of his popularity that same year, Dwight was asked to appear on one of the first MTV live concert shows. This, and all of his other media exposure, lead to Dwight being asked to appear as a presenter on the 1984 American Music Awards.
During this time, I was anxious to attend every “A-list” event I could, so I asked Dwight if he could get me tickets to the AMA telecast. Dwight told me that each presenter was only allocated a few tickets so he probably couldn’t get me any. The people I knew at the record labels I was working with similarly couldn’t come through, as the AMA’s were a red-hot event that year. Coincidentally, I ran into Bobby Sheen and mentioned how badly I wanted to go to the AMA’s. Bobby offered to call his friend Larry and see if he could get tickets for me. He actually came through, and managed to get me tickets to the telecast, along with tickets to the after-party and a VIP access pass. Dwight had told me that there was going to be a big pre-telecast party as well, but invites to this were very hard to come by and Dwight said he couldn’t get me on “the list” for this bash.
I was determined to do it all. Armed with tickets to the awards show and after party, I decided to be bold, and use the “crash technique” I had learned a few years earlier with Artie to get in. The party was at some swanky hotel ballroom (I can’t remember which one) and I showed up a bit late, when I knew people would be swarming to get inside. It didn’t take much to talk my way in. All I had to do is mention Larry Klein’s name and say that I was his brother, Joe! Okay, maybe not the coolest thing to do, but, what the hell, it’s just a party I am trying to crash! What harm will it do?
I flashed my ID and, VOILA, I was in! It was clear sailing from that point on. I soon ran into Larry Klein and introduced myself, using Bobby’s name as an ice-breaker with him. Then I mentioned that I was a pal with Dwight, one of the presenters. So, Larry warmed up quickly and we had a nice “shmooz” for a couple of minutes before moving on.
Less than five minutes later, wouldn’t you know it, I ended up face to face with Dick Clark! He had just finished talking with a small group of people when he turned around quickly and practically bumped into me. I remember how Artie had done it, so I just extended my arm and fearlessly introduced myself. Dick had that same perplexed “Do I Know You?” look on his face that he had when Artie introduced himself to Dick a few years before. But it quickly disappeared when I reminded Dick that I had met him at a party at his Malibu beach house about six years earlier, along with Artie Wayne. Amazingly, Dick remembered (or at least SAID he remembered) meeting me. He remarked about what a great party that was. He asked me how my career was going, and how Artie was doing. He said to say hello to Artie and then moved on.
This was the second and, sadly, the last time I ever encountered the great Dick Clark, but will always remember what a smooth and gracious man he was. A real pro of the highest degree.
I tried to initiate a relationship with Larry Klein, hoping to get some promo announcing or production work from Dick Clark Productions. We had a short chat at the party and we exchanged business cards. He told me to call him (no email or texts back in those days), which I did, and we actually set spoke and set up a meeting. Unfortunately for me, Larry canceled at the last minute and the meeting never got rescheduled. That’s show biz.
Meanwhile, back at the beach, a couple of years later I learned that my new neighbor in Malibu was none other than BRIAN WILSON, who was then under the care, and control, of Dr. Eugene Landy (which became the subject of much controversy in the late 80’s). The house Brian lived in was just down the little private road from my apartment in Latigo Cove, in between my place and Dick Clark’s former home. Every time I walked past Brian’s house, I thought about walking the same route with Artie and ending up at Dick Clark’s party. I never actually encountered Brian, but did spot him from a distance wandering on the beach in his bath robe a couple of times. It was having Brian as a Malibu neighbor that, in part, inspired me to write the song CHRISTMAS IN MALIBU in 1988. I recorded a cover of Wilson’s immortal SURFER GIRL with the same group in 1989, which was never released, but was featured on the Forgotten Hits blog a few years ago.
Sadly, my friend, the very talented Bobby Sheen, passed away himself back in November of 2000.
On the Dick Clark Productions company blog on the day of Mr. Clark’s passing, the company’s CEO, MARK SHAPIRO, wrote, “Dick Clark was an American institution. He was able to replicate the magic he brought to American Bandstand, not once but several times, through The Golden Globes, New Year’s Rockin’ Eve and thousands of hours of programming in almost every genre imaginable. He was the first of his kind — a pioneer, entrepreneur and creative visionary who bridged and cultivated the music scene with traditional show business. Dick Clark entertained and touched the lives of several generations. He is truly irreplaceable and will be greatly missed by the employees of our company and millions of fans worldwide."
It’s a cruel irony how the passing of those we so admire serve to conjure up so many cool memories, from so many, of the bygone days of “the business.” To be sure, the 60’s and 70’s were the golden years. The excesses of the 80’s, in their own ways, were memorable as well (despite the drawbacks resulting from all of the “sex, drugs and rock and roll.”) In a time where there were no digital cameras or smart phones to capture all the craziness as it occurred, memories are all we now have of those wild days. Way too many of those memories are hazy and clouded, but, on the flip-side, so many others are vivid ... and cherished.
I hope that the few memories I’ve shared here were enjoyable, and sparked many similar recollections with the class of FORGOTTEN HITS! Who could ask for a better tribute to a true industry giant that was DICK CLARK.
Moving to the present, there has been lots going on in Laughlin lately that should be of interest to the FH community, not the least of which is an appearance this weekend by the incomparable ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK! Many other great artists from the FORGOTTEN HITS era have appeared on the river in the last couple of years and many more are appearing in the weeks and months to come! Stay tuned and I’ll send a comprehensive update very soon!
Meanwhile, to all those we’ve lost, rock on forever and a heartfelt THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES that will NEVER be forgotten!
\\\Joe Klein\\\
www.NewMediaCreative.com
Hi,
I have attached a few things I
could glean from my old tapes off Bandstand and Action that we taped off our TV
back in the 65 - 68 era. It was always a great alternative to record things off
Bandstand or Action besides just being fun to watch. My dad put a direct patch
to the speaker wire in so that quality was pretty good for the time. The worst
part was hauling the 25 pound reel to reel from downstairs where we taped off
radio up to the TV set in living room and then back down again! Haha.
Still, it was great to watch "Where the Action Is" during school lunches at home, even though Mom wanted to see Art Linkletter more often. Action had its regulars like the Raiders, Knickerbockers, Robbs, Hardtimes, Steve Alaimo, Tina Mason and the 5 Americans (to a lesser extent) often. The theme songs changed over the years some. Bandstand started with the Les Elgart "Bandstand Boogie" and then gave way to the little heard Mike Curb "Bandstand Theme" soon followed by the Barry Manilow vocal version. "Action" started with Tommy Boyce's "Let's Go Where the Action Is" theme, but it was quickly dropped for FH reader Freddy Cannon's GREAT "Action" 45 as its theme. That song REALLY fit the show great. It was followed by a 70's version that I have taped off air but do not know the title or artist.
Dick's "Caravan of Stars" is another memory for many. Often, local bands got their shining moment with the stars during the stops in their towns. Local Coachmen here in Lincoln got to be on stage with Peter & Gordon, Jackie DeShannon and others when the Caravan rolled through Nebraska. The Mob's James Holvay recanted stories to me of his times in 64 backing groups on the Caravan tours too. That's how he hooked up with Brian Hyland on the bus to write 2 songs Brian recorded later.
Dick Clark touched us all in many ways we might not realize. Here's a few taped highlights from our old reels you probably won't hear anywhere else. First, Dick plays FH buddy Davie Allan's "Blues Theme", commenting that it was one of the fastest rising (songs in the country). This was an odd statement when you check the Billboard stats to find this record was all over the country for the spring / summer / fall of 1967!! It ran the Hot 100 from April 15 - September 30, 17 weeks on Hot 100 peaking at #37. Next, the Top 10 board from late 1965. I always loved countdowns and the orchestra build up to number one was always exciting as he pulled the slats to uncover the songs. Obviously, it was a great week of music and often, the top 10 had a surprise or two from Dick's personal picks. Yeah, we had our own charts, but Dick got to present his on TV!! There was usually a surprise or two in his Top 10. Next, we have the outro of "Where the Action Is" promoting the next day guests. Here, Hawaii's "Spirits" get their five minutes of fame as appearing on Dick's next show. You did not have to be a big star to get on Bandstand, and that's another great thing about Dick Clark. Next, Bobby Rydell was a featured guest on Action and Dick always had different settings for his shows (aircraft carriers, different city parks, arenas, the beaches) that added interest. Here, Rydell took his loungy sound to a yacht! Next, a fun moment to hear Dick giggling like the worlds' oldest teenager having fun in counting down a summer of 66 Top 10 board on the beach. Note he also skews towards his guests as he sticks the Association in at #10 with "Along Comes Mary" even though it was well on its way out of the charts, but fits his format to use in the top 10. Note, the surprise #1. Probably a guest on the next week show, if I remember right? Moments Dick Clark gave that could be multiplied by thousands if we only knew to save these things.
Still, it was great to watch "Where the Action Is" during school lunches at home, even though Mom wanted to see Art Linkletter more often. Action had its regulars like the Raiders, Knickerbockers, Robbs, Hardtimes, Steve Alaimo, Tina Mason and the 5 Americans (to a lesser extent) often. The theme songs changed over the years some. Bandstand started with the Les Elgart "Bandstand Boogie" and then gave way to the little heard Mike Curb "Bandstand Theme" soon followed by the Barry Manilow vocal version. "Action" started with Tommy Boyce's "Let's Go Where the Action Is" theme, but it was quickly dropped for FH reader Freddy Cannon's GREAT "Action" 45 as its theme. That song REALLY fit the show great. It was followed by a 70's version that I have taped off air but do not know the title or artist.
Dick's "Caravan of Stars" is another memory for many. Often, local bands got their shining moment with the stars during the stops in their towns. Local Coachmen here in Lincoln got to be on stage with Peter & Gordon, Jackie DeShannon and others when the Caravan rolled through Nebraska. The Mob's James Holvay recanted stories to me of his times in 64 backing groups on the Caravan tours too. That's how he hooked up with Brian Hyland on the bus to write 2 songs Brian recorded later.
Dick Clark touched us all in many ways we might not realize. Here's a few taped highlights from our old reels you probably won't hear anywhere else. First, Dick plays FH buddy Davie Allan's "Blues Theme", commenting that it was one of the fastest rising (songs in the country). This was an odd statement when you check the Billboard stats to find this record was all over the country for the spring / summer / fall of 1967!! It ran the Hot 100 from April 15 - September 30, 17 weeks on Hot 100 peaking at #37. Next, the Top 10 board from late 1965. I always loved countdowns and the orchestra build up to number one was always exciting as he pulled the slats to uncover the songs. Obviously, it was a great week of music and often, the top 10 had a surprise or two from Dick's personal picks. Yeah, we had our own charts, but Dick got to present his on TV!! There was usually a surprise or two in his Top 10. Next, we have the outro of "Where the Action Is" promoting the next day guests. Here, Hawaii's "Spirits" get their five minutes of fame as appearing on Dick's next show. You did not have to be a big star to get on Bandstand, and that's another great thing about Dick Clark. Next, Bobby Rydell was a featured guest on Action and Dick always had different settings for his shows (aircraft carriers, different city parks, arenas, the beaches) that added interest. Here, Rydell took his loungy sound to a yacht! Next, a fun moment to hear Dick giggling like the worlds' oldest teenager having fun in counting down a summer of 66 Top 10 board on the beach. Note he also skews towards his guests as he sticks the Association in at #10 with "Along Comes Mary" even though it was well on its way out of the charts, but fits his format to use in the top 10. Note, the surprise #1. Probably a guest on the next week show, if I remember right? Moments Dick Clark gave that could be multiplied by thousands if we only knew to save these things.
Clark Besch
Really cool to hear so many of our Forgotten Hits artists pop up in this clip ... Bob Lind, Peter Noone (and Herman's Hermits), Davie Allan, Freddy Cannon ... cool, too, to hear the #1 Songs, none of which actually ever made it to #1 on the Billboard Chart! (lol) John "Records" Landecker played Freddy Cannon's "Action" the other night ... man, what a GREAT record that is!!! And did you check out Paul Evans' cool Bobby Rydell story the other day?!?!? Amazing!!! (kk)
Well, the tributes I've seen have been good, bad and often the same clips. The amazing thing is how BAD the sound quality is on many clips from Bandstand. How many times have you seen the "Twist" video with swishy internet sound not even good enough for youtube?? Heck, my old over modulated tapings on reel as a kid sound MUCH better than what TV is playing! Anyway, here's some Dick Clark audio. A few Bandstand themes and local Chicago action. I sent this in before, but here's my WLS hero Ron Riley giving Dick his pick of local heroes, the Ides of March with "You Wouldn't Listen"!!
Clark
This clip is EXCELLENT!!! I honestly don't remember you sending it to me before ... but how cool to catch an episode of "American Bandstand", only to find Chicago's own Ides Of March being featured on the program ... by way of a telephone call from Ron Riley, evening disc jockey on WLS in 1966. (I sent a copy of this clip to Jim Peterik of The Ides Of March ... who never even knew this happened!!! He was blown away ... now if only somebody could find the VIDEO for this event! lol) kk
>>>Hi Jim! Got this from a
Forgotten Hits Reader today ... Especially timely with the passing of Dick Clark this
week ...But here, thanks to Ron Riley of WLS, are The Ides Of
March and "You Wouldn't Listen" ... on American Bandstand!!! (Introduced by
Dick Clark himself!) VERY cool! (kk)
Wow! This is beyond cool. We never
even knew! Wish we had the video, too.
Thank you so much, Kent, for bringing this lost moment
to life. Who got it to you? I'd like to thank him or her. Thanks sooo much for sending!
Jimbo
The clip came from Clark Besch, who has literally
THOUSANDS of these vintage musical artifacts in his collection, most of which he
personally taped off the radio or television at the time. He's done a number of
CD compilatiosn and is a regular contributor to Forgotten Hits ... and ... best
part of all ... he believes that he may have some VIDEO of this landmark Ides
moment, too! (And, it turns out you met him several years ago at a Bob Stroud /
Cryan' Shames function ... Clark sent the photo below ... taken by FH Reader
Marlene O'Malley ... to share with our readers.) kk
The FAB 4?? Well, who's the geek 2nd to left? Anyway,
here's a shot FH member Marlene took in September, 2006. From left, my great
friend, Bob Stroud of the Drive, then, there's me, then the late great Mark
Eskin (of New Colony 6) and the guy who thought "You Wouldn't Listen" but we did
anyway, Jim Peterik!
I DO have the video (somewhere) and would be happy to
send it to him. It was SO great to meet him in 2006 on my visit to Chicago and
chat with him about the obscure songs he had a hand in. What was cool is that
he had no problem remembering all of them! From singing parts of Chase's "Run
Back to Mama" (he sang lead and wrote it) to the Ides' Kapp 45 "Nobody Loves Me"
(he sang me the parts HE sang on the record) to my conversation about how their
first WB single, "One Woman Man" should have also been a hit and talk of
Saturday's Children and Survivor, too. It was a great 15 minutes crammed with
questions and great answers. He was great and even sang "Roller Coaster" with
Bob Stroud onstage for me!! The Ides story DVD is well worth having as well.
Not sure if still available of not, but worth seeking out.
Clark
That IS a great DVD ... and I think
you can still order a copy through The Ides Of March website ... where (from
what I understand) this clip of Ron Riley introducing the band to the nation on
American Bandstand will ALSO soon appear! (kk)
Looks like The Ides have a number of summer dates
already lined up ... one of the best bands you'll see live ... so catch 'em if
you can! (kk)
Thanks so much to Clark for the amazing recovery of a sweet moment in time. The Ides are blown away - we did not even know we were featured on Bandstand in that era - and Ron Riley, too!
Of course finding the
video to it would be epic! And thanks for all you do to keep those great days
alive. We are putting the soundbyte on theidesofmarch.com asap.
Jimbo
