Dick Clark - Part 3

More Dick Clark Memories ...

QUESTION: How many lives has American Rock N' Roll touched?   How many careers did Dick Clark launch or foster?   How many of the millions of watchers of the 7,500-plus shows he produced had moments of happiness and memories that lasted a lifetime because of those shows?  ANSWER: Immeasurable!    I never met the man.  I never actually pursued it.  And it's ironic, because all these tributes and testimonials I have been reading were by people I have known for years!  Legends like Little Anthony, Neil Sedaka, Danny & The Juniors, Frankie Avalon, Frankie Valli, Tom Dreesen, Mary Wilson, Pat Boone, James Darren, Nancy Sinatra ... the list goes on and on.  All good friends of ours, and all who attribute their careers to Dick Clark. I didn't even approach my good buddy, the late  Ed McMahon and former television partner of Dick's whose gift of a video of him saying, "And now, heeeeeeeere's Ronnie" in the same vein as Johnny Carson is one of my most treasured possessions.  Man, I should have asked him for the introduction. At each of our shows, I always try to facilitate fans' meet and greet with the stars.  After they nervously shake their hand, take a photo and get an autograph, they usually thank me for helping them with the "bucket list" item of meeting their idol.  Again, a bit of irony, as Dick Clark was on MY bucket list.  He epitomized what I wanted to be when I grew up.  A well respected and widely loved conduit between music and the masses.  Not an actual performer, yet an entertainer in his own right.  He was somebody who brought joy to millions via song, dance and a familiar smile.   I think I never really pursued the intro because inside I kind of felt a warm familiarity with him.  With so many single degrees of separation between us, coupled with the too-many-to-count times I saw him on one show or another, it was as if he was by my house for pasta the night before.  With all those fabulous Rock N' Roll moments we all witnessed over the years, I think my favorite Dick Clark moment was his last "New Year's Rockin' Eve special, this past December thirty-first.  Still handsome with the boyish good looks, he struggled with his speech after a terrible stroke.  He kept his dignity though, and also kept his tradition of kissing his beloved wife at midnight.  Although the kiss was physically awkward for him, he did it with a passion I have rarely seen.  It showed a love that not even a massive stroke could stifle.   It seems the legacy of rock stars gets grander upon their death.  Their music lives on for generations.  Their images get plastered on coffee mugs and mouse pads and refrigerator magnets.  But guys like Dick Clark usually don't have that kind of staying power.  My seven-year-old daughter will grow up and know who Sinatra, Elvis and Michael were.  I will do my best to tell her about Dick Clark and American Bandstand.  More importantly, I'll tell her to be aggressive in pursuing her "bucket list." Ron Onesti Onesti Entertainment Thanks, Ron ... beautiful sentiment.  (kk) Hi Kent, I'm sure you will receive a number of notes about Dick Clark's passing. Dick and I were partners in the United Stations / Unistar radio networks for fifteen years. He was a rare combination of talent and businessman; perhaps the best. Growing up, I had really appreciated Bandstand and his Saturday Beech-nut show, because they were about the only opportunity to see rock and roll on tv in the late 50s. When I got in the business and met the artists from that era, I soon found out how important that show was to so many of them, as deejays around the country picked up on the records that Dick played on the show. That was certainly the case for my fellow Pittsburghers, The Skyliners and their first hit "Since I Don't Have You". Dick may have done more to bring rock and roll into the mainstream than anyone; he took it into living rooms all over the country with his tv shows (rather than just the transistor radio under the covers) and kept the music alive through our "Rock, Roll and Remember" radio show. Ed Salamon I first met Dick Clark when he and I were the guests on "Sunnyside," a half-hour Los Angeles TV talk show.  The topic, of course, was the history of rock and pop and I found Dick to be just as charming and knowledgeable in person as he had always come across on my home screen.  The best part, though, came after the taping -- when Dick and I returned to the program's backstage green room and continued our conversation for another two hours!  Among other things, I recall him explaining how a large chunk of of his kinescope archives -- 16mm films of past episodes of "American Bandstand," his Beechnut show, etc. -- had disappeared over the years.  It turned out that some employees of his had systematically secreted various films out of the building and sold them on the collector's market to whomever happened to be the highest bidder.  In some cases, the film footage and audio tracks happened to have been stored on separate reels.  That's why Dick still had the audio of Buddy Holly's appearance on "Bandstand" but not the images.  Further investigation revealed that that one-of-a-kind film reel was in the hands of a collector in Australia -- who refused to give it up or even offer Dick a copy print.  It was at that point that Clark started buying up whatever vintage footage of rock and pop stars he could find.   He even bought the surviving kinescopes of the clearly un-rocking "Arthur Murray's Dance Party" simply because on one show the guest was -- Buddy Holly.   Dick wound up amassing an amazing array of film and video performances -- amazing for a number of reasons, not least of which because most people producing pop music shows in the past viewed them as exceptionally disposable -- like yesterday's newspaper.  Local stations, recording their sock hop type shows on expensive two or three inch videotapes, often allocated ONE reel of tape to the producers of such series.   After each episode aired, next week's show was recorded right over last week's on the same tape.   Few foresaw the historical significance of those TV appearances -- but, then again, few foresaw the value of archiving much television at all.  Over the years, executives at all the networks routinely ordered purges of all kinds of archival programming.  A lot of the TV retrospective specials you see now and then?  The tiny clips of vintage shows included are sometimes all that is left of huge TV hits of the past -- as those clips were recycled from earlier similar TV documentaries.  The rest of the original footage is GONE. Dick Clark, though, went to great pains to hold on to as much of his TV output as he could -- which is why you can still see him today hosting '60s and '70s game shows via videotape which still exists solely because HE saved it. Clark was a smart businessman who stayed on top of trends, eventually owning a production company with shows on all three broadcast networks plus in syndication simultaneously.  If his career had matched that of most '50s celebrities, we'd lump him in today with Edsels and poodle skirts as yet another icon of a long ago era.  Dick, though, remained contemporary and never wore out his welcome.  Was he a perfect guy?  No -- but in many ways he did personify the American dream.   He couldn't sing, dance or write music, but he had a smooth, low-key style in the spotlight and a savvy, in-touch-with-the-times ear that could recognize and maximize talent.  He was driven by a deep desire to succeed and achieve excellence -- and to do so maintained a schedule which would leave most people gasping after simply reading it.  Personally?   The Dick Clark you saw on TV was pretty much the Dick Clark you experienced offscreen.  He was bright, sharp, low-key and really knew what he was talking about.  (I know -- I tested him lots of times!)  I used to get a call from Dick or someone on his staff in later years when they were putting together a home video or TV retrospective and needed to rebuild the soundtrack by finding some obscure record Dick didn't have which an act had lip-synched to.  Clark had the film but not the audio.  I'd dig out the record and send him a dub. It's interesting to note that regardless of how famous radio DJs became over the history of rock 'n' roll, in almost every case that intense fame was limited to the single market their station served.  Only a few DJs -- Casey Kasem and Wolfman Jack among them -- managed to achieve coast-to-coast or even international fame.  And none exceeded the success of the guy for whom "American Bandstand" proved to be not his end-all but a springboard to more and more right into the 21st century: Dick Clark. Gary Theroux  P.S.   I archived that "Sunnyside" episode -- so THAT still exists!  One day later, and I am still shocked at the passing of Dick Clark. An icon, an institution … a friend. I first met Dick through my father, who worked for Decca Records, and watched in fascination as he seemed to have all his ducks in his life in a row. In watching the terrific coverage of his life on several shows last night (kudos to Access Hollywood), I was struck by just how his business was always together. He said in one interview, that he knew once he began on TV, that it would ultimately end, so he got into producing and built Dick Clark Productions; which then had the Golden Globes and numerous other TV entities. I also saw where he received several Emmys for his work on the 25,000 Dollar Pyramid and let’s not forget his work with Ed McMahon (his former next-door neighbor in Philadelphia) on the show TV’s Bloopers and Practical Jokes; which may have been the first-ever reality show. His work with the American Music Awards was exemplary as well. He said in an interview, that when ABC lost The Grammys, they came to him to ask what he might do. And, his response was that there never had been a music-awards show, where the actual consumers votes. Hence, the AMAs were born. When I worked with Debbie Gibson, she hosted the AMA’s in the late-80s and did an excellent job. It was great to see Dick again and as he was a true Gibson-fan back then, all went very well. We actually had Gibson on a segment of American Bandstand, with then-label-mates INXS. That was an experience of a lifetime as back then, Bandstand was the show to be on. When I think about that particular show, I’m drawn to the fact that because of that show, so many people got into the business of music; whether as a performer, player or being behind-the-scenes. The wealth of music and the various artists that appeared on there is mesmerizing. Go take a look; it’ll blow you away! There’ll never be anything like it ever again. I think the one thing that has become abundantly clear is that New Year’s will never be the same again. Someone pointed out that because of Clark’s efforts; he made New York and Times Square in particular, into a worldwide destination. For that alone, New York should properly remember him. An era is over; I don’t think there’s another personality on the scene today that can even come close. On a personal note: His energy was always off the charts; he was a dynamo … a force of nature.    I’ll miss you Dick, RIP.  David Salidor  Dick Clark with Debbie Gibson  Dick Clark ... and a very young David Salidor (Is David taking notes on how to become a successful music mogul ... Or did Dick Clark just ask him for his autograph?!?!?) "We're goin' hoppin,' we're goin' hoppin' today,  We're goin' hoppin,' the Philadelphia Way"   For many of us, we remember that popular theme song before it had lyrics ... the original instrumental by Les and Larry Elgart. To a whole generation of kids -- Dick Clark introduced us to most of the young rising stars of 50's and 60's music: Elvis, Buddy Holly, Ricky Nelson, Duane Eddy, The Everly Brothers, Leslie Gore, Connie Francis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dion and The Belmonts and so, so many more.  If you were a kid growing up in Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, or -- like me -- in Sacramento -- you would rush home from school each afternoon to watch the latest dance craze -- the daily 'rate a record,' ("I'll give it a '10' because I can dance to it"), what the 'cool' kids were wearing, and what those stars who you were singing along to on the radio actually looked like. After all, it was a full twenty-five years before MTV. It was in black and white and it was 'live.'  But to a twelve year old kid -- with dreams of being a deejay, Dick Clark was your idol, your hero. As the years flew by we all knew that somewhere -- in some dark closet -- there was a picture of Dick growing old, but to all of us, he was 'forever young' in our eyes and in our hearts. Yes, he was -- and would always be -- America's oldest teen-ager.  There aren't a lot of folks who get to actually know their heroes, but in my case, I was blessed to know Dick. He was the first to call me when I left the Beach Boys organization in 1971. He was one of the first ones I interviewed for a radio program I wrote, produced and hosted for Jefferson Broadcasting's WBT, Charlotte, NC, in 1973 - 74.  The program was called 'The History of the West Coast Sound.' I traced the music from the earliest days of movie soundtracks, including Sinatra and Nat King Cole, into the surf songs of the early 60's, the slick 'wrecking crew' sound of the mid-60's, and into the psychedelic period beginning with the 'summer of love' in 1967.  When I asked Dick about his thoughts of this period, he answered very specifically and very openly. "Fred, it was drug music. It was the closest rock and roll ever came to committing suicide." Wow. Here was a guy who told it as it was. I always admired Dick for that.  I was fortunate to get to visit with Dick a number of times after I moved to Nashville in 1974. One was a Billboard conference, one was an Academy of Country Music event in Las Vegas.  When Dick suffered his stroke in 2004, I -- like many -- worried that it was the last we'd see of Dick Clark. After all, wasn't he like John Wayne -- wasn't he supposed to always be there?" Or so we naively thought. But unlike Paul "Bear" Bryant or Joe Pa Paterno -- who retired only to die a short time later -- Dick Clark was not ready to hang it up. Dick would never give up that microphone 'until they pried it from his cold, dead hands!' Each New Years I was drawn to his ABC "Rockin' New Years Eve" special. Seacrest had stepped in to do the 'heavy lifting,' so to speak, but the calendar could not turn over a new year until we saw Dick kiss Kari, give us that smile and farewell salute. My wife, Debbie, and I, would time our kiss, with their kiss. It became an annual tradition. We'll all go on with New Years -- and Times Square -- but it will be a bit sadder this coming December 31st. Another true American hero has 'left the building.'  Rest in peace, my dear old friend. You will be missed by millions of us who grew up watching you each weekday afternoon, on the popular Dick Clark Saturday Night Show and on the numerous specials and Awards shows that bore your name.  Dick, my prayers and thoughts go out to Kari, your family, and extended family. And, yes, you are still my hero.  Fred Vail Treasure Isle Recorders, Inc.  Nashville, TN -- "Music City, USA"  Dear Friends: Thanks for all the MANY links everybody has been sending me today regarding the passing of Dick Clark; and especially those pertaining to Earl Scruggs a couple of weeks back (who was MY personal musical hero) Over the years, I actually did have quite a bit of behind-the-scenes dealings with Dick Clark, though we actually met only twice ... I'm sorry I have to make this a 'form letter', but it would take me the next several days to reply to everyone personally, so please forgive me. I 'sort of met' Dick Clark twice -- and this is really strange ... one day in the mid 70s, I'd taken the subway (in NYC) and got off at the West 48th Street station, I ran up the stairs ... and right there at the curb was Dick Clark standing with his secretary!  I was still playing with Bill Haley at the time, and I was about to say hello and introduce myself -- but within two seconds they both jumped into a cab and took off! The first time I'd actually contacted him for anything was in early 1976, when I'd notified him of the passing of the Comets' long time sax player Rudy Pompilli ... and he sent a nice personal letter back thanking me for the notice. Next, was in October 1987 at the first Philadelphia Music Awards.  I had managed to get the original 1954 Comets members back together for the first time in 25 years, and booked onto this event ... and Dick Clark was also an honored guest on it as well. He met with all of us on the band, but very briefly ... At this event, he didn't stay in the same place for more than 3 seconds -- there was such a constant crowd of people just waiting to talk to him ... he'd just disappear like the wind, and stay in his hotel suite most of the time! Over the past 30 years, he and his secretary would regularly write to me and send me video clips of various Bill Haley concert footage and have me IDENTIFY everybody in the clip! This was because of his plans to use the clip in an upcoming TV special ... the tricky part was that over the years on the Comets, there were THREE upright bass players in succession who had the first name of "Al" and who all looked alike!!! Al Rex, Al Pompilli, and Al Rappa ... all of whom were dark-featured Italians with black hair as well as dark eyebrows -- and it took an expert on the Comets to be able to correctly identify them in photographs and films / videos ... and not even Dick Clark was sure who was who -- so he'd regularly send me the clip and I would write back with the correct names of everyone ... and what their addresses (or their survivor's addresses) were, to mail release forms!  He'd always send me a nice letter on his letterhead thanking me for my help!  I think I still have these letters laying around here in the files -- as well as the video clips. I had also sent him some rare videos of 1970s concert performances of the band from Europe and Brazil, for his own collection. His secretary told me he owns one of the biggest collections in the world, of live concert footage of EVERY ARTIST imaginable -- and that his film and video collection was MUCH bigger than that of Ed Sullivan's estate! Thanks again to everyone; Respectfully, Bill Turner Here is the clip from the Philadelphia Music Awards, October 27, 1987, with the reunited Comets at :29 I'm playing electric bass standing toward the back of the band. This was shown nationally on "Entertainment Tonight"  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmG8vzi6784 I had been thinking about Dick Clark quite a bit lately, I'm not sure why.  I had known him in three different capacities:  I had written several syndicated radio specials for him and his production company; he had contributed, as a guest, to several of my own productions; and I had had many great conversations with him socially and at professional functions.  The latter of the three was always the best. When I worked for him, the interaction was always perfunctory.  Do the job.  Do it well.  And make it easy for Dick to knock it out and move on to the next project.  I never had an issue with him at all.  It was always professional and pleasant, but never all that warm and fuzzy.  And truthfully, in that capacity, we only crossed paths for mere minutes at a time.  In the mid-'80s, he was looking for a new writer-producer for his weekly Top 40 National Music Survey show, and he had his lieutenant, Frank Furino, call and offer me the job (I had previously been a writer for Casey Kasem's American Top 40).  I had just assumed a similar position with Dan Ingram's ill-fated Top 40 countdown for CBS and had to pass.  I was torn, but Dick was very pragmatic and said, "Frank, call the next person on the list."  Dick Clark Productions was not famous for big paychecks, but working with him on a daily would have been pretty cool. Now when I was producing radio specials for other companies and networks, I often called on Dick to provide a support interview — an expert voice lending authority on the subject at-hand or providing insight on a performer that he had known for years (Bobby Darin and Paul Anka were his two favorites).  Dick never turned down one of my requests.  He often made himself available at his Burbank office the very same day of my request, and always within the week.  There was no phalanx of handlers and publicists to contend with; when I called, I always got his personal secretary or him directly.  In conversation on one occasion, he admitted to me that he had indeed once infamously said that he "was a whore for a buck," yet he never requested any compensation for any of his contributions to my own productions.  I'd arrive and set up my recording gear in his office that sported a grand desk with wooden posts and a trellis-like frame above, and an adjacent wall of bookshelves that seemed to house every tome ever written on the subject of pop music.  As a collector myself, I asked him if he had kept a lot of mementos from throughout his career, especially souvenirs from his legendary, multi-artist Caravan of Stars tours.  And he said, yes, that he had a warehouse full of records, posters and programs and scripts, but had, in fact, donated quite a few artifacts to the Smithsonian a few years earlier.  We'd get down to business – conduct the interview that was required — and he would, unfailingly, give me the pithy, perfect quotes that every writer-producer hopes for when assembling documentary-style programming.  He'd smile and ask, "You have everything you need?"  And once confirmed, he might not even look up again from whatever was on his desk, from the time I started dissembling my mic and cables until I walked out the door. Dick ultimately aggregated the radio stations nationwide that were running his programs into a network that, in two different guises, were known as Unistar and United Stations.  Ever the superb promoter, Dick would always appear at the semi-annual broadcast conventions in the Unistar suite to glad-hand with affiliates, both potential and established.  It was here, and on other social occasions, that I most enjoyed being within his sphere.  While most of the visiting deejays, GMs and such would approach him, dumbstruck, for a photo op or an autograph, I had the chance to speak with him at length – sometimes hours — about radio, Rock & Roll, my getting kicked off the "25,000 Pyramid" (another story, another time) and countless other topics.  Once, when we were both attending a conference in Dallas, I had coincidentally found a copy of his 1950s advice guide to teenagers at a local antiquarian bookstore.  Of course, I couldn't wait to stick it under his nose at the Unistar suite that night.  When I did, he put his arm around my shoulder and announced to the crowd in the room, "I am usually so delighted to have this young man in my presence."  (Dramatic pause.)  "This is not one of those times."  I couldn't have been more pleased to have been his foil. As I said, I'd been thinking a lot about Dick Clark lately.  Talking about him, too.  As the consummate broadcaster, no one was better, extemporaneously, in front of a mic or a camera.  Nobody.  And as successful as he continued to be as an entrepreneur and producer of TV programming, I know that his diminished capacity as a communicator since his stroke weighed heavily on him.  Just a few days before his death, I had told someone that I was going to drop him a line, wishing him well and thanking him, not only for our variety of interactions, but for his tremendous influence upon me as a broadcaster and writer. On Wednesday morning, my friend Bill called to see if I had heard the news.  As it turned out, I had been talking to him about Dick just the night before, at precisely the time he had died.  There's absolutely no explanation for that.  A coincidence, to be sure.  But this sort of thing, as friends have pointed out, seems to happen to me quite a bit — a strong sense of premonition or confluence of activity around the passage of those who have influenced me.  Unaware that Johnny Carson had been ill, I bundled up a package of magazines commemorating his retirement a decade earlier to send to him at his office in Santa Monica in the hopes of having them signed.  And, on a whim that very same day, I went to Costco to pick up the highlights DVD of "The Tonight Show."  The breaking bulletin of his death on TV that evening was unfathomable to me.  Similar circumstances prevailed when John Lennon died.  Again, another story another day. Dick Clark's impact on pop culture and television programming can't truly be measured.  He gently and insidiously helped usher Rock & Roll into the mainstream when conventional media might have left it at the gate ... or burned it at the stake.  That first wave of post-World War II teenagers – the original American Bandstand generation — was the very first to wield true economic power and enormous influence on fashion,  entertainment and manufactured goods.  The media cast a spotlight on them, Wall Street sat up and noticed, and Dick Clark was the smooth, polished guy with a foot in both camps that brokered the deal.  He may have gone on to other endeavors and greater financial success, but he certainly never surpassed the cultural clout he had in the late-'50s and early-'60s.  But for me, right up until the end – and now beyond — he has, and will remain, a profound influence upon me.  Thanks, Dick ... until next time.  Scott Paton SOUND OF PHILADELPHIA PIONEERS KENNETH GAMBLE  AND LEON HUFF MOURN THE PASSING OF DICK CLARK     PHILADELPHIA -- "As fellow Philadelphians, we have admired Dick Clark and the 'American Bandstand' brand for many years,  as it promoted Philadelphia music around the nation,” said Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff in a joint statement. “Dick Clark was one of our inspirations for creating the ‘Sound of Philadelphia’ music brand. More importantly, we thank him for being one of the pioneers in promoting the Philly Dance and Music scene for the nation and world to enjoy. We send our sincere and deepest condolences to Dick Clark's family.” And the hits just keep on comin' ... More Dick Clark coverage tomorrow in Forgotten Hits!

Dick Clark - Part 2

Our Tribute to Dick Clark continues today in Forgotten Hits ...

Sharing memories of some of those who knew him ...

Worked with him ...

Or crossed paths with him over the years.

The number of lives he touched over the years is immeasurable ... 

As is his impact on the growth and legacy of rock and roll music.

AS YOU ALREADY KNOW, KENT, I WAS VERY CLOSE TO DICK CLARK'S FAMILY ... AND HE WAS TO MINE ... SO YES, THERE ARE LOTS OF STORIES ... BUT I CAN SAY THAT BESIDES THE MUSIC AND WHAT HE DID FOR ME AND THOUSANDS OF ACTS OVER THE YEARS, MY FAMILY AND HIS FAMILY WERE REAL FRIENDS.  JUST READ THE INTRODUCTION IN MY BOOK AND YOU WILL KNOW WHAT I MEAN. HE WAS A WONDERFUL FRIEND TO MY KIDS AND WIFE ... AND I WILL MISS HIM LIKE SO MANY OTHER ACTS ARE SAYING!  I GO WAY BACK TO 1959 DOING BANDSTAND MORE THAN ANY OTHER ARTIST.  THIS IS A SAD DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY. A GREAT LEGEND HAS DIED.   

GOD IS WITH YOU, DICK.

LOVE, 
FREDDY BOOM BOOM CANNON

Singer Freddy Cannon poses for a portrait with television host Dick Clark during one 

of Freddy's 110 appearances on the TV show "American Bandstand" in circa 1960. 

Photo: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

For my dear friend and mentor, Dick Clark ... 
I owe everything to Dick Clark. And I am SO thankful that I got to tell him so, six weeks ago, at his home in Los Angeles. 
Once upon a time, way back in 1952, there was a local Philly show called BANDSTAND. In 1956, a young, charismatic, good-looking kid named Dick Clark became the host of that show. He helped make it so popular that on August 5, 1957 the newly-named, AMERICAN BANDSTAND, debuted nationwide on ABC. The rest is history.  AMERICAN BANDSTAND became an American institution, and Dick Clark became one the most well-known and beloved celebrities in show business, recognized by several generations all over the world. 
What were the chances of actually getting to meet a guy like that, much less having a life-long relationship with him? 
Dick first entered my life when he helped Paul Revere and The Raiders have our very first Top 40 hit in 1961, by playing "Like Long Hair" on AMERICAN BANDSTAND. I can't tell you what a thrill that was for us, I mean, that was huge! But not nearly as huge as our next big break, orchestrated by our manager, Roger Hart. 
Roger was able to get us a spot on the pilot of the Dick Clark production of a new TV show called WHERE THE ACTION IS. It was on five days a week on ABC, and from it's debut on June 28, 1965, we appeared on more than 500 episodes and became a staple on the show. Our affiliation with Dick Clark and WHERE THE ACTION IS led to instant national exposure, nearly instant fame, a major recording career, and invitations to appear on other major television programs: American Bandstand of course, plus Johnny Carson, The Smothers Brothers, The Ed Sullivan Show among others, and even an appearance on Batman!

The show ended on March 31, 1967, but thankfully, Dick wasn't through with us yet. He put us on TV again, this time on a summer replacement show called HAPPENING. Then again on the weekly, Saturday morning series' (following AMERICAN BANDSTAND), HAPPENING 68 and HAPPENING 69. Dick loved us and he liked having us around, and we were a perfect fit for him and his teenage-targeted television shows. In the 80s we did yet another weekly summer replacement show for Dick, and throughout the years appeared on countless TV shows and specials with him.  
Over the years Dick, his wife Kari and I have remained close friends, and have spent many memorable times together. Dick and Kari would have my wife Sydney and I stay at their beautiful Manhattan penthouse apartment whenever we were in New York, and invite us over to their wonderful West coast home whenever we were in Los Angeles. They have always been so kind and generous to us over the years, both personally and professionally. Dick taught me so much about the music business, the television business and business in general. He showed me, by example, how to present myself in public, and how to represent myself in the real world.  
Dick and I worked on projects together outside of television as well. In 1992 we were partners in the very successful restaurant and nightclub called "American Bandstand" in Reno, Nevada. Bill Medley and I also opened the "Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theater" complex in Branson, MO. Bill, myself and The Raiders performed there for three fantastic years.  

Six weeks ago, Sydney and I were in Los Angeles, so we called Dick, and of course, he invited us to come over. We called Keith Allison (a former Raider and regular on the WHERE THE ACTION IS series) and invited him as well. It was just so wonderful to see Dick again, it had been a few years since the last time. We had lunch, talked current events and laughed and reminisced about the good old days - just a really nice time. I was a little sad when it was time to leave, and I promised myself that I was going to get out to L.A. to visit Dick more often.   
We both had tears in our eyes as I hugged him and I told him what he had meant to me in my life, the part he played in shaping a young farm boy into who I became, and who I am today. He was my mentor, my friend, my big brother. The fact that I got to tell Dick that before he left us makes me so happy in this saddest of moments. I really do owe him everything.   
I loved Dick Clark and will miss him greatly, just like the rest of the country.   
Paul Revere

Like Ed Sullivan, Lloyd Thaxton, Don Kirshner, Casey Kasum, Don Cornelius and others, Dick Clark provided young people (like me) television shows that we could relate to.   In my case, Mr. Clark also helped and encouraged a career I am grateful for insofar as putting Dino, Desi & Billy on the road with Paul Revere & The Raiders, booking us on Where the Action Is and hosting me and The Beach Boys on two of his Rockin' New Year's Eve TV Specials in '74 (with Chicago, The Doobie Brothers and Olivia Newton-John) and '91, respectively.  Always supportive and a true gentleman to me, it was an honor to have known him and I'm sad to see him go.   Billy Hinsche (Left to right): Carl Wilson, Billy Hinsche, Dick Clark Reaching out to thank Mr. Clark after the September taping of the  1991 Rockin' New Year's Eve show in Los Angeles. Photo: ©1991Billy Hinsche Archives My dear friends:  Today I have lost my good friend, Dick Clark. Without him, I would not have had a career in the music business.  He was always there for me whenever I called him on the phone. We’d sit in his office and just recall the wonderful early years of rock and roll. Without Dick Clark, rock and roll music would have never had the impact that it had. Because of American Bandstand the world was introduced to all of the great rock and roll artists that appeared on his show.  On a recent CD that I just put out of my music, Dick wrote some of the liner notes.  He was a good friend and I cannot even put into words how much I loved him and how much I will miss him.    Rest in peace, my good friend.  John Madara  Dick with the platinum award for the sale of 20 million records of "At The Hop" Dick with Danny Dick with the Spokesmen Hi Kent!  It's Eddie Kelly again (Original "American Bandstand 'Regular' Dancer", 1959 - 1961)  Just finished up with a some interviews on ABC and Fox TV ... however, I do want to share a very special moment between Dick and me. I was a guest at the "American Bandstand 50th Anniversary Show" filmed at the Pasadena Auditorium.  Kari knew I was coming, however, Dick did not.  At the very end of the show Dick came on stage and walked the entire stage shaking hands with a lot of the people.  As he saw me with utter surprise on his face, and eyes filled with tears as he put his hand out to me.  That is the moment I will always remember and cherish.  Thank you. Eddie I remember the first time The Buckinghams met Dick Clark. We were invited to perform "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" on American Bandstand and we were excited but nervous. Dick was such a great interviewer that he had a way of making you feel at ease. We were fortunate to perform on quite a few of his live shows through the years and he always impressed me as a genuine guy you could talk freely to and hang out with. He did so much for all of us, a legend in the music business who help launch so many careers. He will be deeply missed. Carl Giammarese Hi Kent ... I remember Dick Clark in the early days as a very caring and supportive man. During the 1963 Caravan Of Stars Tour, I became ill on the tour bus. We all slept in our seats, but Dick had a bunk in the back of the bus. He saw that I was ill and gave me his bunk to sleep in and he took my seat, which I have never forgotten. The Rip Chords appeared on American Bandstand twice, but unfortunately, there is no surviving video from our performances. We sang "Hey Little Cobra", of course! All that is left from these events is this TV Guide clipping, which is attached to this email ... along with a promo poster from one of the Caravan Of Stars Tours. We all owe a debt of gratitude to Dick Clark, and I thank him for, among many other things, including The Rip Chords on the 1963 and 1964 "Caravan Of Stars" Tours. I will never forget him. Richie Rotkin The Rip Chords Kent, I am glad for the opportunity to briefly eulogize such a special person.  I was lucky enough to go from being a teenager watching AB on a black & white Sylvania TV, to actually appearing three times on the show.  Dick Clark was always cordial and professional, even working up a little on-air "piece of business" about having a stagehand toss me a large pillow so I could sit a little higher on the piano bench.  But beyond my personal experience, here was a man who did a great deal for racial integration, quietly but powerfully, with the artists he featured (not to mention, eventually, the dancers).  This "equal opportunity music" was so important to America as a country, and set a great standard.  Thank you, Dick Clark, for enriching my life! Fondly, Alan O'Day  Hey Kent,  I posted this on Facebook yesterday but thought you and your readers might like it ... A few Dick Clark stories I thought you'd enjoy: I went to a party for Dick at the Hard Rock. I hadn't seen him in many years so I was ready to re-introduce myself to him when he struck out his hand and said, "Great to see you, Paul". What a memory that man had! When I got a my very first video tape deck, I asked my friend, who worked for him, to see if Dick would send tapes of any of my performances to me. Three days later - a knock on the door - a messenger, bringing me the tapes I asked for. In his book, "Rock, Roll, and Remember", Dick Clark gives me credit for inadvertently giving Bobby Rydell's career a boost. For one of his Saturday shows, Dick needed someone from the audience to play the part of Fred and sit in the back seat of my car. Who did he pull from the audience? The still unknown Bobby Rydell. When I was putting together my first CD compilation, I phoned Dick and asked if he would send me a quote for the CD. He got a quote to me in days and told me to paraphrase the quote in any way that I liked. RIP to a super star and a terrific man.  Paul Evans PHILADELPHIA – Jerry Gross, lead singer of Philadelphia ‘Bandstand’ dance craze regulars The Dovells (“The Bristol Stomp,” “You Can’t Sit Down”), had the following to say about the passing of Dick Clark:   “Dick Clark was a legend who helped a lot of acts, including us, gain stardom and have many, many hit records. The entertainment world will sorely miss Dick Clark.”   In memory of Dick Clark, the Dovells are putting together a special tribute to him to be included in their 50th anniversary concert, scheduled for Saturday (April 21) at the Scottish Rite Auditorium in Cherry Hill, NJ.    “The Dovells did many tours with Dick Clark in the ‘60s and in the ‘70s, including the Dick Clark Caravan of Stars. We were one of his favorite acts. Dick always called us when he needed a high energy act. He called us the Bowery Boys. We were on the Dick Clark tour that pulled into Dallas at 7 a.m. the day President Kennedy was shot. We were just blocks from the shooting, and of course, our show that evening was cancelled.” Some of the artists we heard from ... (and some of the artists we DIDN'T hear from) ... phoned in their memories to K-Earth ... check this out!  (kk)  Click here: ‘American Bandstand’ Artists Remember Dick Clark Kent ...  Chubby Checker, Freddy Cannon + more.  Even an X-rated Ronnie Spector story.(I thought that would get your attention!)   Frank B. Everyone, please view this video and share it ... we'd appreciate it very much. Best regards, Trade. JIMMY JAY MEMORIES OF HIS FRIEND DICK CLARK ... Our latest video. "DICK CLARK REMEMBRANCE TRIBUTE" ... (Jimmy Jay Memories) YouTube Link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-jjZweRqbY More Dick Clark Memories tomorrow in Forgotten Hits!

Forgotten Hits Remembers Dick Clark

As expected, we received hundreds and hundreds of emails regarding the passing of Dick Clark ... the most we have ever received surrounding the death of a music legend.  (Previously, that distinction belonged to Gene Pitney ... and, for the record, the biggest overall response we ever received was pertaining to our Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame rave-out a few years back) ... but Dick Clark touched the lives of SO many over the years that many of you felt compelled to share these feelings and memories with us ... and we thank you for that ... this is the very foundation on which Forgotten Hits was built some thirteen years ago ... and it's this sharing of the memories and milestones that keeps us going today.

We first heard the news on Wednesday, the 18th, right around 1:30 pm.  Within minutes after that, many of you sent in news clippings ...  

This one's from CelebrityDeathBeeper.com:

Dick Clark Dead at 82 of a 'Massive Heart Attack'  

Dick Clark -- famed TV producer and "New Year's Rockin' Eve" host -- died from a massive heart attack this morning ... TMZ has learned.
Clark's rep tells TMZ, the TV icon had been in St. John's hospital in L.A. after undergoing an outpatient procedure last night. Clark suffered the "massive" heart attack following the procedure. Attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.
Clark was 82.
Clark's health had been on the decline since he suffered a significant stroke in 2004 -- forcing him to retire from his hosting gig at "New Year's Rockin' Eve," which he created in 1972. Ryan Seacrest took over in 2006. Dick has appeared on the show sporadically ever since. His final appearance was in 2011.
Months before suffering a stroke, Clark told Larry King he also suffered from Type 2 diabetes. 

Dick hosted Miss USA from 1989 - 1993 -- and Miss Universe 1990 - 1993.
In addition, Clark also hosted a bunch of game shows -- like "Pyramid," "Scattergories," "The Challengers," and many more.
Clark got his first big break in 1956, hosting what was called "Bob Horn's Bandstand" ... what would later be renamed "American Bandstand." Clark continued to host and produce "American Bandstand" until 1989. Clark had been inducted into practically every hall of fame on the planet -- including the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame.
Clark had also received a total of 5 Emmy Awards for his work, as well as a Peabody Award. One Emmy was a lifetime achievement award.
Clark was married 3 times -- and has 3 children from his first two marriages. He is survived by his current wife Kari Wigton.
"For now, Dick Clark ... so long."    

Next came a special bulletin from AllAccess:

DICK CLARK, longtime radio and TV host and powerhouse producer who changed the way we listened to pop music with AMERICAN BANDSTAND, died today at the age of … » read story

Followed by breaking news from Billboard.com ...

Dick Clark Dead at 82 
Dick Clark, the revered TV producer whose "American Bandstand," "American Top 40" and  "New Year's Rockin' Eve" helped shape modern pop music for decades, died of a "massive heart attack" at a Los Angeles hospital on Wednesday, his agent confirmed to Billboard. He was 82.
For more info, go to billboard.biz.

We found this posted on Ron Smith's oldiesmusic.com website: 

Dick Clark, long-time host of ABC-TV's "American Bandstand" and "Rockin' New Years Eve" and known affectionately as "America's Oldest Teenager," died Wednesday (April 18) at a hospital in Santa Monica, California, from a massive heart attack. He was 82.

Born in Mt. Vernon, New York, he began his radio career in Utica, New York, before attending Syracuse University where he obtained a degree in business. A series of radio and TV jobs followed, but his big break came after he moved to Pennsylvania where his neighbor, Ed McMahon, helped him get a job with radio station WFIL in Philadelphia. When Bob Horn was let go by WFIL television in a 1956 drunk driving scandal, Dick took over the station's "Bandstand" dance program. A year later the ABC network picked up the show for national airing as "American Bandstand." Dick was not without controversy, though. His various side interests in music labels and publishing brought him to the attention of Congressional payola investigators. ABC forced Dick to divest himself of these conflicts of interest and he was essentially cleared. Dick continued to host the "Bandstand" program

-- daily until 1963, then weekly until 1987. He hosted a prime-time variety program from 1958 - 1960 and produced the daily "Where The Action Is" music show from 1965 - 1967. Dick Clark Productions expanded into other areas as well, including "The $10,000 Pyramid" game show (which later increased in value until just becoming "Pyramid"), "The American Music Awards" and "TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes." In 2004 he suffered a major stroke from which he never fully recovered. However, he continued to appear at the stroke of midnight with his wife each New Years on TV. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, the Radio Hall of Fame in 1990 and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1976. The four-time Emmy winner will forever be remembered by his sign off, "For now, Dick Clark ... so long."   

And then, throughout the day ... and the rest of the week ... updates, tributes, memories and nostalgia ... 
  
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/dick-clark-entertainment-icon-nicknamed-americas-oldest-teenager/story?id=16076252

Bspro

Kent ...

They used to call Dick America's oldest teenager.

Do you remember?  It had a good beat and it was easy to dance to. 

Click here: Dick Clark Remembered On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame [Photos]#photo-1#photo-1#photo-1  

Click here: Memorable Performances From American Bandstand    
Click here: Remembering American Bandstand’s 50th [Photos]

Click here: Bandstand Boogie - Barry Manillow - YouTube

Click here: Times Square Museum and Visitor Center Honors Dick Clark    
Check out Wild Wayne's Clip of the Week ... Dick Clark interviews Connie Francis ... 
Click here: THE OFFICIAL "WILD" WAYNE WEBSITE  
Frank B.

Hi Kent,

On my facebook I belong to the American Bandstanders. The American Bandstand Dancers met at noon on Thursday, April 19th, at Dick Clark's star on Sunset and Vine in Hollywood in front of Chase Bank on Vine. 

Carrie  

Dick Clark was a true ambassador of Rock and Roll.
Mike De Martino
President of the Lovejoy Music Club

Sad news.  As you say, Dick Clark was an icon.  "American Bandstand" never made it to these shores - by comparison with the States, we were starved over here in the 50's and early 60's of decent pop shows. The BBC had a go with "6-5 Special" and ITV countered with "Oh Boy" - both Jack Good concoctions - unfortunately both shows suffered by centering on our mainly weaker home grown talents of the 50's.  A blast of Chuck Berry on UK TV in the 50's would have been seismic!! Jerry Lee came over in '58 but only lasted three shows before he was sent packing with his (very) young wife!!

If you go on to Wikipedia, they have a page on American Bandstand plus another page listing all of the acts who appeared over the years - incredible!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_acts_who_appeared_on_American_Bandstand

John   

Kent -

Dick Clark's passing brought back a deluge of memories for me. While there were many others of equal importance to rock and roll, no one was more important than Dick Clark in contributing to the rise in popularity and establishing rock and roll as a permanent part of life and not just the passing fad that our parents claimed. I remember coming home from school and turning on American Bandstand and wishing that I could have long hair in a ducktail instead of the crew cut that everyone at squeaky clean New Trier high school wore. Instead I bought a horizontal stripe sweater just like the ones the boys on bandstand wore and fantasized about the sexy blond (Franny) who was on every show. I also remember Dick Clark's nighttime show advertised by Beech Nut Spearmint gum and wearing Big Name Buttons. I don't know why but I remember that the first act on the first show was  the Royal Teens singing "Short Shorts". And I remember my disappointment when Dick packed up the American Bandstand show and took it to California. For me it just wasn't the same.

But when I reflect back I now realize just how significant his contributions to music really were. Tony Orlando was on Cousin Brucie's show today and he said "only God was responsible for creating more rock and roll stars than Dick Clark"

Steve Davidson   

Kent,

What can I say other than RIP Dick Clark, a man we all grew up with, that is / was / always will be a class act that will be sorely missed and fondly remembered. How lucky we were to have had him continue to grace our homes and entertain us every New Years after his stroke in 2004.

Cheryl 

I was living on Guam when American Bandstand first went national, and even though it wasn't available to us, we heard about it.  When I finally made it back to the mainland, one of the first things I did was find out when and where it was on and checked it out.  It was as good as I'd heard it was.

From 6/58 through 6/60, I was a regular viewer and really enjoyed seeing all the pop music stars drop by.  Then I enlisted and went back overseas again (Japan) and lost touch with it.

In my 15 years as a radio DJ, I heard many stories about Dick and "AB", some good and some not.  But, in the end, I have to recognize his impact on my own life, and acknowledge his staying power in the music and TV biz.  He certainly earned his spot as an icon for pop culture. 

Thanks, Dick for all that music and all those memories.  Well done!

Jim "Southern" 

RIP Dick Clark,

I try to keep my memories of Dick Clark isolated to the American Bandstand years when he brought all that great Rock 'n Roll, Doo Wop and Motown songs and groups into our living rooms. All that New Year's Eve crap belongs to the "Modern Merchandisers" who took away the innocence of our music.

He's where he belongs now up with all the stars who he helped along in there early years. God Bless you, Dick Clark.

Charlie

 

To me, Dick Clark was and always will be the reason I fell in love with a new art form  during my early years and that, of course, was Rock N Roll. Hearing  the news yesterday  brought such sadness but also let me take a look back on how he influenced my love and passion of oldies. 

I grew up on the north side of Chicago and we had a typical household with the one black and white TV in the living room and a stay at home mom.  I would come home from school every day and put on The Mickey Mouse Club to see the latest adventures of Spin and Marty and the likes of Annette and Cubby.  One day my older brother convinced my  mom to let him watch  this show called Chicago Bandstand, as kids from his high school  were dancing that day on the show.  I got so upset but took a peak and saw something that got my interest.  Within a few days, I had discovered another show on ABC called American Bandstand.  I remember in those days that Johnny Carson had an afternoon show that led into AB.  To say the least, I was hooked and every day I would rush home  from school to watch Kenny and Arlene and Justine and Carmen, etc, etc., dance to the latest hits.  1 1/2 hours a day and soon Dick Clark had a Saturday evening show sponsored by Beechnut gum and I can remember the slogan like it was yesterday.  Wrapped in green and made for a teen.  I remember the day in 1961 that Dion  lip synched Runaround Sue three times in an hour. By 1964 the early era of Rock N Roll had ended.  The British Invasion had started and Dick Clark moved AB from Philadelphia to LA and soon after it became a once a week Saturday show taken over weekdays by another Dick Clark show called Where the Action Is.

Those early days were magical and I have to admit while today is so sad, it's also a day to celebrate the life of a person who was probably the major factor in the rise of the music we all love and that's Rock and Roll.  He made the music safe and the parents bought into it and trusted  his clean shaven looks and smile.

For so many people today Dick Clark means New Year's Eve or the $25,000 Pyramid but to me one sentence says it all.  Yes, it's got a good beat and you can dance to it ... and I give it a 98. Thank you, Dick Clark, for a lifetime of memories.

Mark   

The thing about Dick Clark when I was a kid growing up in Dodge City, Kansas, was that he was ALWAYS visible, but not someone you always were TRYING to see that much.  If Bandstand was on and you happened to be at home Saturdays, you watched it!  You always knew his show would be on, so most of the time you tried to catch it, but if you didn't, there was always next week or always "Action" to watch when at home from school for lunch. 
In Dodge City, we did get Lloyd Thaxton for a season or two, but basically, "Bandstand" and "Action" were what kids nationally could access that lived in rural communities.  It was OUR chance to see what big city kids were dancing to and I loved "Rate-a-Record" segments. 
Plus, you did not have to have a big hit to be on "Action" so I could see video of groups that would never have even known existed, had it not been for "Action". 
Dick was always on TV and radio.  He had a syndicated five minute thing on WLS in the 64 era.  I still have an acetate of one of those shows.  Soon, WCFL's Jim Stagg was copying this and putting out "Stagg Line" programs on 45 acetates as well.  So many things that Dick Clark did were copied ... from the Bandstand-type shows (not an original Clark idea, of course) to syndication programming ... to group interviews ... to Top 10 boards, you name it.  He may not have invented things always, but no one knew this at the time.  They just knew what he did worked and they tried it and it often worked for them, too.  Like with Sullivan ... if you got on his shows, it was a BIG moment.  Unlike Sullivan, Dick had a great presence at the mic and a class presentation that many of the top DJs followed.  Dick Bartley certainly continues the great sound and presence that Dick Clark had throughout the 60's and 70's.  BUT, no one did it better than Dick Clark. 

Rest in Peace. 

Clark Besch   

Hi Kent -

What very sad news of Dick Clark's passing. I used to rush home from school to watch American Bandstand to learn all the latest dances, see my favorite dancers plus all the guest stars he had on the show. I am lucky to have a VHS tape of his 1957 AB December show and some of his Saturday night Beechnut gum Flavor IFFIC shows!  I corresponded with the president of the AB fan club for a few years and got them thru him. I also have photos of the original dancers like Arlene Sullivan, Frannie Giordano, Bob and Justine and others! What a class act innovator he was. So glad I grew up at the time he was in his prime with American Bandstand. I know he became a famous quiz show host and producer, but I will always associate him with American Bandstand.  I think that was his favorite contribution, too! Cant wait for your tribute to him and more on his background. Also look forward to the comments from all his fans!! And Now TJ Lubinsky uses his old film clips of singers that appeared on his shows who have passed on but we can still enjoy ... Thank you Kent for all you do to preserve rock and roll memories!!!! Carolyn We're letting the fans and friends of Dick Clark do all the talking this time around ... it is unreal how many responses we received ... and how nearly every single response paints a portrait of Dick Clark as a very caring, sharing and generous man.  (kk)   PHILADELPHIA MUSIC ALLIANCE SALUTES MEMORY OF EARLY ‘WALK OF FAME’ INDUCTEE DICK CLARK    PHILADELPHIA – A quarter century ago, Dick Clark became the 11th musical figure with Philadelphia roots to be honored with a bronze plaque along the City of Brotherly Love’s new Walk of Fame.    Clark, whose passing yesterday made a seismic quake on the pop culture landscape, came back to Philadelphia in 1987, where his career took off as the host of “Bandstand,” to see his plaque unveiled. He was joined in the ceremony by Chubby Checker and Frankie Avalon, two Philadelphia ‘Bandstand’ era pop stars whose careers were launched by Clark on the show. At the time, Clark said his inclusion on the Walk of Fame was special as a non-musician, “because you accept on behalf of all of us who love music and can’t perform it.”    In its 25th anniversary year, the Philadelphia Music Alliance (PMA), the non-profit organization which honors Philadelphia music through the Walk of Fame and other programs, today reminds the world why Clark was among the first inductees to be immortalized with a bronze plaque. And in so doing, the PMA is making plans to pay further tribute to his memory in the months ahead.    “Dick Clark was an immensely creative talent with an indelibly strong connection to Philadelphia as a showcase for popular music,” said Karen Lewis, PMA chairman. “The Board of the Philadelphia Music Alliance extends condolences to his family. We will miss his inspiration, ingenuity and optimistic outlook.”    The day after Clark’s plaque was installed in the sidewalk along the Walk of Fame, Clark appeared at the first Philadelphia Music Awards show for induction into the Hall of Fame. Clark, who began hosting “Bandstand” here in 1956, said local support for emerging talent – one of the purposes of the PMA – is essential for the development of new performers.    "The hardest thing for a new artist to do is not to give up," he told a reporter during his Philadelphia visit to receive the PMA honors. "If they get no support and no help, they will get discouraged and they'll do something else."    Above and beyond immortalizing careers through induction ceremonies along the Avenue of the Arts, the global aim of the Philadelphia Music Alliance is to become THE music authority in Philadelphia. True to its name, the PMA aims to stress its position as a vital alliance, forming new partnerships with all levels of the Philadelphia music community, the public and private sector, while further empowering the city’s ongoing musical legacy and encouraging the growth of Walk of Fame inductees for future generations.    The Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk of Fame is a living tribute to Philadelphia’s rich music history and a vital force unifying the city’s diverse cultural communities along the Avenue of the Arts. www.philadelphiamusicalliance.org Trivia:     Rate a Record - YouTube   Rate A Record - my best AB memory.  American Bandstand used 35 to 98 to Rate-A-Record.  Why did they use those numbers?    Answer: A couple of selected dancers got to play "Rate a Record," where they heard two songs and graded them on a scale of 35 to 98. The range, according to Clark, reflecting the notion that no song was all bad or perfect.  Enjoy the video.  It's vintage.   PLQQKER   Kent, First Davy Jones, now Dick Clark ... MAKE IT STOP!!!!!! Ed Pond  And let's not forget Don Cornelius ... and far too many others recently to count.  Sorry to say that time is catching up with all of us.  (kk) Some of you even wrote your own tributes ... Kent, Thanks for the opportunity to share thoughts on Dick Clark. Here's my story on examiner.com     "Remembering Dick Clark, who gave generations the chance to dance" found at:  http://bit.ly/I5XOLa  In keeping with your theme of all brothers Gibb, in this very story, one of the references to random samplings of some of the generational performers appearing on episodes of "American Bandstand" is to one by child actor Butch Patrick (Eddie Munster), whose 1972 release of the single "I.O.I.O." was possibly the only song he'd become known for. Why? Maybe it's because the songwriters were (wait for it ... ) B. Gibb and M. Gibb.  How 'bout them apples?  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaXpQJNGtC0  Best, Dawn Lee Wakefield National classic rock music examiner.com Very cool!  Way to kill two birds with one stone, Dawn Lee! (lol)  kk http://www.examiner.com/classic-pop-in-national/dick-clark-remembered http://www.examiner.com/beach-boys-in-national/dick-clark-s-new-year-s-rockin-eve-with-chicago-and-the-beach-boys David Beard / Endless Summer Quarterly Click here: Cousin Brucie Remembers The Great Dick Clark on CBS-FM Dick Clark Timeline: His Life & Business A look back at the life and business of America’s oldest teenager:  from his birth in 1929 in Bronxville, New York, working as a radio announce at his WRUN to launching American Bandstand as well as his "Psych-Out" movie with Jimi Hendrix, the American Music Awards and his annual New Year's Rockin' Eve -- and so much more -- Clark was one of the music industry's most successful and pioneering entrepreneurs.     Lots more to come ...

Beginning tomorrow we'll hear from some of those who knew him ... worked with him ... or crossed paths with him over the years.

(You won't want to miss this!)

Please join us this week as Forgotten Hits salutes and remembers 

Dick Clark!

TONIGHT:  I've heard from a number of readers that Entertainment Tonight will be airing a special look at the Shawn Swords / Paul Russo documentary "Wages Of Spin" this evening as part of their continued Dick Clark coverage.  (They ran a very-nicely-put-together one hour Dick Clark commemorative special over the weekend, too, I'm told.)  Interesting to see that they're showing you BOTH sides of Clark's career.  (Look for "Wages Of Spin" coverage in Forgotten Hits later this week, too!)  Check your local listings for air times.

WAGES OF SPIN:  Of course all of this is old news for our Forgotten Hits Readers ... we've been telling you about "Wages Of Spin" since 2007 - 2008 ... and even ran a copy of a National Enquirer story run a few years ago.

http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2008/03/wages-of-spin.html

http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2009/04/wage-of-pin-update.html