The News Of …

Dick Clark (whose “American Bandstand” made him rich, famous, influential and sometimes controversial by marrying rock ‘n’ roll with television) died Wednesday morning at the age of 82.
His agent (Paul Shefrin) said he suffered a massive heart attack. He had struggled with health issues since suffering a a serious stroke in 2004.
Before then he was often called “America’s oldest living teenager” because of his perpetual and almost eerily youthful look.
“I can’t imagine our world without Dick Clark” – said Bruce “Cousin Brucie” Morrow, the long-time radio host now on SiriusXM. “You’d just look at him — that face. I never thought we’d lose him.”
But behind Clark’s boyish, all-American look, he was one of the canniest music and media moguls of the late 20th century — starting with the way he cross-marketed the two biggest pop culture phenomena of the past 60 years, rock ‘n’ roll and television.
“The passing of Dick Clark removes one of the largest foundation stones of the entire pop music industry for the latter half of the 20th century” – said longtime friend Kal Rudman, publisher of “Friday Morning Quarterback.”

Dick Clark.

“The world’s oldest teenager” was 82.
Clark (who had Type 2 diabetes) died at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, Calif., where he had gone Tuesday night for an outpatient procedure, according to a statement by his publicist.
“The King of the DJs died today, and his name was Dick Clark” – Twist legend Chubby Checker said in a phone interview. An appearance on “American Bandstand,” the show Clark rode to stardom, was something very special for an aspiring singer. “Being on ‘Bandstand’ was like getting a Nobel Prize” – Checker said. “From 3 o’clock in the afternoon until 5:30, nobody was on the street. They were watching “Bandstand. Can you imagine that?”
Legendary Philadelphia DJ Jerry Blavat described Clark as a culture-changer. “He became the good-looking American guy who made rock and roll respectable, who transformed people’s attitude to the music” – Blavat said. “If it weren’t for Dick Clark, a whole generation of people would never have gotten the opportunity they did.”
The “oldest teenager” nickname came from Clark’s easy rapport with his young audience, and from a clean-cut look that remained boyish until he suffered a stroke in December 2004 that slowed him down and slurred his speech.
But it didn’t end his TV career. TV audiences knew him in recent years as the old trouper, valiantly struggling against his stroke-induced impairments, who ushered in each New Year – except the one right after his stroke – from Times Square in New York on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.”
But long before that, Clark became Philadelphia’s first national TV celebrity. In 1956, he took over as host of an already successful local dance show called “Bandstand” and made it even more successful, steering it onto network TV the following year as “American Bandstand.” His style was silky smooth as he bantered with young audience members, who assessed songs for their beat and danceability.
The show would run for 30 years on ABC, with Clark hosting the entire time. It would also run briefly in syndication and on cable channel USA, although without Clark. He moved the show to Los Angeles in 1964. Until then, Checker said, “American Bandstand’ was Philadelphia, and Philadelphia was music. There was no other place on the planet. Ed Sullivan had a little taste. But it was really 46th and Market Street, and that was it. And Philadelphia should be proud.”

New Year’s Eve will never be the same. Dick Clark has died.
Clark’s agent confirmed the news in a statement that the 82-year-old TV and music legend, who brought rock and roll into the American living room, died of a “massive heart attack” this morning.
NBC4 in L.A. reports that Clark had been at St. John’s Hospital where he suffered the heart attack after a medical procedure.
Clark, whose youthful appearance earned him the nickname of “America’s Oldest Teenager,” suffered a significant stroke in 2004. Ryan Seacrest took over his famous Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve show 2006, but Clark would not give it up, making appearances on the show ever since. Clark is also known for hosting long-running television shows including American Bandstand – which showcased rock and roll as it was emerging in the 1950s – and the game show The $25,000 Pyramid as well as TV’s Bloopers and Practical Jokes and The American Music Awards.
Clark has been married three times – and has three children from his first two marriages. He is survived by his current wife Kari Wigton.
In New York, a Thomson Reuters editor tweeted a photo of the Times Square ball at half-mast in honor of Clark.
Other fans reacted to the news:
Snoop Dogg – “REST IN PEACE to the DICK CLARK!! U were pioneer n a good man!!Thank u sir”
Hanson: “Dick Clark was a Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio/TV icon with an influence on pop culture for more than 50 years. Rest in peace. -ISAAC”
Mario Lopez – “Just heard the news of Dick Clark… It was truly an honor to have worked with him, learn from him and to be able to call him a friend. He was a great man and an even better friend. The word legend is thrown around a lot, but it’s never more appropriate than when used in describing Mr. Clark.. He was a real inspiration & influence in my life. I will dearly miss my friend… Rest well DC”
Charlie Daniels – “The CDB regrets the loss of our friend Dick Clark who we had the honor of working with many times. Nobody did TV like Dick. Rest In Peace.”
Marlee Matlin – “So sorry about passing of Dick Clark. A man with the gift of discovering talented musicians he also was a consummate producer/lovely man RIP”
Duran Duran – “Sad to hear about Dick Clark. Rest in peace”
D.L. Hughley – “RIP Dick Clark worked with him on New Years Rockin Eve and TV Bloopers always a class act!”
Seth Green – “So saddened by Dick Clark’s passing- an innovator, a legend, a man who believed in the greatness of humans. #ThankYou”.