Dick Clark, 1929-2012

Categories: Obituaries

american-bandstand.jpg
Dick Clark and Cyndi Lauper
Man, it took about five minutes before the Dick Clark hologram jokes started pouring in via social media, but I can't say I'm surprised. And even though Clark no doubt had a sense of humor, it'd been increasingly difficult to see him in the last few years, what with his failing health. Still, he continued to do what he knew, what he loved, and we should all be so lucky.

I used to come home from school and race to see who would be on American Bandstand , the show I watched along with Dance Party USA, in the late '80s. Among everything else, Clark was a great interviewer, great at interacting with often prickly musicians. Not very many people get a chance to wrangle The Village People and introduce an off-the-rails performance from Public Image Ltd. Pretty sure he also enjoyed being lampooned every once in a while.

His death today at age 82 from a heart attack, while not surprising, is unfortunate. He was there for the start of rock 'n' roll, and rode that train all the way.

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Lastangelman
Lastangelman

Dick Clark's favorite lampoon of himself was being depicted on the cover of The Resident's Third Reich And Roll LP. He totally got the joke and threatened to fire one of his attorneys that wanted to send a cease and desist letter to the Cryptic Corporation in 1976. Instead, Dick Clark had album framed and installed in his office.

Daily Reader
Daily Reader

Saturday's were reserved for American Bandstand at our house.  Black and white TV's didn't have many stations available and this was one of the highlights of the week.  I probably wouldn't have had any interest in music if not for this man and show.

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