Dick Clark, often known as “America’s Oldest Teenager”, died
Wednesday at the ripe old age of 82 from a heart attack.
He is often credited with legitimatizing rock ‘n’ roll music
and brining the beloved music to the masses. At a time when segregation
dominated American life, Clark brought many black artists, including James
Brown, the Supremes, and the Temptations to the mainstream. The audience was
desegregated, which infuriated many who did not want their children to mix with
others who didn’t look like them.
Millions of young people danced to the songs, bought the
records, and requested the songs on their favorite rock ‘n’ roll radio
stations, which were at their peak in the 1950s and 1960s. Pop culture and
youth culture were mixed together. For the first time, young folks had a say in
what music they were going to listen and dance to.
Here are highlights from the extraordinary entertainer and
media mogul’s life and career.
American Bandstand
For decades, “American Bandstand”, which began as a local
afternoon program in Philadelphia, was where young people got ahold of their
new music. A band or singer knew they made it when Dick Clark talked to you
after a performance. Clark was a superb MC. He was comfortable and confident
when talking to the performers. He made it seem too easy to chit-chat with some
of the biggest names in music, often feeling like friends just stopped by to
perform and talk to Clark in his living room. It’s because of Clark that
countless of MCs, television personalities, disc jockeys, and others were able
to go in front of an audience and emcee effortlessly.
In one of their first television appearances, the Beach Boys
talk to Clark about the creative process behind songwriting, surfing, and
summer plans to tour across the country.
Here Clark interviews psychedelic band Jefferson Airplane in
1967. Here he tries to ask as many questions to the band, including what would
a hippie do if he was paid a large amount of money to become a “square.”
James Brown dances across the dance floor before Clark
catches up with the legendary showman, who visited the studio several times
over the years. Clark has to remind Brown that he’s on television and has to
make sure his back isn’t facing the millions watching at home.
The American Music Awards
Clark created the American Music Awards as an alternative to
the Grammy Awards, which did not recognize pop music often back in the 1970s.
These awards were a popularity contest. The winners were determined by a poll
of music buyers. The first awards show took place in 1973.
Dick Clark Productions
Dick Clark’s New Years Rockin’ Eve
The (New) $25,000 Pyramid
Clark won several Daytime Emmy Awards for his hosting duties
on the game show “Pyramid”, which ran on CBS and ABC from 1973-1988. Like
“American Bandstand”, Clark was affable and comfortable in the host’s chair.
Michael Moore’s documentary “Bowling for Columbine” (2002)
Of course, no man is perfect. When it was discovered that
eating establishments owned by “America’s Oldest Teenager” were involved in the
controversial “Welfare-to-Work” program created by the Clinton administration,
Michael Moore attempts to confront Clark about these questionable business
choices. In the Academy Award-winning documentary, a single, black mother is
working over 80 hours a week while unable to pay the bills. Her son, a
first-grader who is often left to fend for himself, brought a gun to school and
shot a fellow student. Clark refused to talk to Moore about the issue.
Note: Video unavailable.
“American Dreams”
From 2002 to 2005, this NBC period drama showcased a
Philadelphia teenage girl (Brittany Snow) who appeared as a regular on
“American Bandstand” in the early 1960s. Numerous contemporary artists made
guest cameos as 60s-era artists.
Dick Clark’s New Years Rockin’ Eve
In 2004, Clark suffered a stroke that left him unable to
host his New Year’s Rockin’ Eve show, which he has hosted since 1974 on ABC. With
his speech limited, Clark cut back his public appearances. Ryan Seacrest would
take over Clark’s shoes (in more ways than one), although Clark would make a
cameo appearance on the specials. Here is Clark, struggling with his speech
despite having a smile on his face, counting down to greet the year 2012. There
is no word yet on how ABC will proceed with the future of the special.
