April 18, 2012 
It is always so difficult to lose someone who has been such an integral part of our musical lives.
Today was a sad day for all of us. The legendary Dick Clark died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 82.
Clark suffered a massive heart attack Wednesday morning, spokesman Paul Shefrin said. He died at Saint John’s hospital in Santa Monica, Calif., where he had gone the day before for an outpatient procedure.
Clark had suffered a significant stroke in 2004, forcing him to retire from his hosting gig at New Years’ Rockin’ Eve, which he created in 1972. He appeared annually on the show, now hosted by Ryan Seacrest, until this past year.
Seacrest said he was saddened by the loss. “I idolized him from the start, and I was graced early on in my career with his generous advice and counsel,” Seacrest said. “He was a remarkable host and businessman and left a rich legacy to television audiences around the world. We will all miss him.”
I always enjoyed watching him during the New Year’s Eve telecasts and fondly remember him from ABC’s American Bandstand. I grew up with that show and later my daughters rocked on as well.
And how he defied the aging process is one of the great mysteries of life! The man looked remarkably young, even after his stroke in 2004. I guess the key is to stay young inside and live life to the fullest, which he most certainly did.
He was a very successful businessman as well, accomplishing so very much in those 82 years.
My condolences go out to his family and friends. Please know that he will be remembered always!
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MCL,I grew up with Dick Clark and AB. However, the only bias I ever had against it,was the fact that so many youth started to look at music the way it was played on AB. Remember the rating system? The popular comments were “It has a good beat and you can dance to it.” I dubbed that the American Bandstand Rule of Music,and unfortunately that’s exactly the formulas used to push so much mediocre music at us to this day! That show brought us many diverse artists tho’ that’s for sure.
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Really? I sort of remember the comment but, now that you say it, the music did start to become more rhythmic in content than melodic. Radio friendly also. I tire of these songs do easily. I am attracted to a great melody and lyrics.
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There were two previous times I cried when a celebrity died – Elvis Presley (42 yrs.) and John Lennon (40 yrs), and today I got misty-eyed but knew Dick Clark had lived life to the fullest. His accomplishments are unmeasurable! Indeed, I am so sad.
Like you, MCL I came home each day from school, and watched AMERICAN BANDSTAND. I practiced those steps and made a commitment to dance. I felt so bad that I couldn’t carry a tune or play an instrument…but I loved to dance. I can vividly remmember Justine, blonde hair and beautiful. When they had the Dance Contests, I would be a “judge”!
It was so wonderful seeing all the new singers and the veterans appear on Dick Clark’s show. Some clear members were Paula Anka, Beach Boys, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, and the Jackson Five. Although Elvis could not appear on the show (his appearance could cause a riot), I remember the phone calls made to my “American Idol”!
Vocab Mad, I do remember the comment, “It has a good beat and you can dance to it.” To this day, we all associate it with American Bandstand; however, remember the rating of the records started as early as 1957. The music that followed were the Beach Boys, the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Lesley Gore, Motown stars etc. – not the mediocre music of today. So, this is fond memory. :o)
My life is flashing before me as CNN has been showing so much of my childhood and adolescence. I can also relate to Dick Clark’s New Years Eve party. When you have three little ones, very little money, and wanted to be entertained, you watched the show with your loved one/sponse. Where did that time go?
I have often said, Music Is the Soundtrack of My Life! I am sure that phrase will be spoken when I have passed on. For that, I can thank Dick Clark! Prayers for his family and close friends. May God comfort them.
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Master Class Lady;
Thank you for posting about Dick Clark.( Just thought I let you know, I found out about it first through your site). I’m “old school” as they say so of course hearing about this did bring a tear.
Dick Clark. Wow!! My how I looked forwards to Saturday mornings back then to look at American Bandstand. We had the radio to listen to our favorite music, but on Dick Clark’s show we could finally SEE them. I was just thinking how today we have MTV and “You Tube” where you can see videos of your favorite singers 24/7 but back in those days you had to wait until Saturday morning to see them and every Saturday I was right there. Dick Clark on Saturday morning and Ed Sullivan on Sunday night (and then much later Don Cornelius who Ryan spoke of last night). American Bandstand is the only place that I remember that you could actually SEE them. What I really like about it was the it crossed the color-lines and a lot of performers careers sky-rocketed because of his show.
Da da da da da ….. da da da da da da da (LOL) Just remembering the theme song.
Mr Dick Clark you were a class act. Your show truly made a difference for those in the business and a big big mark in the hearts of all of us who were teenagers back then all over the world. Thank You and thank you God for sending him our way.
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