I’m sure the news of Dick Clark’s passing yesterday brought back many memories for a lot of people. There are many younger people who only know Dick Clark as the host of New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, or maybe they’ve seen Dick Clark Productions named in the credits of game shows or award shows. But, before Times Square, before the American Music Awards, before Bloopers, before Pyramid, there was Bandstand.
Today, I am thankful to be old enough to remember Saturday afternoons watching American Bandstand.
I can’t help but smiling as I think about watching the dancers so I could learn the newest steps. I remember the weekly Rate-A-Record segment; “It’s got a good beat and is easy to dance to” was a popular score justification. Everyone wanted to be like the cool kids on American Bandstand.
Then there are the contributions made to popular music, introducing rock ‘n roll to the masses as the first show to merge popular music and TV. Songs introduced on the show one week were top forty hits the next. There are landmark music history moments, too. Dick Clark changed the ‘all white” rule of the previous host and provided a national stage for Little Anthony, Chuck Berry, Chubby Checker and more. On the air for thirty years, American Bandstand introduced stars from Buddy Holly to Madonna, the Everly Brothers to Donna Summer.
Although there are numerous other television shows that Dick Clark is responsible for, American Bandstand is what I will most remember him for, with much gratitude and appreciation.
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