Person Biography:
Dick Clark was born on November 30, 1929, in Mount Vernon, New York, to Julia Fuller (Barnard) and Richard Augustus Clark. He had one older brother, Bradley, who was killed in World War II. Clark began his career in the mailroom of WRUN radio station in Utica, New York, which was owned by his uncle and managed by his father. He worked his way up the ranks and became a radio announcer.
After graduating from Syracuse University with a degree in business administration, Clark began working at several radio and television stations before landing at WFIL radio in 1952. He became a substitute host for Bob Horn's Bandstand, an afternoon program where teenagers danced to popular music, broadcast by WFIL's affiliated television station.
In 1956, Horn was arrested for drunk driving, giving Clark the perfect opportunity to step in as the full-time host. The show was rebranded as "American Bandstand" and premiered on ABC in 1957. Clark added interviews with artists, lip-sync performances, and "Rate-a-Record," allowing teens to judge the songs on the show.
Clark became one of the most successful and longest-running musical programs, featuring artists such as Chuck Berry, the Doors, the Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, and Smokey Robinson. He was also involved in the music publishing and recording businesses, managing artists, hosting live sock hops, and arranging concert tours.
In 1964, Clark moved Bandstand from Philadelphia to Los Angeles and became more involved in television production. He produced shows such as "Where the Action Is," "TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes," and "So You Think You Can Dance." Clark also hosted television's "$10,000 Pyramid," "TV Bloopers and Practical Jokes," and "The Other Half."
Clark is also known for hosting the annual "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" special, which has become a cultural tradition. He received several notable awards, including four Emmy Awards, the Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Peabody Award. Clark was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, The Radio Hall of Fame, Broadcasting Magazine Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame.
Clark passed away on April 18, 2012, at the age of 82, due to a massive heart attack following an outpatient procedure.
