I wouldn’t normally post like this, but I saw this news today and I had to share. Dick Clark was a class act, an icon in music and television. He was the long-running host of the shows  ‘American Bandstand’ and ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ which brought rock and roll music into many people’s homes for the first time. He has launched and promoted the careers of myriads of artists in his years in the industry.

Long dubbed “the world’s oldest teenager” because of his boyish appearance, he was still relevant to people all ages well into his advanced years. Born Nov. 30, 1929 in Mount Vernon, N.Y., Clark began his long music business career at age 17 as a radio announcer. He went on to become the host of ‘American Bandstand’ from 1956 to 1989. In 1993 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. A stroke in 2004 left Clark unable to host ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ for the first time in 32 years, he returned in a co-hosting role the subsequent year and every year following. On April 18th he has died of a “massive heart attack” at age 82. Clark leaves behind his wife, Kari Wington, a son, Richard Augustus II, with first wife Barbara Mallery and two children, Duane and Cindy, with second wife Loretta Martin. Dick Clark certainly knew how to be swell.