Posted on 04/18/2012 12:56:32 PM PDT by crosslink
When I was younger, between 1975 to 1985 and between the ages of 16 to 26, I was in a band with my older brother. We were a nostalgia band from Chicago called Jade 50’s and later just Jade. We were a lot like Sha Na Na. We had a big show we preformed mostly in college towns and “Rock and Roll” bars in the Midwest and East Coast. We also were lucky enough to have caught Dick Clark’s attention and during the summer he would hire us to be the back up band for all of his acts like Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, The Coasters and so on. He use to hire us to preform at festivals all over the country.
He was the most professional person I had ever met in the music business. His itinerary for both the matinee and evening shows were down to the minute. Whatever town we were preforming in he would have a 11:00am rehearsal and schedule something like 23 minutes with each artist....except for Chuck Berry. Chuck Berry would never rehearse with anyone. He would just say, “If you don’t know my music you shouldn’t even be here.”
There was nothing better than playing in front of 40,000, 50,000 and a few times at Disney World 70,000 people. I will never forget playing with those Dick Clark Rock and Roll Shows. It was such a pleasure to be on stage with him. What a professional and gentleman.
Sad to hear this, Dick Clark was an institution in the music industry. It’s weird to think that I grew up watching his show AND so did my parents (parents were both born in 1946, I was born in 1970, American Bandstand ran from 1957-87).
Good grief. Clark was a shakedown artist. Why is he being worshipped in here?
Oh lucky you! Living so close. Yes, a much more innocent time. I was already 11 when you were 5. LOL.
I remember listening to him now and then when I was well a pre-teen. Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chubby Checker just to name a few were heard and seen with him at their beginnings. I can't imagine my teenage years without Dick Clark. Bless him and give his family peace.
Nam Vet
Watched Bandstand a few times in 1961 when I was in 2’nd grade. It was just ok. “Oh, it has a good beat!”, said the inmates. So does my dad’s car, said I. I would rather Mr. Wizard was on every afternoon.
“I have at least of heard of Wolfman Jack, though I wouldn’t know his face if I ran over him.”
So I guess you never saw American Graffiti?
If you can't appreciate the pure beauty of the violin after hearing this, something's wrong with your ears.
Or you can get raw with these strings.
How about this gamechanger from America's Got Talent (which they SHOULD have won).
And finally, this, dedicated to the one and only rdb2, whose eyes are growing dim.
Either way, the violin is sweet yet LETHAL.
Do it!
I’m really going to miss him on New Year’s Eve. I watched him every year since I was a kid. His poor wife, she didn’t know on New Year’s that would be the last New Year she would bring in with a kiss from her husband.
Moral of the story: America’s teenagers don’t take care of themselves as they used to!
The last few years watching him after the stroke slurring his speech was tough to watch.
He should have retired and not let anyone see him like that. The lasting memory would have been a 70 year old guy who looked younger than the 50 year old Bandstand dancers at the reunion.
RIP. Prayers to his family.
**I hope he’s finding a good beat that’s easy to dance to**
Rock ‘n Roll Heaven
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2cijNKu9qc
Several years ago, he was testifying at some trial. Before he was dismissed, the judge said he had a question to ask him. The judge reminded him that he was still under oath. The judge’s question was from his wife. He asked how old he really was. Dick Clark answered seventy-something, however old he was at the time. Everyone in the courtroom got a good laugh out of that.
RIP, Mr. Clark. You helped take the edge off of our times. You will be missed.
We all attended the grand opening and it was great fun. I have photos of it, but don't have a graphics server to post. Used to go up there at least quarterly every year till we closed. Haven't spoken with him since.
We'll miss you Dick. You helped provide the soundtrack to our lives! You were the real deal and the first to integrate the races on your show. You saw no color as the teens danced and gathered around you. Bless your family and the countless friends you've left behind.
Entertain them where ever you are Dick.
Really? You just had to post a photo of that fool on this thread? Bad form.
Cool. Good for you.
VERY cool story; memories for a lifetime, no doubt.
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