Dick Clark died today (Wednesday- April 18) of a heart attack in Santa Monica, Ca (near Los Angeles) at age 82. Born in Mt Vernon, New York, Clark attended A.B. Davis High School and then moving on to Syracuse University graduating in 1951. He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity and also worked at SU campus radio station WAER. He obtained his first professional broadcasting position at WOLF Radio AM-1490 here in Syracuse (1950 to July 1951). At WOLF, Clark started working weekends and soon became a full time WOLF staffer where he played the music of Eddy Arnold, Gene Autry & Marty Robbins. Clark was hired by WOLF program director Ham Woodle and started working the "Sandman Serenade" at the rate of $1.00 per hour
Dick Clark has a star on the Syracuse Walk of Fame in front of the Landmark Theater and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Syracuse Area Music Awards (SAMMYS) in 1993. He went on to work at WRUN Radio (Rome, NY) and later became Dick Clay on Utica's WKTV television. He hosted a country & western show as Cactus Dick & Santa Fe Riders
It was then on to American Bandstand in Philadelphia (replacing Bob Horn on WFIL TV) and later Los Angeles. Dick Clark's "Rockin New Year Eve"became a fixture to all of us on December 31 live from Times Square. Dick Clark is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. And the rest is Rock & Roll.
His famed "Caravan of Stars" tours started in 1959 headliner by Paul Anka & Annette. These show visted Syracuse many times featuring the likes of- Gene Pitney, Bobby Vee, Supremes, Tom Jones, Peter & Gordon, Bobby Goldsboro, The Crystals, Brian Hyland, Freddie Cannon, Herman's Hermits, Shirelles, Orlons,The Dovells, Dick & Dee Dee, John Tillotson, Lou Christie, Gary Lewis & The Playboys. Little Anthony and the Imperials, Dixie Cups, The Hondells, Round Robin, Reparata and the Delrons, Mel Carter, Billy Stewart, Ronnie Dove, Billy Jo Royal, Bobby Freeman, Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans and many-many- more throughout the years.
Dick Clark was also heard on radio syndication here in Syracuse first on WOLF Radio from 2-4 PM afternoons in 1963
His famed "Caravan of Stars" tours started in 1959 headliner by Paul Anka & Annette. These show visted Syracuse many times featuring the likes of- Gene Pitney, Bobby Vee, Supremes, Tom Jones, Peter & Gordon, Bobby Goldsboro, The Crystals, Brian Hyland, Freddie Cannon, Herman's Hermits, Shirelles, Orlons,The Dovells, Dick & Dee Dee, John Tillotson, Lou Christie, Gary Lewis & The Playboys. Little Anthony and the Imperials, Dixie Cups, The Hondells, Round Robin, Reparata and the Delrons, Mel Carter, Billy Stewart, Ronnie Dove, Billy Jo Royal, Bobby Freeman, Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans and many-many- more throughout the years.
Dick Clark was also heard on radio syndication here in Syracuse first on WOLF Radio from 2-4 PM afternoons in 1963
Dick Clark a rock and roll giant was a friend to many of us in Central New York. He will be deeply missed - Ron
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