America's Oldest Teenager

Dick Clark has died.  For someone who didn't sing or play an instrument, he sure had a big effect on rock and roll. Years ago I read his autobiography (which he wrote in 1976), Rock, Roll & Remember, and it gave me a grudging respect for the man.  Though I'd heard stories about what a tough bastard he was behind the scenes, he honestly loved the music.  Furthermore, rock music needed someone tough in those days to defend it.

As so often happens with a new musical craze, the kids naturally love it while the Establishment not only hates it, but believes there's some conspiracy to force it on the public.  ASCAP, the older musical society was suddenly being taken down by upstart BMI.  Powerful people didn't like this, thus you had payola hearings in 1959--though payola had been around forever.  They destroyed Alan Freed, but Dick Clark faced Congress down with enough confusing data until they cried uncle (though Clark did have to divest himself of shares in publishing and recording companies).  He kept America Bandstand and put the music out there for everyone to see and hear.  Thanks, Dick.