R.I.P. Dick Clark (1929-2012)

Iconic television and radio host Dick Clark has passed away at the age of 82 from a heart attack. Best known as the host for “American Bandstand” as well as his Times Square appearances on “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” Clark is already being fondly remembered by the hip-hop community – many members of which were raised watching his programs....

Clark had been on the airwaves so long that pioneer is perhaps too small a word for his vast influence. Hosting “Bandstand” in the ’50s, Clark helped break rock ‘n’ roll to a national audience by featuring stars like Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry. He would later do the same thing for rap by interviewing up-and-coming hip-hop stars in the ’80s such as LL Cool J and Run-DMC.

The death and cause were confirmed by Paul Shefrin, a spokesman for Clark, who revealed that the icon died Wednesday morning (April 18) at Saint John’s hospital in Santa Monica, CA. He had been admitted to an outpatient clinic for a procedure a day earlier.  R.I.P.

By Carter Maness