It’s hard to articulate how I feel right now, but I’ll try my best to add to what has been said about the man that has been a part of our lives for so many decades. No doubt, you know about the icon, so I’ll try to tell you a few of my personal memories.
I met Dick Clark back in January of 1988. I was fresh out of college and had landed a job in his radio department editing and mixing “Rock, Roll & Remember.” He came into the studio to record that week’s show and I was introduced to him. Looking directly in the eyes, and with a firm handshake, he “welcomed aboard.” Dick went into the booth, read the script (making it sound like it was information off the top of his head and not something he was reading) and during the credits, said “engineered by Jim Zoller” for the first of many times. “Engineered by Jim Zoller.” In wildest dreams I never thought that I would have ever heard Dick Clark say those words.
Later that evening as I was walking out of the building another amazing thing occurred: Dick was standing at his car talking with an executive at the company, and as I walked by, he stopped his conversation and using my name, wished me a good night. I was floored that he remembered my name to begin with and I was stunned that he would stop--in my mind--what was a more important conversation, to wish the “new guy” a good evening. Dick was like that, he was gracious and took the time to make you feel welcomed.
He and his wife Kari set a wonderful tone at Dick Clark Productions. Many birthdays, weddings, baby showers and goodbyes were celebrated in the conference room. I say “conference room,” but the room contained a bar from an old English pub, big comfy chairs and an array of other antiques and rock ‘n’ roll artifacts. The conference room was more like a den and the feeling was as comfortable as being in someone’s home. You always felt like you were celebrating something with your family.
About six or seven months after I had started at the company, my phone rang and it was Dick. “What’s that song we played on the countdown the other day…the one by Taylor Dayne...‘I’ll Always Love You?’ Could you put it on a cassette for me please?” I transferred the song, brought it down to his desk and within seconds he called Kari into his office, put the song on, and started waltzing around the room with her. Twenty four years later I can still picture the afternoon sun shining into his office and the joy on their faces as they danced to Taylor Dayne.
One of the things that strikes me is that with all of his success, his fame, his talent and good fortune, Dick was a pretty down to earth person. He clipped coupons and would walk down the street with his coupon and buy his own lunch. He would talk about gardening he had done on the weekend, maybe something he and Kari cooked for dinner or a movie or some music he enjoyed. One year for his birthday, he rented a motor home and decided to go camping. I’m sure he had stayed at many fine hotels in his life, but he wanted to hit the open road that year and stay in a campground like so many other regular folks.
I got a call a couple of years ago asking if I wanted to come by to celebrate Dick’s 80th birthday. I headed out to his office and a group of us met a beach side burger place. We hung out like we were in the old conference room celebrating Dick’s birthday and enjoying our friendship and common bonds. When it came time for some cake, Dick, like a lot of us do, got a little shy and didn’t want us to sing “Happy Birthday.” We sang anyway and laughed and enjoyed the moment. As we left, Dick was getting into his car, standing behind the door thanking us for coming. The afternoon sun was hitting his face and he looked great. Happy and content with the warm glow of the sun lighting up his face. He shook my hand and thanked me for coming. It felt like that first meeting, but repeated decades later.
I think I’ll remember that day like I remember the first day I met him.
In his life, Dick had many moments in the sun. I am honored, fortunate and happy to have shared a few of them with him.
We’ve received a number of heartfelt emails from Dick Clark’s fans and listeners over the last couple of days. I thank you all for your kind words. Click here to read some of them.
Hour 1 THE LOVE I LOST (PART 1) - Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
TREAT HER RIGHT - Roy Head
SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER - Happenings
(‘TIL) I KISSED YOU - Everly Brothers Interview - Mike Pender of the Searchers
SUGAR AND SPICE - Seacrhers
YOU’RE MY WORLD - Cilla Black
STAY - Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs
TIME WON’T LET ME - Outsiders
OH HAPPY DAY - Edwin Hawkins Singers
WINDY - Association Interview - Tony Jackson of the Searchers
BUMBLE BEE - Searchers
SHOUT - Isley Brothers
DA DOO RON RON - Crystals
ROCK-IN ROBIN - Bobby Day
DENISE - Randy & the Rainbows
KICKS - Paul Revere & the Raiders
Hour 2
RUNAROUND SUE - Dion
WHAT’S GOING ON - Marvin Gaye
THERE’S A PLACE - Beatles
SUMMERTIME BLUES - Eddie Cochran Interview - Tony Jackson of the Searchers
WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO THE RAIN - Searchers
GOOD MORNING STARSHINE - Oliver
POLK SALAD ANNIE - Tony Joe White
THE ALL AMERICAN BOY - Bill Parsons Interview - Mike Pender of the Searchers
NEEDLES AND PINS - Searchers
NO PARTICULAR PLACE TO GO - Chuck Berry
CARA MIA - Jay & the Americans
HELLO MARY LOU - Ricky Nelson
LOVE TRAIN - O’Jays
RAINY DAY WOMEN #12 & 35 - Bob Dylan
Hour 3
SUSPICIOUS MINDS - Elvis Presley
SUSPICION - Terry Stafford
SOMEBODY’S BEEN SLEEPING - 100 Proof Aged In Soul Interview - Frank Allen of the Searchers
WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE ROOM - Searchers
MY GIRL - Temptations
GIMME SOME LOVIN’ - Spencer Davis Group
I’M YOUR PUPPET - James & Bobby Purify
I WAS MADE TO LOVE HER - Stevie Wonder
THE ONE WHO REALLY LOVES YOU - Mary Wells Interview - Tony Jackson
DON’T THROW YOUR LOVE AWAY - Searchers
NO MILK TODAY - Herman’s Hermits
IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT - Five Satins
SINCE I DON’T HAVE YOU - Skyliners
ON THE ROAD AGAIN - Canned Heat
GOOD LOVIN’ - Rascals
Hour 4
BLUE HAWAII - Elvis Presley
BLUE MOON - Marcels
LINDA - Jan & Dean Interview - Frank Allen of the Searchers
SOME DAY WE’RE GONNA LOVE AGAIN - Searchers
I GET AROUND - Beach Boys
MY BOYFRIEND’S BACK - Angels
MEMPHIS - Lonnie Mack
MY MARIA - B. W. Stevenson
I’M SO LONESOME I COULD CRY - B. J. Thomas
LOVE POTION #9 - Clovers Interview - Tony Jackson of the Searchers
LOVE POTION #9 - Searchers
LET THE GOOD TIME ROLL - Shirley & Lee
HAVIN’ A PARTY - Sam Cooke
PARTY DOLL - Buddy Knox
MAMA TOLD ME NOT TO COME - Three Dog Night
MONDAY, MONDAY - Mamas & the Papas
In this week’s encore performance of “Rock, Roll & Remember,” things get started with a look at some songs that were used in commercials. Later on, Jerry Butler will let us in on some advice his mom once gave him in the form of a Top Five soul classic; from 1968 we’ll hear the first of two Top 10 singles the Vogues had that year, the last Top Ten hit the Association put on the pop charts and Jose Feliciano’s debut single; and a chart topping tune written by Lennon & McCartney, but recorded by a British Invasion duo.
About nine years after that British Invasion duo enjoyed that big hit, two guys born in Texas came on the charts with a song that is more “Los Angeles” than “Lubbock.” Before they became purveyors of a mellow Southern California sound, the guys got their start playing in a series of rock bands together (including the Champs after that group recorded their Number One single “Tequila”) before they decided to make a softer, more spiritual kind of music. The decision to follow their instincts paid off because they became part of the early ’70’s “California Sound” and had eight Top Thirty singles in six years. Sit back, relax, open your windows and let the scent of jasmine blow through your mind as Dick takes an in-depth look at Seals & Crofts!
We’ll also be transported back in time to our Profile year of 1963. In that year, AT&T introduces the touch tone phone; after only about four-and-a-half years heading the Catholic Church, Pope John XXIII dies at the age of 83; the U.S. Supreme Court rules that no one can be required to say the “Lord’s Prayer” or Bible recitations in school; Martin Luther King Jr delivers his “I Have A Dream” speech in front of 200,000 civil rights demonstrators in Washington, DC; and the most powerful radio station in the United States, Voice Of America, is dedicated in Greenville, North Carolina. On your local not-so-powerful radio station you can catch the latest singles by the Beach Boys, Peter, Paul & Mary, Little Peggy March and Jimmy Soul.
It’s another show packed full of memories and the music that makes up the “soundtrack of your life!”
