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Dick Clark had a remarkable career in radio syndication alongside his well-known television work. Here are some highlights:
1. Early Radio Career: Dick Clark began his radio career in 1945 at WRUN, an AM radio station in Utica, New York, where he started as a mailroom worker and later became an announcer.
2. WFIL Radio: In 1952, Clark moved to Philadelphia to work for WFIL radio and television. He hosted a record-hop program on WFIL, which eventually led to him taking over the local television show “American Bandstand” in 1956.
3. Radio Syndication: Clark founded and directed the United Stations Radio Networks, which distributes over 50 hours of weekly radio programming to nearly 3,000 radio stations. He hosted several nationally syndicated radio shows, including “Dick Clark’s Rock, Roll and Remember,” “Countdown America,” and “Dick Clark’s Music Calendar”.
4. Radio Hall of Fame: In recognition of his contributions to radio, Dick Clark was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1990.
Dick Clark also toured top recording stars in the early 1960s. He organized and produced a concert tour called “Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars” starting in 1959. This tour featured rock and roll and rhythm and blues artists, many of whom had appeared on his television show, “American Bandstand”. The Caravan of Stars was a huge success and continued touring until 1966.
The tour included up to seventeen acts, each performing two or three songs, backed by the same band. Major artists like Bobby Vee and Paul Anka often headlined the shows, while other performers included Freddie Cannon, Little Eva, The Coasters, and The Supremes.
Dick Clark had an incredibly diverse and influential career. Here are some of the highlights:
1. American Bandstand: Clark became the host of “American Bandstand” in 1956, transforming it from a local Philadelphia show into a national phenomenon. The show introduced many new music artists to national audiences and played a significant role in shaping American pop culture.
2. Dick Clark Productions: In 1957, Clark founded Dick Clark Productions, which produced numerous TV shows, specials, and awards shows, including the American Music Awards and the Golden Globe Awards.
3. New Year’s Rockin’ Eve: In 1972, Clark created and hosted “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” an annual New Year’s Eve special that has become a beloved tradition for many Americans.
4. Game Shows: Clark hosted several successful game shows, including “The $10,000 Pyramid” and its various versions, for which he won multiple Emmy Awards.
5. Radio Syndication: Clark founded the United Stations Radio Networks, which distributes a wide range of radio programming to thousands of stations across the country.
6. American Music Awards: In 1973, Clark created the American Music Awards to compete with the Grammy Awards, providing another platform for recognizing musical talent.
Dick Clark passed away on April 18, 2012, at the age of 82. He died of a massive heart attack at St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. Clark had been recovering from a stroke he suffered in 2004, which had left him partially paralyzed and made speaking difficult.
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WHN was a historic radio station in New York City. Here are some key points about its history:
1. Early Years: WHN first signed on the air on March 18, 1922, initially broadcasting at 833 kHz. Over the years, it changed frequencies several times, eventually settling on 1050 kHz.
2. Ownership Changes: The station went through various ownership changes, including being leased by the Marcus Loew Booking Agency (Loew’s Theatre Organization) in the 1920s.
3. Format Changes: WHN had a mix of music, news, weather, and drama in its early years. In the late 1940s, it was renamed WMGM and later switched to a rock & roll format in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
4. Country Music Era: In the 1970s and 1980s, WHN became well-known for its country music format, as this featured Dick Clark aircheck from 1979 indicates.
5. Sports Radio: In 1987, WHN dropped its country format to become the first radio station dedicated entirely to sports programming, changing its call letters to WFAN.
6. Current Status: Today, the station is known as WEPN (1050 ESPN) and is a sports radio station affiliated with ESPN Radio.
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AUDIO REMASTERED! This audio recording was digitally enhanced by USA Radio Museum.
