LIFE Dick Clark and the History of Rock 'n' Roll

Dick Clark, known widely as Americas oldest teenager, single-handedly formed the culture of the day on American Bandstand, and helped give rise to rock n roll. He was a man of many roles an entrepreneur, producer, game-show host and much more. It didnt feel like New Years Eve in America if you werent watching Dick Clark count down the minutes. The statistics are staggering Bandstand brought in 40 million viewers a day when the countrys population wasnt even 200 million and when many people were at work-one might size that up to airing a Super Bowl every day! However, Dick Clarks influence transcended the music. Against dissent, he integrated the dance floor and gave Baby Boomer America a daily vision of what a non-segregated society could be early guests on his show included Chuck Berry and James Brown, as well as Jerry Lee Lewis and the Everly Brothers.