He brought pop music into the public consciousness on American Bandstand and we invited him into our homes every December to ring in the New Year, but now legendary TV personality, Dick Clark, has passed away at the age of 82, according to ABC News.
In a statement, Clark's agent, Paul Shefrin, said the entertainer died this morning following a "massive heart attack."
Clark first came to national prominence as the host of American Bandstand—a show that highlighted pop music from around the country and even featured live performances from the artists themselves. Since then, Clark has been known as "America's Oldest Teenager" because of his connection to pop-culture and his perpetually young appearance. He is perhaps best known as the host of the annual Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.
In 2004, Clark suffered a stroke that kept him from hosting Rockin' Eve, which he had been a part of every year since 1972. He appeared next year on the show, and every year since, but his public appearances in general had slowed down following the stroke. Ryan Seacrest eventually took over the reins on the show, but Clark continued to have a presence on it.
Clark is survived by his three children and his third wife, Keri Wigton, married to him since 1977.
"For now, Dick Clark...so long."
[via ABC News]
