News – Dick Clark Died:World’s oldest teenager dead at 82

NEWS YEARS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME! LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dick Clark, the ever-youthful television host and producer who helped bring rock ‘n’ roll into the mainstream on “American Bandstand” and rang in the New Year for the masses at Times Square, has died. He was 82. Spokesman Paul Shefrin said Clark had a heart attack Wednesday morning at Saint John’s hospital in Santa Monica, where he had gone the day before for an outpatient procedure. Clark had continued performing even after he suffered a stroke in 2004 that affected his ability to speak and walk. Long dubbed “the world’s oldest teenager” because of his boyish appearance, Clark bridged the rebellious new music scene and traditional show business, and equally comfortable whether chatting about music with Sam Cooke or bantering with Ed McMahon about TV bloopers. He long championed black singers by playing the original R&B versions of popular songs, rather than the pop cover. Ryan Seacrest, who took over main hosting duties on the countdown show from Clark after the legend grew frail, said in a statement Wednesday that he was “deeply saddened.” “I idolized him from the start, and I was graced early on in my career with his generous advice and counsel,” Seacrest said. “He was a remarkable host and businessman and left a rich legacy to television audiences around the world. We will all miss him.” He thrived as the founder of Dick Clark Productions, supplying movies, game and music shows, beauty contests and more to TV …