DICK CLARK DEAD AT 82!

Dick Clark, whose “American Bandstand” made him rich and famous by marrying rock ’n’ roll with television, died Wednesday morning at the age of 82.

His agent, Paul Shefrin, said he died of a massive heart attack. He suffered a serious stroke in 2004 that affected his speech and forced him to cut back appearances on his last major TV showcase, “Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve.”

While Clark’s success with “Bandstand” largely stemmed from a wholesome, all-American persona that made him seem like everyone’s easygoing friend, he was a sharp, hard-nosed businessman and media mogul.

No one more successfully cross-marketed the two biggest pop-culture phenomena of the post-World War II years: rock ’n’ roll and television.

“The passing of Dick Clark removes one of the largest foundation stones of the entire pop-music industry for the latter half of the 20th century,” said his longtime friend Kal Rudman, publisher of “Friday Morning Quarterback.”

Glenn Morgan, who created the “Dick Clark National Music Countdown” with Clark in 1981, said he was “the real deal - the same on the air as he was off. He was a gentleman and a consummate professional who was meticulous about getting it right.”

Ryan Seacrest, to whom Clark passed the “New Year’s Eve” hosting torch, said he was “deeply saddened” by Clark’s death. “He has truly been one of the greatest influences in my life.

“He was smart, charming, funny and always a true gentleman. He was a remarkable host and businessman and left a rich legacy to television audiences around the world. We will all miss him.”

In some ways, Clark was an ironic standard-bearer for early rock ’n’ roll. He was white bread promoting a musical style that made its early reputation as rebellious and even dangerous, an attitude reflected in the look and sound of artists like Elvis Presley and Little Richard.

But Clark’s bland if enthusiastic persona served him perfectly when payola scandals brought the first major backlash against rock ’n’ roll in the late 1950s.

Clark was initially questioned in those scandals, but survived them by promising to behave himself. It also didn’t hurt that he offered a host who was acceptable to teenagers and didn’t frighten their parents.

While “Bandstand” was one of the first TV shows with a distinctive niche audience, rather than mass all-ages appeal, its national reach made it extremely influential in the music business.

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