Dick Clark is gone. Unhappy new year.

I knew Dick Clark, as he appeared in several of my books for one reason or another. He was always among the first to order my newest book, usually three of them. He always called his order in, unlike most who mailed in solicitations sent to my regulars on the mailing list. Once he sent back a signed and addressed photo that I cherish. I first was introduced to him when we talked by phone about bandleader Larry Elgart who wrote the American Bandstand theme. Dick was always a nice guy in every sense of the word. I wish I would have known him better which is hard to do when you are 3000 miles apart and both busy with different projects.Dick Clark will appear in my next book in a full chapter. The book will be about those people who were always behind the scenes promoting and building careers of singers and musicians, people like Dick, Ed Sullivan, Major Bowes, Ted Mack Martin Block, MItch Miller, John Hammond, Arthur Godfrey, Steve Allen, William B. Williams, Willard Alexander, Alan Freed, Jan Murray and others who advanced the performers. It will be caled THE MUSIC MAKERS. See you then. And may God bless Dick Clark.