But that provided me with a theme for this piece, because even though Clark had a long and varied career, his first big success – and the foundation of much that followed – was American Bandstand. The show originated in Philadelphia in 1952 and Clark took over a few years later, eventually moving it to Los Angeles. It continued in one form or another for decades, and was the beginning of what would become his production empire.

So for our humble tribute to Dick Clark, below is a video from the early years of the show, along with a cut from the boxed set — the song that was for many years the theme of the show.

Les Elgart – “Bandstand Boogie”

Left behind, with the many video clips that can be found around the internet, is one of the great TV music show themes of all time: “Bandstand Boogie.” Here’s the story of how it evolved from jazz classic to Barry Manilow standard.

In the very earliest years of American Bandstand, which began in Philadelphia in 1952, the show’s opening number was a jazz tune chosen by original host Bob Horn: Artie Shaw’s “High Society.”

By the time Horn departed and Clark arrived in 1956, Les Elgart’s recording of Charles Albertine’s “Bandstand Boogie” was the show’s opening number, a position it held as the show evolved from airing live on weekday afternoons to a being pre-recorded for Saturday mornings.

As the show approached its 20th anniversary, Mike Curb was called on to write “Bandstand Theme,” a faddish bit of synthesized noodling that spent a few years at the top of the show. With the arrival of disco in 1974, a return to the original “Bandstand Boogie,” albeit with plenty of hi-hats on the off-beat, made a five year run before Clark commissioned Manilow’s most memorable version.

It was in 1977, almost thirty years into its history that Barry version of “Bandstand Boogie” became the show’s theme. With name-dropping lyrics written by Manilow and Bruce Sussman, the last version of “Bandstand Boogie” spent 10 years on the top of the Bandstand chart, remaining the show’s opening theme until the show closed up shop in 1987.

Here’s the original Elgart version followed by Barry’s boogie.

– Michael Verity

Left behind, with the many video clips that can be found around the internet, is one of the great TV music show themes of all time: “Bandstand Boogie.” Here’s the story of how it evolved from jazz classic to Barry Manilow standard.

In the very earliest years of American Bandstand, which began in Philadelphia in 1952, the show’s opening number was a jazz tune chosen by original host Bob Horn: Artie Shaw’s “High Society.”

By the time Horn departed and Clark arrived in 1956, Les Elgart’s recording of Charles Albertine’s “Bandstand Boogie” was the show’s opening number, a position it held as the show evolved from airing live on weekday afternoons to a being pre-recorded for Saturday mornings.

As the show approached its 20th anniversary, Mike Curb was called on to write “Bandstand Theme,” a faddish bit of synthesized noodling that spent a few years at the top of the show. With the arrival of disco in 1974, a return to the original “Bandstand Boogie,” albeit with plenty of hi-hats on the off-beat, made a five year run before Clark commissioned Manilow’s most memorable version.

It was in 1977, almost thirty years into its history that Barry version of “Bandstand Boogie” became the show’s theme. With name-dropping lyrics written by Manilow and Bruce Sussman, the last version of “Bandstand Boogie” spent 10 years on the top of the Bandstand chart, remaining the show’s opening theme until the show closed up shop in 1987.

Here’s the original Elgart version followed by Barry’s boogie.

– Michael Verity

He was dubbed “the world’s oldest teenager,” and as I’m about to have a big birthday, I can’t help but think about what that expression truly means.

Despite the fact that his physical appearance never seemed to age up until after his stroke in 2004, his fountain of youth was from the way he lived his life. He surrounded himself with youthful music and teenagers in the most happiest of atmospheres. Hmmmmmm……don’t I do that, too? As a music specialist and camp songleader who works with young people and is constantly keeping myself up to date with their music?

So why is it that Dick Clark somehow managed to stay young for so long?

I am feeling old on the eve of my big nasty birthday, and it certainly doesn’t help that “the world’s oldest teenager” has died. His death, however, fills me with wonder and admiration as I think about how he must have lived his life right. He was so blessed in so many of life’s categories, and as I enter a new decade, I turn to him for some of life’s most important lessons….how to stay young in mind, body and heart.

My song today is Les Elgart’s “Bandstand Boogie,” other wise know as The American Bandstand theme song. Big band music was always so upbeat and happy and fun, and this melody has become infamous with the face of great man attached to it. So, here it is: iconic music for an iconic man that we can all learn from.