VOA标准英语2012--Entertainment Pioneer Dick Clark Dies at 82

Entertainment Pioneer Dick Clark Dies at 82

He was not a singer or musician, but Dick Clark was one of the most famous names in rock and roll. In the 1950s and ‘60s his afternoon television show, American Bandstand, was a daily staple¹ for teens across the country and it changed the way Americans listened to pop music.

Born in Mount Vernon, outside of New York City, Clark hit the airwaves before he was even out of high school. His career began in the mailroom of a radio station run by his father and uncle. Before long, he was on the air. He continued to work as a disc jockey through college, and returned to the small, family run station after graduation. One year later, in 1952, he hit the “big time,” moving to WFIL in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and soon was one of the best known radio DJ’s in town. At that time, WFIL also owned a television station that had an afternoon teen dance show called “Bandstand,” and in a few years Clark became the regular host of that program, too.

In 1957, the ABC television network decided² to take “Bandstand” national, after Clark convinced them that a teen dance show would be popular all across the country.

“I was a very young fellow," noted³ Clark. "That show was getting huge audiences in Philadelphia. Sixty-five percent of the people watched Bandstand when it was in Philadelphia. It wiped out all the competition. I said ‘It doesn’t matter. It isn’t just Philadelphia, this is a universal language. It will work everywhere. Trust us, it will work. Give us five weeks.’ And in August of 1957, they did, and, as they say, the rest is history.”

Renamed American Bandstand, the show became one of TV’s longest running series and was a part of network’s lineup from 1957 to 1987. 

Everyone who was anyone in the pop music business performed on Bandstand, from Jerry Lee Lewis and the Jackson Five to Prince and the Talking Heads. Paul Anka launched his career on American Bandstand in 1957 with the song “Diana.”

“I think Dick has been very massive, in that he was the first and one-of-a kind who allowed all of us that conduit [pipeline] to the public," Anka said. "Who not only was a very viable⁴ force then, but stayed contemporary through all of these years and uniquely kept everything that he was about very special.”

His initial television success led Dick Clark to diversify⁵. He soon moved into the music publishing and record business, which the US government later saw as a possible conflict of interest. At the time, payola, or bribery⁶, was widespread in the music industry, with record companies paying DJ’s to play their records. Clark was a prime target of a Congressional investigation⁷ into this illegal activity. He was cleared of any suspicions, but was required by ABC to sell his publishing and recording⁸ companies in order to keep his television show.

Clark moved to Hollywood in 1963, and “American Bandstand” went with him. Soon, he started up Dick Clark Productions and was cranking out hit television programs. Some of the shows were music related, but many were game shows and award shows. He was also an author, leading some to wonder if Clark was a workaholic.

“People say ‘Why do you work so hard? You made enough money to retire on when you were a kid!’ And I say, everybody should be this lucky to live out the fantasy of their youth," Clark said. "I wanted to be in the radio business when I was 13. I started working on it when I was 17, and I don’t want to stop.”

In 1972, Clark became synonymous with one of the biggest party nights of the year, when he launched Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve and watching the show every December 31 was soon a yearly tradition for millions and millions of Americans. Clark continued to host the show until 2004, when he suffered a stroke that left him partially⁹ paralyzed and struggling to speak. But a year later, Clark was back and even though his speech was, at times, still difficult to understand, many praised his bravery, including other stroke victims. 

Dick Clark earned countless¹⁰ awards and honors during his long career: he has Emmys, Grammys, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is in the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. 

Clark was often teased for his eternally good looks, which earned him the nickname “America’s Oldest Teenager.” He always credited his youthful appearance to good genes¹¹, and was quoted as saying “If you want to stay young looking, pick your parents very carefully.”

1 staple   

n.主要产物，常用品，主要要素，原料，订书钉，钩环；adj.主要的，重要的；vt.分类

参考例句：

• Tea is the staple crop here.本地产品以茶叶为大宗。
• Potatoes are the staple of their diet.土豆是他们的主要食品。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。

5 diversify   

v.（使）不同，（使）变得多样化

参考例句：

• Our company is trying to diversify.我们公司正力图往多样化方面发展。
• Hills and woods diversify the landscape.山陵和树木点缀景色。

6 bribery   

n.贿络行为，行贿，受贿

参考例句：

• FBI found out that the senator committed bribery.美国联邦调查局查明这个参议员有受贿行为。
• He was charged with bribery.他被指控受贿。

7 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

8 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

9 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

10 countless   

adj.无数的，多得不计其数的

参考例句：

• In the war countless innocent people lost their lives.在这场战争中无数无辜的人丧失了性命。
• I've told you countless times.我已经告诉你无数遍了。

11 genes   

n.基因( gene的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因，所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪