Dick Clark, Marion Jones, Vertigo Man Rides On!

My wife Nedra of the Ronettes knew, worked and toured with Dick Clark back in the sixties. She introduced me to him at an awards ceremony in California a number of years ago. Upon our introduction he remarked: “Scott, I slept with your wife for a month on a road tour years ago!”

Dick was referring to a caravan of music stars who toured around the country in a bus performing concerts at theatres in numerous states. They all piled into a bus together, Dick with them, and traveled from town to town. Hence Dick’s humorous remark.

It was no luxury bus in those days but rather they slept sitting up in their seats, some even climbing up into the luggage rack. When they did check into hotels, or eat in restaurants,  Dick would not frequent those facilities that would not accept the integrated musicians that constituted the music artists both black and white.

It’s also interesting to note that in those days, nobody was doing drugs, or getting drunk. Although, it seemed everyone smoked!

Dick Clark was a brilliant musical entrepreneur who  cared personally for each of the artists he represented and worked with. He played a major role in introducing the Ronettes to a wide audience throughout the USA helping make their first record “Be My Baby” into an international hit.

Pat Boone, one of the first artists to appear with Dick at the outset of Dick’s American Bandstand, stated yesterday that he gave Dick a number of books pertaining to his own spiritual journey. Dick said he identified with Pat on that journey and in a subsequent interview stated that he believed in God. Pat Boone said that he believes that he and Dick will be sharing music together in heaven.