Dick Clark Made My Father's Dream Come True

A Lehigh Valley man performed a song on 'American Bandstand' in November 1960.

Editor's Note: New Year's Eve brings Dick Clark to mind for many people who watched his Times Square broadcasts. In that spirit, we share this column by Patch Local Editor Dino Ciliberti to help keep Clark's memory alive on the first new year's since his passing in April 2012. For most of us, Dick Clark was the man who ushered in a new year. For others, he was the host of numerous game shows. And for the older generations, he was the man who brought music to the mainstream and the masses. For my father, Frank Ciliberti of Forks Township, Dick Clark will always be a special part of his life. It's not every day you can tell people that you're father appeared on "American Bandstand." But that's what my father did long ago before I was born, …

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Dick Clark Made Dream Come True for My Father

Forks Township man performed song on "American Bandstand" in November 1960.

For most of us, Dick Clark was the man who ushered in a new year. For others, he was the host of numerous game shows. And for the older generations, he was the man who brought music to the mainstream and the masses. For my father, Frank Ciliberti of Forks Township, Dick Clark will always be a special part of his life. It's not every day you can tell people that you're father appeared on "American Bandstand." But that's what my father did long ago before I was born, performing solo on the popular show that Clark made famous first in Philadelphia and later in Los Angeles. My father was one of first in music history to cover "Rock Around the Clock." Now had he been the first to sing that song, like Bill Haley and the Comets, our lives may …

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My Turn

Remembering a Stint on 'American Bandstand'

In 1953, our columnist made a pilgrimage to Philadelphia and made his television debut.

Editor's Note: Patch is again featuring this column first posted last year in honor of Dick Clark and generations of "American Bandstand" Fans. For every recent generation, music has been the soundtrack of our youth. I was lucky to be a teenager during arguably the most important music upheaval of our lifetime: the advent of rock ‘n’ roll. Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel” and Bill Haley’s “Rock Around the Clock” were two of the big hits that ushered in the rock era in 1954. Share your memories of "American Bandstand" and Dick Clark in the comments section below. Just before the rock revolution, the early-50s produced a number of major hits and performers, including the likes of Frankie Laine (“I Believe”), Tony Bennett (“Rags to Riches…

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