When American Bandstand started, I was just a kid, but I could not wait to be a teenager. I would hurry home and watch Bandstand as I did my homework.

I never saw Black people dancing on the show early on, but that didn�t phase me. I knew sooner or later I would get to go on the show. I don't remember when it started, but before long there were Black kids dancing as regulars on Bandstand.

American Bandstand was one of the few television shows where I would get to see Black people. Dick Clark was remarkable in that he had all of best of the Black rock 'n' roll artists on his show. Dick Clark revealed to the public where the originality of this music was coming from. Over the years Clark gave young Black entertainers a stage to perform on, nationally. Clark is fondly still called the oldest teenager.

In the sixties, when I was old enough to go on Dick Clark show, I had lost interest. However, a girl that I had gone to Junior high school with, she danced with a guy named Famous Hooks and her name was Jenny. They won a dance contest and were both given cars, Volkswagens, I think. That was a big deal, brand new Volkswagens.