Bobby Darin & Dick Clark

(l-r)Dick and Loretta Clark,Johnny Mathis and Sandra and Bobby in the early 1960's
"Ive always admired Bobby Darin tremendously,"Dick Clark has said of his good friend."Bobby was one of the most complicated and interesting people I have ever known...he was a true one of a kind."
When Bobby premired "Splish Splash" at Clarks "Caravan Of The Stars"in 1958, Clark said"Bobby moved and danced like it was opening night at the Copa. He was a terrific performer and always knocked kids out with his stage moves,even in the days before he had his first hit record."

Clark and Darins friendship became very close.Dick attended Bobbys mothers(now as we know it ,his grandmothers) funeral.Bobby was there to offer moral and emotional support to Clark throughout the years.
As in every friendship, there were some disagreements.Clark told Bobby that "Mack The Knife" would never make it as a hit.("I told him if he wanted to turn his career into chopped liver, so be it", Clark was quoted as saying.) Of course Clark was wrong, and admitted it.Dick tried to help Bobby through his identity crisis in the late 1960s.("You're a latter day hippie", Clark scolded him,"Go back and put on your tuxedo...do what people expect of you.")Soon Bobby took Dicks advice and added "Mack The Knife " back into his nightclub act.
The last time Dick Clark talked to Bobby was shortly before his death."I always thought that Bobby had a fear that he wasn't going to grow old,that he wouldn't live long...I miss him a lot, because he was a total full-out pro and real friend."

SOURCES:

"Borrowed Time:The 37 Years Of Bobby Darin" By Al DiOrio, Running Press, 1981.

Thats All: Bobby Darin on Record, Stage and Screen" Rock and Roll,PC INK,1993

"Rock,Roll and Remember" by Dick Clark,Popular Library 1978.

For more about Dick Clark visit: DICK CLARK PRODUCTIONS

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