The American Bandstand host passed away this morning.

Dick Clark, a musical icon responsible for bringing rock and roll music into America’s living rooms, died this morning at Saint John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, CA, due to a heart attack. He was 82. Clark hosted the TV show American Bandstand for over 30 years, from 1956, coinciding with the rise of rock & roll, to 1989, when he retired from the show. In that time, he turned a local Philadelphia show into a nation-wide phenomenon, and helped break stars from Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry to Prince and Madonna.

Clark was accused of softening rock and roll’s image, but recognized that if he did not make American Bandstand palatable to adults, the show could not continue to exist. In its early days, he had performers such as Little Richard wear coats and ties, and created the aura of an innocent high school dance.

On the other hand, Clark opposed censorship of his acts and featured black musicians performing their original works in an era when oftentimes white musicians were hired to cover the work of black acts.

Clark was born in Mount Vernon, N.Y. in 1929, son of a man who worked in the radio business. After his brother was killed in World War II, Clark turned to radio to ease his loneliness and found his calling. He began broadcasting in 1947 at a radio station owned by his uncle and managed by his father, then moved to television as that medium became widespread. He started hosting American Bandstand after its previous host, Bob Horn, was fired in 1956.

Besides American Bandstand, Clark produced shows such as The $25,000 Pyramid, TV’s Bloopers and Practical Jokes, and the American Music Awards.