Clay Cole, legendary New York music show host, dies suddenly

Clay Cole, the New York music legend who popularized dozens of artists on his local television and radio shows, from The Beatles to local acts like the Young Rascals, died suddenly over the weekend at his home in North Carolina. 

Cole was found dead in his home by a relative. He had just brewed some coffee and a glass of orange juice was sitting on the kitchen table. 

Cole documented the early years of rock and role in his book, “Sh-Boom: The Explosion of Rock ‘n Roll-1953-1968″ (Morgan/James Press).

During the 1950s and '60s, Cole, was one of the hottest personalities in local television. 

A child prodigy, Cole was born to television, then also emerging as a major pop culture influence.

He would write out complete sketches as a child, while the other kids on the block were playing baseball and chasing girls.

A raconteur of the highest order, he knew everyone and had more than a front seat to the birth of rock and roll. He was on the inside.

Name an artist or a band that marked that era and chances are Cole had them on his show.

That would include The Beatles, Dion, Donovan, Paul Anka, The Turtles, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, The 5th Dimension, The Young Rascals, Peter Paul & Mary, Tony Bennett, George Carlin, Neil Diamond and Herman’s Hermits.

Beyond that, Clay broke the color barrier on television by inviting such artists as Little Anthony and The Imperials Richard Pryor, Steve Wonder, The Supremes and Dionne Warwick on his shows as well.

In fact, management scolded him for featuring too many black artists on his show. Later, the station won a diversity award, in no small part because of Cole.

But the station never even mentioned him when it accepted the award. 

He walked away from it all, moving from his beloved New York City on Sept. 1, 2001. He had resided in North Carolina ever since. 

But he returned to New York earlier this year to celebrate the publication of his book.