“America has only three cities: New York, San Francisco and New Orleans. Everywhere else is Cleveland. ” This observation tends to be attributed to Tennessee Williams, although it is somewhat detached from its source, it therefore resonates deeply with some experience of life in the United States. But consider this: can each American city claim to be where rock and roll can start-or at least the site of the very first rock and roll concert? Cleveland can, thanks to Alan FreedA famous radio advertiser from nineteen quarters and 1950s. The Moondog coronation balloon He organized himself in 1952 can end with a disaster, but he started a pop-cultural era which probably continues to date.
Having reached popularity by announcing in a variety of radio formats, including jazz and classical music, Freed was awakened to the possibility of what was then known as Rhythm and Blues by a local record owner, Leo Mintz. It was with Mintz's sponsorship that Freed launched a program on Cleveland WJW-AM, for which he cultivated a Hepcat character called “Moondog”. (Some credit the name to An album by Robby Vee and The Veesand others to the avant-garde street musician Moondog and his Eponymous “Symphony”.) From midnight, the show broadcast the hours of so-called “racing music” not only at its already enthusiastic fans base, but also to young white listeners increasingly intrigued by its captivating propulsive sounds.
Libéré quickly ordered an audience sufficient to describe itself as “King of Moondoggers”. When he announced the next Moondog Coronation Ball, a show in Cleveland's Hockey Arena with sets of popular acts such as Paul Williams and the Hucklebuckers, Tiny Grimes and the Highlanders Rocking (a all -black group whose kilts would surely sign the “Cultural Appropriation” speech today), Dillard and Danny Cobb Moondoggers. In fact, around 20,000 of them proved to be twice what the place could manage. A ticket printing error was to be blamed, but the damage had been caused – or rather, it would be done, when the crowd well dressed but overexcited stormed the arena and the authorities were called to close the show by force.
Regarding, only the first two acts have never taken the scene. The planned coronation of the two most popular adolescents present (a reservoir of another cultural dimension entirely) has never occurred. But the spirit of rebellicity witnessed this very first rock concert was like a genius who could not be put back in his bottle. However, his image, Freed, who popularized the term “rock and roll” applied to music, has never been a large part of a rules follower in his professional life. His subsequent involvement in Péde-brown scandals in Payola in the late 1950s sent his career to a Tailpin, and his premature death followed a few years later. But judge by re-technic like that THE Drunken story video just aboveHe remains the hero of the history of the Moondog coronation ball – and therefore a hero of the history of rock and roll.
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Based in Seoul, Colin MArshall Written and broadcastTS on cities, language and culture. His projects include the substack newsletter Books on cities And the book The stateless city: a walk through Los Angeles from the 21st century. Follow it on the social network formerly known as Twitter in @ColinmArshall.
At Learnopoly, Finn has championed a mission to deliver unbiased, in-depth reviews of online courses that empower learners to make well-informed decisions. With over a decade of experience in financial services, he has honed his expertise in strategic partnerships and business development, cultivating both a sharp analytical perspective and a collaborative spirit. A lifelong learner, Finn’s commitment to creating a trusted guide for online education was ignited by a frustrating encounter with biased course reviews.