Alan Freed was born on December 15, 1922 and died on January 20, 1965. He was a Caucasian-American disc-jockey (DJ), who became internationlally known for promoting African-American Rhythm and Blues (R&B} music on the radio in the United States and Europe under the name of Rock and Roll. His career was terminated by example during the payola scandal in which other djs such as Dick Clark managed to survive.

Contents

1 "Father of Rock and Roll" 1.1 "The Moondog 1.2 1010 WINS New York 1.3 Radio Luxembourg 1.4 Television 1.5 Payola 1.6 Destruction and death 2 Legacy 3 References 4 External link

"Father of Rock and Roll"

While Alan Freed called himself the "father of rock and roll", he was not the first to use the term nor the first to play it on the airwaves. He was a promoter and he was very successful at what he did, until his own personal failings became exploited by others who built their own careers upon the legacy created by Freed, while his own personal career was obliterated.

"The Moondog

While working as a disc jockey at a Cleveland, Ohio radio station, he organized the first rock and roll concert called "The Moondog Coronation Ball" on March 21, 1952. The event, attended mainly by African-Americans, proved a huge drawing card - the first event had to be ended early due to overcrowding.

1010 WINS New York

Following his success on the air in Cleveland, Alan Freed moved to WINS in New York City two years later where he introduced white teens to the new sound. Alan Freed also appeared in a number of major and historical rock and roll motion pictures during this period, including Rock Around The Clock; Don't Knock The Rock and Mister Rock and Roll which featured Bill Haley and his Comets; Little Richard; Chuck Berry; Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers and The Platters among the groups seen and heard on the screen. These films were welcomed with tremendous enthusiasm and often times riots by teenagers in West Germany and the United Kingdom.

Radio Luxembourg

Building upon his successful introduction in Europe by film, Alan Freed was then booked onto Radio Luxembourg where his prerecorded shows enhanced his reputation as the "father of rock and roll" music. Due to the tremendous power that the signal of Radio Luxembourg enjoyed throughout much of Western Europe, his choice of music encouraged imitation by many domestic groups. The record companies also bought time on Luxembourg to further promote the music of Little Richard, Chuck Berry and other African-American artists. These sounds were heard in places such as Liverpool, England where the individuals who later became famous as The Beatles were also listening and attempting to copy the music they heard.

Television

It was at the height of Freed's career at the beginning of his new television series that various individuals decided to use Alan Freed as a scapegoat for all that was wrong with the recorded music industry and his show was suddenly cancelled. Into the void that had been created by the absence of Freed on TV, the career of Dick Clark began to take off.

Payola

The career of Alan Freed ended when accusations were made that he had accepted payola – that is, taken bribes to play specific records. Although his problems were not unique to him, he was singled out for attention. In 1960 payola was made illegal, although this by no means stopped the practice which continues in various forms to this very day. However, in 1962 Alan Freed pleaded guilty to two charges of commercial bribery for which he received a fine and a suspended sentence.

Destruction and death

Although the punishment handed down to Alan Freed was not severe, the side effects of negative publicity were such that no one of note would employ him. He died in a Palm Springs, California hospital in 1965 suffering from uraemia and cirrhosis of the liver. He was interred in the Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York.

Legacy

One of the reasons why Alan Freed was targeted for attack and destruction was due to his early belief in defacto integration and harmony and unanimity among the races. The 1950s were the age of extreme bigotry and race hate in America where Alan Freed promoted a sound for the youth of white America that had its origins not in Europe, but in Africa. American teens loved it and racist religious leaders reacted with alarm. Freed became a threat to their own message and therefore Freed had to be destroyed like a devil. To his fans worldwide Alan Freed is still remembered and appreciated to this day as being the "father of rock and roll". In the end his message became the norm, while the message of hate is now under attack.

In 1978 a motion picture entitled American Hot Wax was released which is based on Freed's contribution to the rock and roll scene, leading up to a concert that was held in New York City in 1959. Several notable personalities starred in the movie, who would later become well-known celebrities, including Jay Leno and Fran Drescher, and there was even a cameo appearance by Chuck Berry, performing in the concert segment.

In 1986, he was part of the first group inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, built in Cleveland because of him. In 1988, he was also posthumously inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame .

References

The Pied Pipers of Rock'n'Roll- Wes Smith, Longstreet Press, 1989

External link

• http://www.alanfreed.com/