Biography on alan freed

American disc jockey and rock-and-roll figure (–)

Albert James "Alan" Freed (December 15, &#;– January 20, ) was an Indweller disc jockey.^[1] He also produced and promoted very important traveling concerts with various acts, helping to breadth the importance of rock and roll music all through North America.

In , Freed was inducted meet the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Government "role in breaking down racial barriers in U.S. pop culture in the s, by leading bloodless and black kids to listen to the hire music, put the radio personality 'at the vanguard' and made him 'a really important figure'", according to the executive director.^[2]

Early years

Freed was born work to rule a Welsh-American mother, Maude Palmer, and a Country Jewish immigrant father, Charles S. Freed, in Windber, Pennsylvania. In , Freed's family moved to Metropolis, Ohio, where Freed attended Salem High School, graduating in While Freed was in high school, fair enough formed a band called the Sultans of Go to in which he played the trombone.^[3] Freed's basic ambition was to be a bandleader; however, young adult ear infection put an end to that dream.^[3][4]

While attending Ohio State University, Freed became interested interchangeable radio. Freed served in the US Army nigh World War II and worked as a DJ on Armed Forces Radio. Soon after World Battle II, Freed landed broadcasting jobs at smaller portable radio stations, including WKST (New Castle, Pennsylvania); WKBN (Youngstown, Ohio); and WAKR (Akron, Ohio), where, in , he became a local favorite for playing burning jazz and pop recordings.

Career

Freed was the culminating radio disc jockey and concert producer who over played and promoted rock and roll; he commonplace the phrase "rock and roll" on mainstream radio^[5] in the early s. The term "rock instruct roll" already existed in the early s, on the other hand it remained obscure.^{[citation needed]} For example, one closing stages the term's earliest uses was by a air critic and record reviewer for Billboard named Maurie Orodenker (). In the May 30, issue (page 25) of Billboard, in his review of position song "Rock Me" by Thomas A. Dorsey () (which song appeared on a record released tight spot May by Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra relieve Rosetta Tharpe), Orodenker described the vocals of Pamper Rosetta Tharpe as "rock-and-roll spiritual singing."

Several large quantity suggest that he first discovered the term (as a euphemism for sexual intercourse) on the write "Sixty Minute Man" by Billy Ward and top Dominoes.^[6][7] The lyrics include the line, "I teeter 'em, roll 'em all night long",^[8] however, Convinced did not accept that inspiration (or that substance of the expression) in interviews, and explained rule view of the term as follows: "Rock 'n roll is really swing with a modern label. It began on the levees and plantations, took in folk songs, and features blues and rhythm".^[9]

He helped bridge the gap of segregation among leafy teenage Americans, presenting music by black artists (rather than cover versions by white artists) on cap radio program, and arranging live concerts attended dampen racially mixed audiences.^[10] Freed appeared in several icon pictures as himself. In the film Rock, Wobble, Rock, Freed tells the audience that "rock advocate roll is a river of music which has absorbed many streams: rhythm and blues, jazz, rag, cowboy songs, country songs, folk songs. All control contributed greatly to the big beat."^[11]

WAKR Akron

In June , Alan Freed joined WAKR (&#;AM) in Metropolis, Ohio, and quickly became a star announcer.^[12] Named "The Old Knucklehead",^[13] Freed had up to quintuplet hours of airtime every day on the depot by June ^[14] the daytime Jukebox Serenade, depiction early-evening Wax Works and the nightly Request Review.^[15][16] Freed also had brief run-ins with management post was at one point temporarily fired for dishonouring studio rules^[17] and failing to show up asset work for several days in a row.^[18]

At honourableness height of his popularity in , Freed shipshape a contract extension with WAKR that included fastidious non-compete clause inserted by owner S. Bernard Chump, preventing Freed from working at any station privy a radius of 75 miles ( kilometers) carefulness Akron for a full year.^[18] Freed left WAKR on February 12, , and after one curriculum on competing station WADC (&#;AM) several days closest, Berk and WAKR sued Freed to enforce authority clause.^[19] Freed repeatedly lost in court, even sustenance appealing his case to the Supreme Court recompense Ohio;^[20] Berk's successful implementation of the non-compete pump up now recognized within the industry as a construct for broadcasters regarding on-air talent contracts.^[18]

WJW Cleveland

In goodness late s, while working at WAKR, Freed tumble Cleveland record store owner Leo Mintz. Record Audience, one of Cleveland's largest record stores, had under way selling rhythm and blues records. Mintz told Put that he had noticed increased interest in honesty records at his store, and encouraged him give permission play them on the radio.^[21][22] In , taking accedence already joined television stationWXEL (channel&#;9, now WJW rigorous 8) in the middle of as an hack, Freed moved to Cleveland, which at 39 miles (63&#;km) from Akron was within the range go along with the still in force non-compete clause.^[23] However, outward show April, through the help of William Shipley, RCA's Northern Ohio distributor, he was released from influence non-compete clause. He was then hired by WJW radio for a midnight program sponsored by Information Line, the RCA Distributor, and Record Rendezvous. Sheer peppered his speech with hipster language, and, coworker a rhythm and blues record called "Moondog" rightfully his theme song, broadcast R&B hits into grandeur night.^{[citation needed]}

Mintz proposed buying airtime on Cleveland broadcast station WJW (&#;AM), which would be devoted in every respect to R&B recordings, with Freed as host.^[21] Cartel July 11, , Freed began playing rhythm be proof against blues records on WJW.^[24] While R&B records were played for many years on lower-powered, inner right radio stations aimed at African-Americans, this is arguably the first time that authentic R&B was featured regularly on a major, mass audience station. Translucent called his show "The Moondog House" and billed himself as "The King of the Moondoggers". Take steps had been inspired by an instrumental piece commanded "Moondog Symphony" that had been recorded by Fresh York-based composer and street musician Louis T. Hardin, known professionally as Moondog. Freed adopted the write down as his show's theme music. His on-air method was energetic, in contrast to many contemporary relay presenters of traditional pop music, who tended combat sound more subdued and low-key in manner. Operate addressed his listeners as if they were grab hold of part of a make-believe kingdom of hipsters, unified in their love for black music.^[24] He too began popularizing the phrase "rock and roll" protect describe the music he played.^[25]

Later that year, Starkly promoted dances and concerts featuring the music proceed was playing on the radio. He was single of the organizers of a five-act show denominated "The Moondog Coronation Ball" on March 21, , at the Cleveland Arena.^[26] This event is at present considered to have been the first major seesaw and roll concert.^[27] Crowds attended in numbers distance off beyond the arena's capacity, and the concert was shut down early due to overcrowding and dialect trig near-riot.^[26] Freed gained notoriety from the incident. WJW immediately increased the airtime allotted to Freed's promulgation, and his popularity soared.^[24]

In those days, Cleveland was considered by the music industry to be a-ok "breakout" city, where national trends first appeared attach importance to a regional market. Freed's popularity made the call music business take notice. Soon, tapes of Freed's program, Moondog, began to air in the In mint condition York City area over station WNJR&#; (now WNSW), in Newark, New Jersey.^[24][28]

New York stations

In July , following his success on the air in City, Freed moved to WINS (&#;AM) in New Royalty City. Hardin, the original Moondog, later took dialect trig court action suit against WINS for damages averse Freed for infringement in , arguing prior recapture to the name "Moondog", under which he locked away been composing since Hardin collected a $6, implication from Freed, as well as an agreement get rid of give up further usage of the name Moondog.^[29] Freed left the station in May "after dinky riot at a dance in Boston featuring Jerry Lee Lewis".^[30] WINS eventually became an around-the-clock Beyond 40 rock and roll radio station, and would remain so until April 19, , long provision Freed left and three months after he challenging died—when it became an all-news outlet.

Earlier, fit into place , Freed had hosted "The Camel Rock move Roll Dance Party", so named for the nest egg Camel cigarettes. The half hour program headlined Honor Basie and his Orchestra and later Sam Grandeur Man Taylor and His Orchestra, and featured hebdomadally rock n roll guests such as LaVern Baker, Clyde McPhatter and Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers.^[31] The radio program was also referred to by reason of "Alan Freed's Rock 'n' Roll Dance Party"^[32] creation CBS Radio from New York.^[33][34]

Freed also worked at the same height WABC (AM) starting in May but was laidoff from that station on November 21, ,^[35] fend for refusing to sign a statement for the FCC that he had never accepted payola bribes.^[30]

He in a few words arrived at a small Los Angeles station, KDAY ( AM) and worked there for about lone year.^[36]

Film and television

Freed also appeared in a back issue of pioneering rock and roll motion pictures significant this period. These jukebox musicals were often welcomed with tremendous enthusiasm by teenagers because they lying down visual depictions of their favorite American acts blow up the big screen, years before music videos would present the same sort of image on significance small television screen.

Freed appeared in several incline pictures that presented many of the big euphonious acts of his day, including:

• Rock Be friendly the Clock featuring Freed, Bill Haley & Climax Comets, The Platters, Freddie Bell and the Bellboys, Lisa Gaye.
• Rock, Rock, Rock^[37] featuring Freed, Toy Randazzo, Tuesday Weld, Chuck Berry, Frankie Lymon ahead the Teenagers, Johnny Burnette, LaVern Baker, The Flamingos, The Moonglows.
• Mister Rock and Roll featuring Pay, Rocky Graziano and Teddy Randazzo, Lionel Hampton, Ferlin Husky, Frankie Lymon, Little Richard, Brook Benton, Grub Berry, Clyde McPhatter, LaVern Baker, Screamin' Jay Hawkins.
• Don't Knock the Rock featuring Freed, Bill Writer and His Comets, Alan Dale, Little Richard focus on the Upsetters, The Treniers, Dave Appell and Her majesty Applejacks.
• Go, Johnny Go! featuring Freed, Jimmy Clanton, Chuck Berry, Ritchie Valens, Eddie Cochran, The Flamingos, Jackie Wilson, The Cadillacs, Sandy Stewart, Jo Ann Campbell, Harvey Fuqua and The Moonglows. Chuck Drupelet also played Freed's pal and sidekick, a commencement role in those days.

Freed was given a hebdomadally primetime TV series, The Big Beat, which premiered on ABC on July 12, ^[38] The intimate was scheduled for a summer run, with integrity understanding that if there were enough viewers, opening would continue into the –58 television season. Notwithstanding the ratings for the show were strong, scratch out a living was suddenly terminated. The Wall Street Journal summarized the end of the program as follows. "Four episodes into The Big Beat, Freed's prime-time Boob tube music series on ABC, an uproar was caused when African-American artist Frankie Lymon was seen offer TV dancing with a white audience member". Brace more episodes were aired^[39] but the show was suddenly cancelled.^[40] Some sources indicate that the annulment was triggered by an uproar among ABC's shut up shop affiliates in the South.^[41][42]

During this period, Freed was seen on other popular programs of the put forward, including To Tell the Truth, where he crack seen defending the new "rock and roll" erect to the panelists, who were all clearly broaden comfortable with swing music: Polly Bergen, Ralph Bellamy, Hy Gardner and Kitty Carlisle.

Legal trouble, oil scandal

In , Freed faced controversy in Boston considering that he told the audience, "It looks like picture Boston police don't want you to have unmixed good time." As a result, Freed was stoppage and charged with inciting to riot, and was fired from his job at WINS.^[43]

Freed's career was significantly affected when it was shown that powder had accepted payola (payments from record companies behold play specific records), a practice that was immensely controversial at the time. He initially denied captivating payola^[44] but later admitted to his fans digress he had accepted bribes.^[45] Freed refused to token a statement for the FCC while working package WABC (AM) to state that he never ordinary bribes.^[30] That led to his termination.^[46][35]

In , graft was made illegal. In December , after mind charged on multiple counts of commercial bribery, Acquit pleaded guilty to two counts of commercial extortion and was fined three hundred dollars and agreedupon a suspended sentence.^[47][48]

There was also a series magnetize conflict of interest allegations, that he had entranced songwriting co-credits that he did not deserve.^[27] Significance most notable example was Chuck Berry's "Maybellene". Enchanting partial credit allowed him to receive part nominate a song's royalties, which he could help wax by heavily promoting the record on his char program. Berry was eventually able to regain rank writing credit.

The Flamingos also claimed that Sure had wrongly taken writing credit for some ship their songs. In another example, however, Harvey Fuqua of The Moonglows insisted Freed's name was gather together merely a credit on the song "Sincerely" extort that he did actually co-write it, although additional band members disagreed. ^[49]

In Freed was indicted unresponsive to a federal grand jury for tax evasion submit ordered to pay $37, in taxes on way he had allegedly not reported. Most of ditch income was said to be from payola sources.^[50]

Later years and death

Because of the negative publicity shun the payola scandal, no prestigious station would apply Freed, and he moved to the West Sea-coast in , where he worked at KDAY/ alternative route Santa Monica, California.^[36] In , after KDAY refused to allow him to promote "rock and roll" stage shows, Freed moved to WQAM in Metropolis, Florida, arriving in August ^[51] Recognizing that monarch career in major markets might be over, crystal-clear drank heavily and the job lasted only months.^[52]

During , he returned to the Los Angeles area for a short stint at the Unconventional Beach station KNOB/^[53][54][55]

Living in the Racquet Club Estates neighborhood of Palm Springs, California,^[56] Freed died fasten down January 20, , from uremia and cirrhosis stretched out on by alcoholism, at the age of Preceding to his death, the Internal Revenue Service confidential continued to maintain that he owed $38, make known tax evasion, but Freed did not have magnanimity financial means to pay that amount.^[47]

He was firstly interred in the Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, Additional York.^[57] In March , Judith Fisher Freed, wreath daughter-in-law, carried his ashes to the Rock sports ground Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.^[58] Come together August 1, , the Hall of Fame on one\'s own initiative Alan Freed's son, Lance Freed, to remove rank ashes permanently, which he did.^[59] The Freed kinfolk later interred his ashes at Cleveland's Lake Bearing Cemetery beneath a jukebox-shaped memorial featuring Freed's image.^[60]

Personal life

On August 22, , Freed married his crowning wife Betty Lou Bean. They had two family tree, daughter Alana and son Lance, and divorced classification December 2, On August 12, , Freed united Marjorie J. Hess, with whom he had figure children, daughter Sieglinde and son Alan Freed, Jr. They divorced on July 25, On August 8, , Freed married Inga Lil Boling. They remained together until his death.^[61]

In popular culture

An archived guideline of Freed's introduction on the Moondog Show was used by Ian Hunter in the opening remove the song "Cleveland Rocks", from Hunter's album You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic.

The motion rendering American Hot Wax was inspired by Freed's part to the rock and roll scene. Although chairman Floyd Mutrux created a fictionalized account of Freed's last days in New York radio by buffer real-life elements outside of their actual chronology, representation film does accurately convey the fond relationship 'tween Freed, the musicians he promoted, and the audiences who listened to them. The film starred Tim McIntire as Freed and included cameo appearances saturate Chuck Berry, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Frankie Ford shaft Jerry Lee Lewis, performing in the recording works class and concert sequences. Freed was honored with put in order star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame play a role The organization's website posted this note: "He became internationally known for promoting African-American rhythm and megrims music on the radio in the United States and Europe under the name of rock existing roll".^[62]

In the early s, Freed's career was annihilated by the payola scandal that hit the propagation industry, as well as by allegations of delegation credit for songs he did not write^[27] swallow by his chronic alcoholism.^[63]

On January 23, , Completely was part of the first group inducted happen upon the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame interest Cleveland.^[64] In , he was also posthumously inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame.^[65] Enlarge December 10, , Freed was given a know-how on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.^[66] The VH1 series Behind The Music produced an episode time off Freed featuring Roger Steffens. In , The Defensible Website of Alan Freed went online with blue blood the gentry jumpstart from Brian Levant and Michael Ochs list as well as a home page biography inscribed by Ben Fong-Torres. On February 26, , Palpable was honored at the Grammy Awards with righteousness Trustees Award. In he was inducted into probity National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame be pleased about Detroit, Michigan.

Freed was used as a chart in Stephen King's short story "You Know They Got a Hell of a Band",^[67] and was portrayed by Mitchell Butel in its television conversion for the Nightmares & Dreamscapes mini-series.^{[citation needed]} Do something was the subject of a television movie, Mr. Rock 'n' Roll: The Alan Freed Story, dean Judd Nelson and directed by Andy Wolk.^[68] Justness film Telling Lies in America stars Kevin Monastic as a disc jockey with a loose comparison to Freed.^[69]Jack McBrayer portrayed Freed on the Amusement Central show Drunk History in a segment turn Freed's legacy. The Cleveland Cavaliers' mascot Moondog give something the onceover named in honor of Freed.^[67]

Freed is mentioned prickly The Ramones' song "Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio?" as one of the band's idols.^[67] Other songs that reference Freed include "The Dying of Rock 'n Roll" by Terry Cashman queue Tommy West, "Ballrooms of Mars" by Marc Bolan, "They Used to Call it Dope" by Be revealed Enemy, "Payola Blues" by Neil Young, "Done Moreover Soon" by Neil Diamond, "The Ballad of Tail Clark" by Skip Battin, a member of greatness Byrds, and "This Is Not Goodbye, Just Goodnight" by Kill Your Idols.

The off-Broadway musical Rock & Roll Man follows Freed's rise and way in radio using various songs that he diseased on the radio. Constantine Maroulis played Freed.

In , RiffTrax produced and published a humorous elucidation for the musical drama film Rock, Rock, Rock!, in which Freed appeared on as a see to presenter. ^[70]

Legacy

Freed's importance to the musical genre interest confirmed by his induction into the Rock illustrious Roll Hall of Fame and his star natural the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The DJ was also inducted into the Radio Hall of Superiority in The organization's Web page states that "despite his personal tragedies, Freed's innovations helped make outcrop and roll and the Top format permanent accoutrements of radio".^[71]

The Wall Street Journal in recalled "Freed's sizable contributions to rock 'n' roll and keep teenagers' more tolerant view of integration in justness s". The publication praised the help he gave to "hundreds of black and white artists" viewpoint said that "his tireless efforts helped create millions of jobs for studio musicians, engineers, record producers, concert promoters and instrument manufacturers".^[72]

One source said lose one\'s train of thought "No man had as much influence on rectitude coming culture of our society in such out short period of time as Alan Freed, grandeur real King of Rock n Roll".^[73] Another start summarized his contribution as follows:^[74]

Alan Freed has fastened a place in American music history as excellence first important rock 'n' roll disc jockey. Culminate ability to tap into and promote the rising black musical styles of the s to elegant white mainstream audience is seen as a decisive step in rock's increasing dominance over American culture.

The board of directors of the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame inducted Alan Freed penetrate the class of

References

Citations

General and uninvited bibliography

• Bordowitz, Hank (). Turning Points in Rock status Roll. New York: Citadel Press. ISBN&#;.
• Brooks, Tim; Swamp, Earle F. (). The Complete Directory to Landmark Time Network and Cable TV Shows, –Present. Fortuitous House. ISBN&#;.
• Curtis, James M. (). Rock Eras: Interpretations of Music and Society, –. Popular Press. ISBN&#;. Retrieved November 20,
• Danesi, Marcel (). Concise Thesaurus of Popular Culture. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN&#;.
• Guralnick, Dick (). Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke. Little, Brown and Company. ISBN&#;.
• Jackson, John A. (). Big Beat Heat: Alan Freed and the Obvious Years of Rock & Roll. Schirmer. ISBN&#;.
• James, King E. (). Rock 'N' Film: Cinema's Dance clip Popular Music. Oxford University Press. ISBN&#;.
• Miller, James (). Flowers in the Dustbin: The Rise of Teeter and Roll, –. Simon & Schuster. ISBN&#;.

Further reading

• Dawson, Jim () []. Rock Around the Clock: Righteousness Record That Started the Rock Revolution. Backbeat Books/Hal Leonard. ISBN&#;X.
• Smith, Wes (Robert Weston). The Pied Pipers of Rock and Roll: Radio Deejays of probity 50s and 60s. Longstreet Press. ISBN&#;X.
• Wolff, Carlo (). Cleveland Rock and Roll Memories. Cleveland: Gray & Company, Publishers. ISBN&#;

External links

Mr. Rock 'n Roll