The Life Of Alan Freed In The 1950s – The Father Of Rock And Roll

Alan Freed, more commonly known as “The Father of Rock and Roll,” is one of the most notable figures in history when it comes to the music industry. While he was a beloved disc jockey, he also led a controversial life, leading to his rise (and epic fall).

Alan Freed worked for several radio stations in Ohio, starting in 1945. Eventually, he settled at WAKR and gained popularity thanks to the new kind of music he played for listeners. Freed eventually left WAKR station and picked up a job at a Cleveland station called WJW, working the graveyard shift.

WJW turned out to be the place where Freed would make history, becoming the first person to introduce the phrase “rock and roll” to his audience. Freed named his radio show “Moondog House,” casting himself as “The King of the Moondoggers,” inspired by Louise T. Moondog, a street musician from New York. Unlike most disc jockeys who preferred to keep a mellow vibe on the radio, Freed wanted a more vibrant environment for his listeners.

In 1952, Freed organized the Moondog Coronation Ball, the very first rock and roll concert. Unsurprisingly, tickets sold out within a day.

Thousands of teenagers lined up outside the arena hours before the show’s scheduled start time, with an estimated 25,000 fans arriving at a venue meant only for 10,000. The overcrowding caused the police to get involved, consequently leading to the cancellation of the event. Regardless, it served to establish Freed’s status as the official father of rock and roll, giving him not only extended airtime on his radio show, but also his on TV show called Big Beat which premiered on the 4th of May 1957.

Despite enjoying one success after another, Freed’s world was rocked when he got involved in a scandal with payola. The famed disc jockey was accused of receiving “payola,” payments taken under the table from record companies in exchange for playing records from their artists. He was also accused of becoming involved in a conflict of interest since he was the songwriter for some of these records he played, meaning he earned part of the royalties from their sales.

Things turned from bad to worse in 1959 when he was fired from his TV show and his radio station not long after. Freed pled guilty to commercial bribery charges two years later.

Despite the rollercoaster ride that Freed endured, he is still considered a major icon when it comes to rock and roll. He earned positive recognition, even after his fall from grace, including being the first to be inducted into Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame twice and has a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.

Freed holds a special place in the hearts of many major artists who believe that their music would not have been possible had he not given birth to rock and roll.