by Erika Cox
Alan Freed was the force behind getting Rock and Roll in front of
mainstream America.
On his radio show, he was known as Moondog and has been
credited with coining the term Rock and Roll. He named it that because
of the rolling sounds of the beats. However, the term had been used
before Freed “officially” named it. Alan Freed was born Albert James
Freed on December 15, 1921 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. His family later
moved to Salem, Ohio when Freed was a young boy.
While in high school Freed formed a band called the Sultans of
Swing and played the trombone. He dreamed of becoming a bandleader but
due to health reasons that was unachievable. In college, he became
interested in broadcasting and started working for a number of radio
stations. He landed his first broadcasting job in 1942 with WKST in
Philadelphia. After working for a couple of more radio stations, Freed
finally landed a job with WXEL-TV in Cleveland in 1949.
Around this time, record storeowner Leo Mintz noticed that mostly
white teenagers were buying R&B records so he began encouraging Freed to
play these records.
Freed was the first to go on radio air and play R&B records for a
mostly white audience. R&B records were called race records back then.
Freed’s enthusiasm for R&B music was genuine and his advocacy and energy
helped many Black artists break into the industry and become noticed in
mainstream society.
Many Black artists like Little Richard gave credit to Freed for
what he accomplished and what he did for Black artists at the time when
racial inequality and racism was the norm. While many adults did not
want their teenagers listening to Black music, Freed played it openly on
his radio stations. He also refused to play cover versions, which was
based on racist views and done to black artists.
Covers were the deliberate re-recording of one’s music in order
to make money and recognition from the original artist’s song instead of
the original artist making the money and getting the recognition. Many
people inaccurately confuse covers with remake versions of songs.
Remakes are not covers. Remakes are done after the original artist’s
version has been released, played and they have received any recognition
and money for the song.
Covers are recorded immediately after the original song and
before the original version receives any airplay or the original artist
receives any recognition and money for the song, the cover is given the
airplay and thus, the cover artist receives the recognition and money
for the song. This process was to cover up the original artist, hence
the word “covers”.
Freed, however, refused to go along with this rip off and played
the original version and the original artists. Therefore, Freed helped
bridge the racial gap through music. Eventually, larger radio stations
followed and many Black artists were able to receive the recognition
they deserved. Freed named his show Moondog's Rock 'n' Roll Party and
the success of the show led him to come up with the 1952 Moondog
Coronation Ball in Cleveland, which was considered to be the first
“rock” concert.
Top black acts were booked for the show and thousands of fans
showed up in addition to the sell out 10,000; most of the audience was
white. After the success of the Ball, Freed moved his show to New York
in 1954 where it immediately became number one. Freed would go on to
produce many legendary shows in New York, which received national
attention, and where Black artists would perform.
Freed helped promote these artists and they would often become
very popular from appearing on these shows. Freed also appeared in a
number of Rock and Roll movies, “Rock Around The Clock”, “Rock, Rock,
Rock” and the “Girl, Can’t Help It” just to name a few. These movies
were all about rock and roll and showcased a number of rock and roll
artists, Black and White.
In 1957, Freed got his own nationally televised show but it was
cancelled when Frankie Lymon, a Black artist, danced with a white girl.
Many adults saw rock and roll as evil, as corrupting their teenagers,
and of course, there was the underlying racism factor back in those
days. So, Freed became a marked man and to many was the fire behind this
“rock and roll problem”. First, Freed was charged with inciting a riot,
although the charges were dismissed and probably false, the incident
caused Freed to go bankrupt.
Next, in 1959 the House Committee backed by ASCAP began looking
into a so-called problem of dee jays getting paid or accepting gifts
from record companies to play certain records. Although, many directors
and dee jays were caught in the scandal, Freed was the main focus. All
of sudden Freed was under fire but refused to sign a contract with WABC,
his main ally, that stated he never accepted Payola (The paying of cash
or gifts in exchange for airplay). He was fired promptly by WABC-TV. In
1960, a grand jury began looking into commercial radio stations and
Freed was promptly charged and convicted with tax invasion.
Freed was the only person subpoenaed to appear and testify in
front of the Committee about Payola, he refused to testify and pled
guilty to bribery. Although, the punishment was not severe, the negative
publicity cost him his career. He was forced to leave New York and tried
to find work elsewhere, which didn’t last because the radio stations
refused to let him play rock and roll music. All of these things led
Freed to become a broken man and he started drinking heavily.
On January 20, 1965, Freed died from uremia and cirrhosis of the
liver but people close to him swear he did of a broken heart, I agree.
However, Freed was definitely not forgotten. He is credited with coining
the term Rock and Roll, bridging the racial gap through music, and
helping Black artists get their deserved recognized.
In 1988, he was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame and
recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. In 1986, he was one of the
first inductees inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during its
formation. His ashes were moved to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in
March 2002, a fitting place for Freed because of his major contribution
to Rock and Roll.
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