Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cleveland: “Where Rock Began to Roll”?

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Sounds and the City

Part of the book series: Leisure Studies in a Global Era ((LSGE))

  • 799 Accesses

Abstract

Focused on Cleveland, Ohio, this chapter asks how “music cities” make their claims-to-fame. What underscores Cleveland’s assertion as the “birthplace” of rock ‘n’ roll and, since 1995, the site of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Drawing from archival research, the chapter explores a microhistorical case study of the city’s popular music heritage. Cleveland claims several notable “firsts”, including the “first” rock ‘n’ roll concert—the Moondog Coronation Ball on 21 March 1952. The chapter also recounts the story of local record store, Record Rendezvous, where legend has it that the phrase “rock ‘n’ roll” was invented. Finally, the chapter recounts how these legacies were mobilized and mythologized, especially during the 1980s when Cleveland successfully positioned itself as a “city of origin” and a serious contender in the campaign to become the future site of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    A phrase popularized in the 1970s by local FM radio station 100.7 WMMS “The Buzzard” (see Gorman and Feran 2007).

  2. 2.

    I’m originally from Stow, a sprawling suburban area about 30 miles, or a 45-minute drive, south of Cleveland.

  3. 3.

    With its population decline (to roughly 385,000 in 2014), its racial demographics shifted dramatically. The 2010 census reported the city as 33% White, 53% African-American, 10% Hispanic/Latino, and 2% Asian (U.S. Census Bureau 2014).

  4. 4.

    Freed was successfully sued by Hardin in 1954 and had to stop using the name “Moondog” (Jackson 1991).

  5. 5.

    The Cleveland Arena was demolished in 1977 and replaced with an office building.

  6. 6.

    Freed’s notoriety dimmed a short time later in the “payola” scandals (payment from record labels for radio DJs to play certain artists) that ended his New York radio career in 1959. After lower-profile jobs with stations in California and Florida, Freed passed away from alcoholism-related health problems in 1965.

  7. 7.

    A photo essay by Petkovic (2017) showed contemporary interior views of the vacant premises, mixed with historical photos.

  8. 8.

    USA Today newspaper conducted a February 1986 telephone poll to ask which city should host the Rock Hall. The results were overwhelmingly in Cleveland’s favor with 110,315 votes; Memphis received 7268, San Francisco had 4006, Nashville polled 2886; New York had 2159, Chicago tallied 1030, and Philadelphia received just 1004.

References

  • Adams, D. R. (2002) Rock ‘n’ Roll and the Cleveland connection. Kent, OH: Kent State University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alan Freed Christmas Jubilee [concert program]. (1957) Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives, Alan Freed Collection, ARC-0006, Box 2, Folder 4, Object 5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alan Freed’s Summer Festival [concert program]. (1957) Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives, Alan Freed Collection, ARC-0006, Box 2, Folder 4, Object 7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alan Freed’s 3rd Anniversary Show. (1957) Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives, Alan Freed Collection, ARC-0006, Box 2, Folder 4, Object 8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alan Freed Presents the Big Beat. (1958) Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives, Alan Freed Collection, ARC-0006, Box 2, Folder 4, Object 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barthes, R. (1972) Mythologies (Trans. Annette Lavers). New York: Hill and Wang.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, A. (2002) Music, media and urban mythscapes: A study of the ‘Canterbury Sound’. Media, Culture & Society, 24(1), pp. 87–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, S. (2016) Behind the magical mystery door: History, mythology and the aura of Abbey Road Studios. Popular Music, 35(3), pp. 396–417

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bolstead, H. (1958) A candid and controversial look forward at the big sound for 1959. TV Radio Mirror, November, pp. 21–25, 69–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bordowitz, H. (2004) Turning points in rock and roll: The key events that affected popular music in the latter half of the 20th century. New York: Citadel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burgoyne, R. (2003) From contested to consensual memory: The rock and roll hall of fame and museum. In: Hodgkin K., and Radstone, S. eds. Contested Pasts: The Politics of Memory. London: Routledge, pp. 208–220.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S., Knifton, R., Leonard, M., and Roberts, L. eds. (2014) Sites of Popular Music Heritage: Memories, Histories, Places. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeWitt, J. (1986) The hall rolls in: Decision is music to the city’s ears. Cleveland Plain Dealer, 6 May, pp. 1–A, 8–A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Du Noyer, P. (2007) Liverpool – Wondrous Place: Music from the Cavern to the Capital of Culture. London: Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiske, J. (1990) Ethnosemiotics: Some personal and theoretical reflections. Cultural Studies, 4(1), pp. 85–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fredericks, V. ed. (1958) Who’s Who in Rock ‘N Roll. New York: Frederick Fell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, C., and Connell, J. (2007) Music, tourism and the transformation of Memphis. Tourism Geographies, 9(2), pp. 160–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gillett, C. (1970) The sound of the city: The rise of Rock & Roll. New York: Outerbridge & Dienstfrey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorman, J., and Feran, T. (2007) The Buzzard: Inside WMMS and the Glory Days of Cleveland Rock Radio. Cleveland: Gray & Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greater Cleveland Growth Association. (1986) Cleveland Wins Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Clevelander Magazine, 15(5), May, pp. 1–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halasa, J. (1988) Leo Mintz: They called it “rock ‘n’ roll”. Cleveland Scene Magazine, 17–22 November, 1988, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halasa, J. (1990a) Chuck Young, Part I: Cleveland record promotions and payolas. Cleveland Scene Magazine, 13–19 September, p. 9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halasa, J. (1990b) Chuck Young, Part II: DJs carry payola stigma Cleveland Scene Magazine, 20–26 September, 1990, p. 14

    Google Scholar 

  • Halasa, J. (1992) Paul Williams: It was 40 years ago Sunday he took the Arena stage to play. Cleveland Scene Magazine. 19–25 March, p. 13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halasa, J. (2009) Rock ‘n’ Roll. The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History [Online]. Available from: http://ech.case.edu/cgi/article.pl?id=RR [Accessed 1 August 2017].

  • Hall, S. (1997) Representation: Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardin, L. T. (1950) Moondog’s Symphony. SMC Records.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartley, L. P. (1953) The Go-Between. London: Hamish Hamilton Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunter, I. (1979) Cleveland Rocks! Chrysalis Records.

    Google Scholar 

  • Irwin, T. (1957) Rock ‘n’ roll – madness or fun? – read what its inventor – Alan Freed – has to say. Pageant Magazine, 13(1), July, pp. 56–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, J. A. (1991) Big beat heat: Alan Freed and the early years of rock & roll. New York: Schirmer Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnstone, N. (2007) A Brief History of Rock and Roll. New York: Carroll and Graf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lashua, B. D. (2018) Popular music heritage and tourism In: Baker, S., Istvandity, L., Strong, C., and Cantillon, Z. eds. The Routledge Companion to Popular Music History and Heritage. London: Routledge, pp. 153–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • McGunagle, F. (1971) Mar. 21, 1952 – at the Cleveland Arena: the first rock festival. The Cleveland Plain Dealer, 5 February, p. 3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, L. (2013) Marketing musicscapes, or the political economy of contagious magic. Tourist Studies, 14(1), pp. 10–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mr. Rock and Roll. (1957) Directed by Charles S. Dubin. Los Angeles: Paramount Pictures.

    Google Scholar 

  • The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History [online]. (2017) Leo Mintz. Case Western Reserve University. Available from: http://case.edu/ech/articles/m/mintz-leo/ [Accessed 20 October 2017].

  • The Moondog House. (1952) Cleveland: WJW Radio. 22 March. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives, [Audio cassette] Henry Niedzwiecki Audiocassette Recording of Alan Freed (22 March 1952), ARC-0377, folder 200, cassette 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paul, L. (1988) The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: A scandal in Cleveland? Goldmine Magazine, 26 February, pp. 5, 44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, R. A. (1990) Why 1955? Explaining the advent of pop music. Popular Music 9(1), pp. 97–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petkovic, J. (2017) Record Rendezvous: Cleveland cradle of rock ‘n’ roll sits empty, awaits new life. Available from: http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/07/record_rendezvous_cleveland_cr.html [Accessed 30 January 2018].

  • Petryszyn, S. (1984) Cleveland rocks: The Cleveland pop/rock discography. Cleveland Scene Magazine March 15–21, p.7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roy, W. G. (2004) “Race records” and “hillbilly music”: institutional origins of racial categories in the American commercial recording industry. Poetics, 32(3–4), pp. 265–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scott, J. (1982) 30 years ago, ‘Moondog’ howled. Cleveland Plain Dealer, 14 March, pp. 11D-12D.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheerin, J. (2012) How the world’s first rock concert ended in chaos. BBC News, 21 March. Available from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17440514 [Accessed 20 October 2017].

  • Smith, L. (2006) The uses of heritage. London: Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Stein, S. (1984) Letter from Seymour Stein, 1984 June 4. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives, Norm N. Nite papers, ARC-0100, Box 1, Folder 3.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Census Bureau. (2005) Historical Census Statistics On Population Totals By Race, 1790 to 1990, and By Hispanic Origin, 1970 to 1990, For Large Cities And Other Urban Places In The United States. Population Division Working Paper No. 76. Available from: https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html [Accessed 30 January 2018].

  • U.S. Census Bureau. (2014) Cleveland (city), Ohio. State & County QuickFacts. Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20140218233419/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/39/3916000.html [Accessed 30 January 2018].

  • Waxer, L. (2002) City of musical memory: Salsa, record grooves, and popular culture in Cali, Columbia. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolff, C. (2006). Cleveland Rock and Roll memories: True and tall tales of the glory days, told by musicians, DJs, promoters, and fans who made the scene in the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s. Cleveland: Gray & Company Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The research for this chapter was supported by a fellowship through Case Western Reserve University’s Center for Popular Music Studies and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives. I am grateful to Professor Daniel Goldmark at the CPMS, and the brilliant archivists at the Rock Hall: Jennie Thomas, Andy Leach, Jona Whipple, Anastacia Karel, Sule Holder, Shannon Erb, and William Jackson.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK

    Brett Lashua

Authors
  1. Brett Lashua
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brett Lashua .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK

    Brett Lashua , Stephen Wagg , Karl Spracklen  & M. Selim Yavuz , ,  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Lashua, B. (2019). Cleveland: “Where Rock Began to Roll”?. In: Lashua, B., Wagg, S., Spracklen, K., Yavuz, M.S. (eds) Sounds and the City. Leisure Studies in a Global Era. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94081-6_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94081-6_5

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-94080-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-94081-6

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation