Alan Freed – Rock n Roll in the 1950’s
Alan Freed was an American disc jockey who became known for promoting a mix of blues, country and rhythm and blues music on the radio in the US and Europe under the name rock n roll. While attending Ohio State University, Freed became interested in radio. Freed served in the Army during World War II and worked as a DJ on Armed Force Radio.
After the war, Freed landed broadcasting jobs at smaller radio stations in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and became a local favorite for playing jazz and pop recordings, and enjoy listening new styles because he likes rhythm and blues music. Freed may be best known for coining the word rock n roll. As a result of this, he became known as the father of rock n roll.
Freed was an organizer of a five act show called the Moondog Coronation Ball on March 21, 1952 at the Cleveland Arena, which is known as the first rock n roll concert. The crowds attended far beyond what promoters expected. Eventually the concert was shut down early due to overcrowding and near-riot.
WINS in New York City
Freed would eventually move to WINS in New York City where he would promote artists such as Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, The Platters, Bill Haley and His Comets, Jerry Lee Lewis, Frankie Lymon, Jackie Wilson, and others.
During this time he also appeared in several of rock films such as: Rock Around the Clock, Rock, Rock, Rock, Don’t Knock the Rock, Mister Rock n Roll, and Go Johnny Go.
Freed’s career ended when it was shown that he had accepted paypola (payments from record companies to play specific records), a practice that was highly controversial at the time.
Freed lost his radio show on WABC, and was later fired from the station altogether on November 21, 1959.
He also was fired from his television show (which for a time continued with a different host). In 1960, payola was made illegal. In 1962, Freed pleaded guilty to two charges of commercial bribery, for which he received a fine and a suspended sentence.