On July 11, 1951, disk jockey Alan Freed launched a rhythm and blues show in Cleveland. Calling it The Moondog House, and labelling himself the 'Moondog,' he soon built a loyal following.
When he lost the name Moondog after a copyright battle, he was forced to create a new identity for his show. He came up with 'Alan Freed's Rock and Roll Party'. It was the first time the world had heard the phrase 'rock and roll'.
In the decades to come, this brand of music would influence everything from fashion to lifestyle, attitudes, even language. Historians point out that it also had a role to play in the civil rights movement, as it was enjoyed by both, African American as well as white American teenagers.
Photograph: Dave Hogan/Getty Images
In the picture: A still from Alan Freed's Rock and Roll Party
Also Read : The worst behaved pop stars
Advertisement
