November 23, 1959 - "Father of Rock and Rock"

Human Rights a Day

“Father of rock and roll” fired in payola scandal while promoting black musicians. At a time when racial segregation was the norm in America, Alan Freed was promoting the music of black singers like Little Richard and Chuck Berry. Freed, born on December 15, 1921, called himself the “father of rock and roll.” After leaving one radio station in Akron, Freed moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1949, where he worked as an afternoon TV movie host as well as started a late night radio show called “The Moondog Rock Roll House Party.” He was one of the organizers of the first rock and roll concert on March 21, 1952, a show called the Moondog Coronation Ball. Freed moved to New York City and in addition to radio, in 1956 he created and starred in rock movies such as Rock Around the Clock. And before Dick Clark created American Bandstand, Freed started the television dance show Alan Freed’s Big Beat on ABC TV. In late 1959, when artists and producers were paying radio and television stations to play their music – known as payola – Freed found himself in the middle of the controversy. On November 23, 1959, WNEW TV informed Freed that his services would no longer be required. Under this common practice, some survived; others didn’t. Some felt the firing of Freed was due to southern affiliates offended at seeing Frankie Lymon of Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers dance with a white girl. In 1962, Freed pled guilty to two counts of commercial bribery and received a fine and suspended sentence. With his reputation ruined, Freed eventually moved to Palm Springs, California, where he died on January 20, 1965 at the age of 43. His ashes rest in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.