The Early Years Of Rock & Roll
In the mid 1950's, Cleveland's Alan Freed Introduced a new musical form to teenage America. He named the new sound "Rock & Roll". Building tremendous fame and power, Freed could make or break a new release-and made clear to promoters the price they'd have to pay for his support.
The result was the famous late-'50s payola scandals, in which the links between radio airplay, record promotion and the mob were first uncovered. Through it all, Freed remained the prime spokesman for a generation of breakthrough artists, and a champion of America's newest sound.
This compelling story of how one deejay remade the American musical scene is indeed one "no rock fan will want to miss."
