Now rock and roll fans everywhere can personally contribute to the creation and maintenance of the Alan Freed Memorial.
Click here to take part in honoring the memory of the founding father of Rock & Roll.
After the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame decided last summer it was no longer appropriate to display the legendary disc jockey’s remains, the Freed family found a final resting place at a famous Northeast Ohio cemetery.
Alan’s son Lance announced the creation of a special Alan Freed memorial fund at the Cleveland Foundation to ensure that the site will be tended to in perpetuity. One of the first contributors to that fund was the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
A fund raiser for the Western Reserve Historical Society will be held 7-8 p.m. Nov. 4 at the library, 4645 Mayfield Road, will be given by Dennis Sutcliffe.
Hear audio clips of tunes from rock’s earliest days and hear stories of legendary DJ Alan Freed’s rise in Cleveland and eventual fall in New York, and the first ever rock ‘n’ roll show, the 1952 Moondog Coronation Ball at the old Cleveland Arena.
On Tuesday, the family of Alan Freed announced that Cleveland’s Lake View Cemetery will be the final resting place for the pioneering DJ’s ashes.
Although Freed first made a name for himself in Akron at WAKR, it was at Cleveland’s WJW radio that Freed made history playing music he called “Rock and Roll.”
Details regarding memorial services are still in progress and will be announced when finalized. Other notable interments at Lake view include 20th US President James Garfield and oil tycoon/philanthropist John D. Rockefeller.”
On August 4, 2014, the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame demanded the removal of Alan Freed’s remains.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer declared, “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to evict ashes of Alan Freed, DJ who gave birth to rock ‘n’ roll,” and Cleveland’s WTAM Radio announced, “Alan Freed to Leave the Rock Hall.”
Billboard and Time Magazine followed, with CNN adding a surprising detail: “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ousts DJ Alan Freed’s ashes, adds Beyonce’s leotards.”
Below: November 23, 1959 recording of Alan Freed’s last goodbye to all his devoted fans:
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