The Moondog Coronation Ball, generally viewed as having been the first ever rock ‘n’ roll concert, was held in Cleveland on March 21, 1952.

Legendary DJ Alan Freed, the proclaimed “father of rock ‘n’ roll” originally joined Cleveland AM radio station WJW in 1951 as the host of a classical music program. But it wasn’t long before Leo Mintz, owner of Leo Mintz’s Record Rendezvous in Cleveland, told Freed of the growing interest in rhythm and blues music among shoppers in his store. MORE