A Brief History
On November 21, 1959, music DJ and rock and roll legend Alan Freed was fired by WABC in New York for refusing to sign a statement that he had never taken “payola,” bribes from record companies to play and promote certain records.
Digging Deeper
Freed is credited with being the man who popularized the term “rock and roll” while he worked as a DJ and song promoter in Cleveland. In the 1950s, he appeared in movies that brought rock to the big screen, and he even had his own television show similar to what American Bandstand later became. Sadly, his television show was cancelled after only 4 episodes because Frankie Lymon of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers could be seen dancing with a white girl in a crowd scene!
After his 1959 firing, he became a broken man, unable to get another high profile job. In 1962, he was charged with bribery and was convicted of 2 counts, receiving a fine and suspended sentence. Three years later, at age 43, he died of uremia and cirrhosis, probably from alcoholism.
Alan Freed is fondly remembered by the rock and roll community and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland with the first group of inductees in 1986.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Wolk, Andy, dir. Mr. Rock ‘n’ Roll: The Alan Freed Story. Eagle Rock, 2009. DVD.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="6647 http://www.crackedhistory.com/?p=6647">69 Comments
Freed was a very inspirational man when it came to music. He helped increase it’s popularity.
Interesting, I did not know how the term rock and roll came to be. Freed was very influential in the rock and roll world.
If Freed wouldn’t sign the papers, he incriminated himself. So I understand why they had to fire him, but his show getting cancelled because a black guy and a white girl were dancing is stupid.
I never knew how the rock and roll term was created. Interesting!
I didn’t know that Alan Freed invented the term “rock and roll”. It’s sad to see how his show was cancelled.
I did not know the background of how the term rock and roll came to be.
I am glad that they honored Alan Freed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Interesting that a single man can be attributed to popularizing a word. But Cleveland pride! Now I understand why we hold the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!
I totally agree! I never understood why the hall of fame was in Cleveland before
I did not know how the term rock and roll came to be. Very interesting.
It was interesting to see how the term rock and roll was created.
it was very interesting how the rock and roll term came to be
What a cool fact on how rock and roll became a thing!
I think that’s completely ridiculous that he got fired for dancing with women! But I do agree that its cool to near about how rock and roll was born.
Its cool how rock and roll became a thing. I think it is really interesting how he got fired.
I feel sorry for Alan Reed, but at least he still got some recognition.
I am surprised that no one has contested the induction of Alan Reed to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame due to his convictions. I am glad he was recognized for his efforts and helping make rock and roll what it is today.
I feel Alan Freed got a raw deal. He was doing what all the other disc jockeys were doing. His life was ruined and he couldn’t find a job, no wonder he started drinking.
The conclusion to Alan Freed’s story is sad. He is honored so well in the Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame. It is unfortunate, though, that he didn’t see the recognition while he was alive.
It is sad that such an influential person in the history of rock n’ roll was fired causing his life to go in a downward spiral. If it were not for him we may not have the music that we have today.
I am glad he was finally recognized for his contribution but it is sad that he was not appreciated during this time. He could have had an amazing career.
I had no idea where the term rock and roll came from.
It is pretty sad that this man died from alcoholism. The fact that such an influential man died from something that he could truly control goes to show that fame and fortune is not everything.
Coining the term Rock and roll and dying a few years later, what a 15 minutes of fame to last forever
It is sad that he died at such a young age of alcoholism. But it is important that he still receive some recognition.
From this article I learned that stars in 1959 are very similar to stars in 2016. When Freed lost his job he became a broken man and died at an early age because of alcoholism. Many stars today turn to drugs and alcohol when their careers are struggling.
I read about this poor guy in my Love songs class. It’s really sad to think he went from glory to a young unfortunate death.
It is so cool to read all of these inductees of the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. It is such an honor to be inducted.
It’s very sad that he had to end his life in that state. I’m glad he could be honored by being inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
I cannot imagine being such a star and then dying so young of a painful and sad death. It really opens your eyes to what a celebrity’s life is really like on the inside because all we can see is the outside.
It is great he was honored for the role that he had in the Rock and Roll community. It is devastating that he became so hurt from losing his job, and not being able to get another high paying job that he ended up getting sick possibly due to his alcoholism and ended up dying. Interesting article.
It’s very sad that a good musician did not have a good end. Alan Freed should be respected by us.
He was so great as a star. So sad that he was dying so young and as that way.
I found it interesting to hear where “Rock and Roll” came from. I have always been a bit curious about where this phrase came from.
Glad he was honor d by the rock and roll hall of fame. Such a sad ending.
He is from Cleveland, were rock and roll was born!
It’s cool to think that he has been honored at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, and to think that it’s in Cleveland!
Freed was a part of so much history! I love that Rock N’ Roll foundations were laid in Cleveland.
Freed is said to be a big reason why the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is in Cleveland.
It was a very interesting story on how the term was originated! He was fired for dancing! sounds legendary to me!
I think it was within reason for him to promote certain records on the air. If they were in good taste and become popular, what was the harm?
I have been to the Rock Hall in Cleveland several times and it is always a good time. I definitely think that this man contributed a large piece of his passion to get the term where it is today
Alcohol killed another rock n’ roller.
Freed had some major contributions to Rock and Roll
That is a sad story. He obviously got too caught up in the money, so young to die!
Freed should have copyrighted the term, Rock and Roll.
Who would’ve known so much occurred in Cleveland in the way of rock and roll.To all of those who wonder why the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is located here this is why.
Its too bad that a man that was successfully promoting such a popular and fast growing genre of music was being targeted. Unfortunate alcohol took his life at such an early age.
It’s so sad to hear about alcohol taking over someones life. I would of like to have seen what he could of done if he didn’t get caught up in everything.
This is a sad story about a man that was so influential in the history of Rock and Roll.
The long I live in Ohio the more I learn of the amazing history that took place here and the people who made history, especially in Cleveland. It is sad to see such a horrible end for such an amazing artist that helped bring a great genre to the big screen helping to promote it further and even coined it for what we know it as today, Rock and Roll. It is to bad people of his day worked so hard to drag him down during his life, at least he eventually got the recognition he deserved for his work.
I’ve said in the past that Ohio has some pretty great people. It is a sad story the way he died. Glad he was part of the first group inducted into the Rock Hall.
Alan Freed changed the music history because he believe in what he was doing and did not let other people change his mind. Imagine if he would not had stood up and gave in to the majority where would music be now.
It is all starting to come together how Cleveland became the home of the Rock and Roll, thanks to people like Alan Freed.
I respect what Alan Freed did and people like that is what got rock n roll out to the public even though he did get fired. So thank you Alan Freed for getting it out to the public.
Alan Freed will always be remembered as the man who came up with the term “Rock and Roll” (Cleveland rocks). It is sad that this man died at such a young age.
I have so much respect for Alan Freed and his contributions to the Rock and Roll community. I have seen his exhibit in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, so it is nice to read a little bit more about him and his legacy.
I could not imagine rock and roll being named anything else. Thank you, Alan Freed!
I think that I remember seeing his story in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when I there the last time.
Such a sad, unfortunate story. It seems to me that he was just trying to stick to his guns and be honest about the fact that he had been offered bribes for playing certain records. The whole reason his show was cancelled is horrible too. Just all around bad luck for him.
TO think that ock and Roll had a different name is crazy.
It seems that when he was trying to be honest he lost his job, then lots his show for dancing with a white girls. All of these things would not even be given a second look in today’s society.
He was just trying to be a good guy and do the right thing. It is sad that all of this happened because he was trying to be a decent human being.
It is sad to think his life ended early all because of a shortly viewed television show. I mean had he never gotten fired maybe he wouldn’t have turned to alcohol which suggestively lead to cirrhosis of his liver.
Such a sad way to die and at such a young age even when he was trying to do better with himself.
Of course he took pays for playing certain records. That is how songs were put out was in the clubs by the DJ.
I have a lot of respect for Alan Freed and his contributions to the Rock and Roll community. He left quite the legacy.
I had actually never heard of Alan Freed, but I enjoyed learning about his life.
Alan Freed is news to me, and I loved hearing about his ironic life.