True, the origin of rock might lie in the way notes are struck on a guitar and how lyrics are sung to a crowd. But, if we wanted to talk location – it would be Cleveland, Ohio.
Cleveland joined the tourism industry as a founder of rock music. It is the birthplace of some of the greatest rock bands of all time. Dating back to the 1950s and ‘60s, it has been the place for new artists to debut their music to start their music career.
Cleveland was “one of the first large cities to give rock media exposure to both black and white audiences” (Unterberger, Hicks, Dempsey, 1999, p 281).
Another first, Alan Freed was the first to coin the term ‘rock & roll’ to describe the new music playing on his radio station in Cleveland. With his radio show, he debuted rock music and influenced its popularity within the city of Cleveland.
Now, as a tribute to its past, Cleveland is home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Interestingly enough, the hall’s nominating committee selects about five to seven artists each year to enter the hall. The only eligibility is that 25 years must have passed since their first album release. The hall, which has become a top tourist destination in the Midwest United States, is constantly changing. They display various exhibits each year and try to focus on a variety of rock music and artists.
References
Richie Unterberger & Samb Hicks & Jennifer Dempsey, 1999, “Music USA”
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