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By Kathleen Walls Freelance Travel Writer AmericanRoads.net Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is an amazing time travel trip into American music. It helps answer the question, what was the first rock and roll song? Sure, it’s about rock and roll, but since rock and roll evolved from blues and country with many other genres adding a touch or two, the museum showcases those early influences including Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Ma Rainey, Robert Johnson, Hank Williams, Bob Willis, and countless other musician whose music led to rock and roll. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame started in April 20, 1983 as an idea by Ahmet Ertegun and Jann Wenner, co-founders of Atlantic Records and Rolling Stone Magazine, respectively. The concept grew and had its first class of inductees in 1986. Elvis Presley, James Brown, Little Richard, Fats Domino, Ray Charles, Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke, the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, and Jerry Lee Lewis were inducted. When they decided to open a museum, they considered many locations. Each with a connection to rock and roll. Cleveland won because of Alan Freed, a Cleveland disk jockey. In 1951, he was the first to call the style “Rock and Roll” on the radio, although others had used the term in songs previously.
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The unique pyramid style building designed by I.M. Pei, opened in 1995. When you step inside you feel the musical vibe. Their newest exhibit celebrates the 50-year anniversary of hip hop. You move from the roots of rock and roll, early blues, and country music, to Johnny Cash, Elvis and the Beetles. Exhibits showcase music as it evolved in different areas like Detroit, Muscle Shoals, and other places where music made an impact. There are exhibits about soul music, the Fifties, Sun Records, and all the people and places that influenced rock and roll. You’ll see costumes, instruments and other personal artifacts belonging to the musicians. One thing many of us have forgotten and younger people may not know about is explained in the exhibit “Don’t Knock the Rock.” The exhibit has videos and artifacts telling how many politicians and preachers tried to stop rock and roll by calling it evil. Vice President Spiro Agnew was very vocal as were many preachers. They claimed rock and roll corrupted the young. Nothing new, remember, in the late 1800s, fiddling was called “the devil’s music.”
